Thesmartsearch.net Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is thesmartsearch.net?
Thesmartsearch.net is a website used as an Internet search engine by many potentially unwanted applications and browser hijackers. These rogue apps employ a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' to infiltrate Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox).
After infiltration, these applications modify the new tab URL, homepage, and default search engine settings by assigning them to the thesmartsearch.net website (or another search website, which then redirects to thesmartsearch.net following entry of a search query).
As with regular browser hijackers, thesmartsearch.net is delivered with several small programs called 'helper objects', which prevent users from reverting these changes.
The bundling method allows developers to distribute their applications together with regular software, and therefore, users commonly inadvertently infect their computers during download and installation of free software downloadable from freeware download websites.
Popular freeware download websites such as download.com, soft32.com, and softonic.com employ small download applications (called 'installers', 'download managers', 'download clients', etc.) to monetize their traffic and free services by offering installation of third-party programs together with the chosen software.
These promoted applications are often described as 'legitimate and virus-free', however, most are classed as adware or potentially unwanted programs (PUPs).
Applications distributed using the bundling method usually redirect users to bogus websites, generate intrusive online ads, and collect various information (that might include personally identifiable details, which could later be shared with third parties).
You are strongly advised against the use of thesmartsearch.net as your default Internet search engine, since the displayed search results may redirect to bogus websites containing infectious content, thereby exposing your computer to risk of malware.
Thesmartsearch.net is similar to other browser hijackers including, for example, jogostempo.com, search.yahoo.com, vebasearch.com, and webssearches.com. These are presented as 'legitimate and virus-free', however, they diminish Internet browser performance, track various information, and display intrusive online ads.
To avoid installation of browser-hijacking apps, closely analyse each step of the free software download procedure and ensure that no additional applications are included. Furthermore, programs downloaded from the Internet should be installed using the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' options - this will reveal any concealed apps listed for installation and allow you to decline them.
If your browser continually redirects you to the thesmartsearch.net website without your consent, the following removal guide will help you to eliminate this problem from your system.
Adware (local temperature) showing a search bar of thesmartsearch.net in various online shopping websites:
Potentially unwanted application BrowserAir displaying a search bar on user's desktop which redirects to thesmartsearch.net Internet search engine:
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Quick menu:
- What is thesmartsearch.net?
- STEP 1. Uninstall thesmartsearch.net application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove thesmartsearch.net redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove thesmartsearch.net browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove thesmartsearch.net homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove thesmartsearch.net redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Thesmartsearch.net browser hijacker removal:
Windows 11 users:
Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.
Windows 10 users:
Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.
Windows 7 users:
Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.
macOS (OSX) users:
Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.
In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently-installed suspicious applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the thesmartsearch.net website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Thesmartsearch.net redirect removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gear" icon 
(at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://thesmartsearch.net and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.
Change your default search engine:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing", or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "thesmartsearch".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the thesmartsearch.net browser hijacker, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.
Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.
In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.
Click the Reset button.
Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, click "set pages", hover your mouse over hxxp://thesmartsearch.net and click the x symbol. Now, you can add your preferred website as your homepage.
Change your default search engine:
To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search" section, click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "thesmartsearch" and add or select your preferred domain.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the thesmartsearch.net browser hijacker, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.
After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious plugins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions" and remove recently-installed browser plug-ins.
Change your homepage:
To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://thesmartsearch.net and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
Change your default search engine:
In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "thesmartsearch.net"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with thesmartsearch.net browser hijacker removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.
Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.
Select Troubleshooting Information.
In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.
Remove malicious extensions from Safari:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...
In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.
In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.
In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.
Optional method:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...
In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.
Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:
Click the Edge menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage and new tab settings:
Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".
Change your default Internet search engine:
To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon 
near it and select "Disable".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the thesmartsearch.net browser hijacker, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.
In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.
Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
- If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.
Summary:
A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.
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