Ads by smartZoom

What is smartZoom?

According to the developers, smartZoom is a legitimate application that significantly improves the Internet browsing experience.

At first glance, this app may seem useful and trustworthy, however, smartZoom is categorized as adware and a potentially unwanted program (PUP), since it infiltrates systems without users’ permission, generates various intrusive online advertisements, and tracks Internet browsing activity.

The types of generated advertisements include (but are not limited to) banner and pop-up ads. These ads never originate from users' visited websites and conceal underling content, thereby significantly diminishing the Internet browsing experience. Furthermore, some redirect to malicious sites. Therefore, clicking them risks further high risk adware or malware infections.

smartZoom continually tracks Internet browsing activity, gathering geo-location, IP addresses, Internet service provider (ISP), operating system, browser type, and browsing details (website URLs visited, pages viewed, etc.) This data may seem insignificant, and yet, it will contain personally identifiable details.

Developers of smartZoom share these details with third party companies who misuse personal data to generate revenue. Tracking of personal data can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft and, therefore, you are strongly advised to uninstall smartZoom adware immediately.

smartZoom is not the only application of this type. There are hundreds of similar adware apps (for example, SushiLeads, Groover, Dealz, and AmazingTab) all falsely claiming to enhance the Internet browsing experience in various ways.

Be aware, however, that adware-type programs are designed only to generate revenue. Rather than providing any of the functionality promised, they generate intrusive online advertisements and gather browsing-related data. Applications such as smartZoom are useless to users.

How did smartZoom install on my computer?

This PUP is often distributed as a 'bundle' with other software. Research shows that many users do not express enough caution when downloading and installing software.

Thus, developers intentionally conceal installation of PUPs. Unaware that apps are hidden, users often skip the 'Custom/Advanced' settings, thereby exposing their systems to risk of infection. Developers' revenue is dependent on the number of apps distributed and, thus, there is no reason for them to inform users of installation of PUPs.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

The key to computer safety is caution. Installation of adware-type apps is usually hidden - to prevent this situation, closely analyze each step of these processes using the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings. Only by opting-out of all additionally-included software will you be able to perform a clean, safe installation.

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Quick menu:

• What is smartZoom?
• STEP 1. Uninstall smartZoom application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove smartZoom adware from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove smartZoom ads from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by smartZoom' from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove smartZoom ads from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

smartZoom adware 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 "smartZoom", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes smartZoom ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove smartZoom adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, smartZoom did not install its browser plug-ins on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox, however, it was bundled with other adware. Therefore, you are advised to remove all potentially unwanted browser add-ons from your Internet browsers.

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

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".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the smartzoom adware, 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.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the smartzoom adware, 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 plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions", in the opened window, remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with smartzoom adware 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, click Safari menu, and select Preferences....

In the opened window click Extensions, locate any recently installed suspicious extension, select it and click Uninstall.

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 upper-right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and click "Remove" below their names.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the smartzoom adware, 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:

Commonly, adware or potentially unwanted applications infiltrate Internet browsers through free software downloads. Note that the safest source for downloading free software is via developers' websites only. To avoid installation of adware, be very attentive when downloading and installing free software. When installing previously-downloaded free programs, choose the custom or advanced installation options – this step will reveal any potentially unwanted applications listed for installation together with your chosen free program.

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