What is SmartSportSearch browser plugin? — Fix Guide

The SmartSportSearch search hijacker is an illustration of a typical unwanted program; such applications are promoted enormously these days. In this article you will see the complete guidelines of “SmartSportSearch” hijacker removal in different methods: making use of anti-malware tools and also manual removal process.

It is better to prevent, than repair and repent!

Removing SmartSportSearch manually may take hours and may damage your PC in the process. I recommend you to download GridinSoft Anti-Malware for threats removal. Allows to complete scan and cure your PC during the trial period.

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SmartSportSearch – What is it?

“SmartSportSearch” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is distributed as a plugin for your internet browser. It is usually advertised as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that assists to browse some specific information, as an example, about sporting activity events, make your web browser much more safe, allow downloading of any type of video, and so on. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).

Nonetheless, the “SmartSportSearch” plugin is fairly useless due to the fact that all such functions are already embedded to your browser and/or Windows. Such advertising slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, for example, pensioners or schoolchildren. However sometimes even expert users are getting caught on such an attraction. In specific cases, this hijacker is distributed together with free tools.

SmartSportSearch Search Hijacker

Here is a info for the SmartSportSearch hijacker

How harmful is SmartSportSearch hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, SmartSportSearch hijacker is also rather unsafe for web browser usage. It modifies your search engine to its specific – Smartsportsearch.com, and likewise changes your background, putting its watermark on your background image (or, sometimes, altering it to default with the mentioned sign).

Apart from visual transformations done by SmartSportSearch hijacker, you might discover that some of your search questions are redirecting to the untrustworthy web pages, full of links and promotions – so-called doorway websites. Such sites can contain links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting surges if you attempt to launch Google search page by force.

But all these activities are a lot more annoying than really destructive. The greatest threat, particularly for people who have a considerable amount of secret information in their internet browsers, is embedded in data collecting capabilities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited websites, and other activities are simply gathered by SmartSportSearch hijacker.

How to remove SmartSportSearch search hijacker?

• Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
• Open GridinSoft Anti-Malware and perform a “Standard scan“.
• “Move to quarantine” all items.
• Open “Tools” tab – Press “Reset Browser Settings“.
• Select proper browser and options – Click “Reset”.
• Restart your computer.

Browser hijackers are often quite very easy to remove. Usually, they have an independent application that can be located in the list of installed software. As a result of the particular distribution method of SmartSportSearch hijacker, it can be simply tracked and erased manually. Nevertheless, if you got SmartSportSearch in the package with a free applications, your PC might be contaminated with far more severe malware – trojans, spyware or even ransomware. That’s why I’d recommend you utilize anti-malware programs to delete the SmartSportSearch PUA and all various other malware.

You can use Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of recognizing and eliminating a wide range of malware, including named hijacker. But major malware, that can be present on your computer in the discussed instance, can disable the Windows antimalware tool by modifying the Group Policies. To prevent such situations, it is far better to make use of GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and delete all malicious applications on your PC with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to utilize Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the viruses, because it checks only the most popular registry entries and directories.

You can spectate the detected malware sorted by their possible hazard simultaneously with the scan process. But to perform any actions against malware, you need to wait until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.

To set the action for each spotted malicious or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected virus. By default, all the viruses will be moved to quarantine.

Reverting browser settings to original ones

To revert your browser settings, you are required to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action cannot be intercepted by any virus, hence, you will surely see the result. This action can be located in the Tools tab.

After pressing the Reset Browser Settings button, the menu will be shown, where you can choose, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Deleteing SmartSportSearch hijacker manually

Besides using anti-malware software for browser restoration, you may choose the “Reset browser settings” function, which is usually embedded in all popular browsers.

To reset Edge, do the following steps :

1. Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :



2. After picking the Reset Settings option, you will see the following menu, stating about the settings which will be reverted to original :

For Mozilla Firefox, do the next actions :

1. Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :



2. In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :


After choosing this option, you will see the next message :

If you use Google Chrome

1. Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :



2. In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :



3. Finally, you will see the window, where you can see all the settings which will be reset to default :
   

Opera can be reset in the next way

1. Open Settings menu by pressing the gear icon in the toolbar (left side of the browser window), then click “Advanced” option, and choose “Browser” button in the drop-down list. Scroll down, to the bottom of the settings menu. Find there “Restore settings to their original defaults” option :



2. After clicking the “Restore settings…” button, you will see the window, where all settings, which will be reset, are shown :

As an afterword, I want to say that time plays against you and your PC. The activity of browser hijacker must be stopped as soon as possible, because of the possibility of other malware injection. This malware can be downloaded autonomously, or offered for you to download in one of the windows with advertisements, which are shown to you by the hijacker. You need to act as fast as you can.

How to Remove SmartSportSearch?

Name: SmartSportSearch

Description: SmartSportSearch - a lot of users became a victim of browser hijacker. I have a lot of friends who literally bombed me with the questions like “how to remove SmartSportSearch?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with SmartSportSearch (Smartsportsearch.com), which may corrupt your browser’s correct performance, and create a lot of troubles while you are working.

Operating System: Windows

Application Category: Browser Hijacker

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