Search.smartmediatabsearch.com virus - How to remove

Search.smartmediatabsearch.com is yet another malicious infection that might attack your system. It is listed as browser hijacker, and even though it’s not the most dangerous virus out there, it can still cause you some significant damage thus it should be removed as soon as possible.

There are two most common methods to eliminate infection like this – it can be done either manually or automatically, thus feel free to choose which method fits you the best.

In case you have no previous experience in removing infections like Search.smartmediatabsearch.com we suggest to do it automatically – it’s much more convenient and faster. All you have to do is to download reliable anti-malware application, such as Spyhunter, install it and then run a full scan of all files stored on your hard drive. Either one of these applications should actually detect and vanish the virus for good. It will also protect your computer from similar infections in the future, so it’s worth to keep it installed.

However, if for some reasons you don’t want to download any additional anti-malware software, you an get rid of Search.smartmediatabsearch.com manually by your own. This process might be complicated, thus we have developed a step-by-step manual removal guide – scroll down below this article and check it out. Try to complete all steps correctly and you should be able to eliminate the infection manually by your own.

If you have faced some difficulties during the removal, feel free to ask us for help in the comments section below. To learn more about specific features of Search.smartmediatabsearch.com please continue reading this article.

About Search.smartmediatabsearch.com browser hijacker

Search.smartmediatabsearch.com is a typical browser hijacker which will make some changes on your web browsers and ‘hijack’ them. It will change both homepage and default search engine to www.search.smartmediatabsearch.com so from now on, every time you open a web browser, this website will appear.

Even though it might look like just a regular search engine to – it is not true and we suggest not to use it. If you try to search for something via this fake search engine, you will notice a lot of sponsored results that are not even relevant to your search queries, thus you automatically will waste your time. And that’s not all – it is dangerous to click on those links and we recommend to do that.

If it happens so that you click on the sponsored link displayed by Search.smartmediatabsearch.com you will be immediately redirected to other websites that might be owned by various cyber criminals, such as hackers or scammers. This way your computer can get infected with other viruses or if you attempt to purchase something there you can even get scammed and lose your hard earned money.

Distribution Methods of Search.smartmediatabsearch.com browser hijacker

The hijacker is made by Aztecmedia – an UK based company, whitch created couple similar hijackers in the past. Currently, it uses StepitApp as the name of extension that changes search engine and new tab settings.

Search.smartmediatabsearch.com is traveling the same way as most of other malware of this type – bundled with various freeware that can be downloaded from the Internet. For instance, if you download and install some free downloads manager or media player from unreliable website, there is a chance that StepItApp and the search hijack will be installed. The main website does not provide any way to download the application thus it is obvious, that they rely on shady methods to acquire “customers”.

To avoid this happening, you should always pay close attention to the installation process of freeware and keep your computer secured with reliable anti-malware software all the time.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Manual removal of Search.smartmediatabsearch.com virus

How to remove smartmediatabsearch virus using Windows Control Panel

Many hijackers and adware like Search.smartmediatabsearch.com virus install some of their components as regular Windows programs as well as additional software. This part of malware can be uninstalled from the Control Panel. To access it, do the following.

• Start→Control Panel (older Windows) or press Windows Key→Search and enter Control Panel and then press Enter (Windows 8, Windows 10).
• Choose Uninstall Program (if you don't see it, click in the upper right next to "View by" and select Category).
• Go through the list of programs and select entries related to smartmediatabsearch virus . You can click on "Name" or "Installed On" to reorder your programs and make Search.smartmediatabsearch.com virus easier to find.
• Click the Uninstall button. If you're asked if you really want to remove the program, click Yes.
• In many cases anti-malware programs are better at detecting related parasites, thus I recommend installing Spyhunter to identify other programs that might be a part of this infection.

How to remove smartmediatabsearch virus from macOS

Delete Search.smartmediatabsearch.com virus from your applications.

1. Open Finder.
2. In the menu bar, click Go.
3. Select Applications from the dropdown.
4. Find the smartmediatabsearch virus app.
5. Select it and right-click it (or hold the Ctrl and click the left mouse button).
6. In the dropdown, click Move to Bin/Trash. You might be asked to provide your login password.

TopHow To remove Search.smartmediatabsearch.com virus from Google Chrome:

• Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select More Tools→Extensions
  
• Select all malicious extensions and delete them.
  
• Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select Settings
  
• Select Manage Search engines
  
• Remove unnecessary search engines from the list
  
• Go back to settings. On Startup choose Open blank page (you can remove undesired pages from the set pages link too).
• If your homepage was changed, click on Chrome menu on the top right corner, select Settings. Select Open a specific page or set of pages and click on Set pages.
  
• Delete malicious search websites at a new Startup pages window by clicking “X” next to them.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to Search.smartmediatabsearch.com virus, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on a Chrome’s menu button (three horizontal lines) and select Settings.
• Scroll to the end of the page and click on theReset browser settings button.
  
• Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

How To remove Search.smartmediatabsearch.com virus from Firefox:Top

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla window and select the “Add-ons” icon (Or press Ctrl+Shift+A on your keyboard).
  
• Go through Extensions and Addons list, remove everything Search.smartmediatabsearch.com virus related and items you do not recognise. If you do not know the extension and it is not made by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft, Oracle or Adobe then you probably do not need it.
  
• If your homepage was changed, click on the Firefox menu in the top right corner, select Options → General. Enter a preferable URL to the homepage field and click Restore to Default.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to smartmediatabsearch virus, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla Firefox window. Click on the Help button.
  
• ChooseTroubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
  
• Click on theReset Firefox button.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.
  

If the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program to identify malicious entries.

How to remove Search.smartmediatabsearch.com virus from Microsoft Edge:Top

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Microsoft Edge window. Select “Extensions”.

• Select all malicious extensions and delete them.

• Click on the three-dot menu on the browser toolbar and Select Settings

• Select Privacy and Services and scroll down. Press on Address bar.

• Choose Manage search engines.

• Remove unnecessary search engines from the list: open the three-dot menu and choose Remove.

• Go back to Settings. Open On start-up.
• Delete malicious search websites at Open specific page or pages by opening the three-dot menu and clicking Delete.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to Search.smartmediatabsearch.com virus, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings

• Click on Edge's menu button and select Settings. Click on the Reset Settings button on the left.
• Press the Restore settings to their default values option.

• Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

How to remove Search.smartmediatabsearch.com virus from Safari:Top

Remove malicious extensions

• Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences.
  
• Select Extensions and uninstall smartmediatabsearch virus and other suspicious extensions.
  
• If your homepage was changed, click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences and choose General tab. Enter preferable URL to the homepage field.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings(older versions) If you are still experiencing any issues related to Search.smartmediatabsearch.com virus, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Reset Safari…
  
• Select which options you want to reset (usually all of them come preselected) and click on the Reset button.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

Manual removal