Amazon Smart Search and Amazon Assistant are related services

Amazon Smart Search functions as a browser extension and search engine which is specifically designed for Amazon customers. With the help of this browsing tool, netizens are promised to get a possibility to find wanted offers and products much faster. However, there is always another side of the deal which sometimes may seem to be too good to be true.
Right after installing Amazon Smart Search on the system, it becomes clear that it is directly associated with Amazon Assistant. As a result, you may be soon be presented with multiple advertisements and pop-ups offering you to visit one or another web site or purchase products that you don't even need.
Furthermore, you can be tricked into downloading these Amazon-related products via Java “Optional offer: Amazon Assistant” and similar pop-up ads.[1] Credulous users may regard such add-ons as a legitimate ones and install them right away. Amazon Smart Search virus is compatible with all browsers but, most frequently, is compatible with Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer 8+.
After being tricked into installing Amazon Smart Search virus, you may notice that your default search engine or the start page were set to http://www.amazon.com/gp/bit/amazonserp?tagbase=&tbrId=. If you are a regular Amazon customer, this search engine may seem useful. However, if you don't want to be bothered by commercial ads and redirects to sponsored websites, you should not fall for installing this search provider. If you accidentally installed this search tool and intend to remove Amazon Smart Search, make use of FortectIntego or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes.
Amazon counts its successful years of existence already since 1994. It has grown into one of the largest online commerce markets through an astounding period of time.[2] Staying up-to-date and sensitive to the demands of modern netizens, it has attracted thousands of customers and regular visitors. However, as a rule, what becomes popular online is soon taken advantage by scammers and spammers.
Some time ago, crooks have managed to foist in a corrupted Amazon link among Google search results.[3] Luckily, the malvertising campaign was soon terminated. Besides such cases, there are also numerous search engines with incorporated Amazon links. In this relation, this search engine may invoke impressions that it is legitimate tool supported by the company. However, Amazon Smart Search ads soon may spark doubts that there is something wrong with the browsing tool.[4]
Since the very company notes that it promotes third party services and links, you may soon get redirected to their sponsored domains. Amazon Smart Search redirect may not be such a big issue if not for this relation to already mentioned Amazon assistant virus. As a result, such redirects may lead you to a poorly protected website containing fraudulent elements.
Furthermore, you may reconsider leaving this search engine due to privacy issues even though it provides official Amazon privacy policy. The company collects technical information as well as well as personal information about its customers with the help of tracking technologies. Such tracking behavior is especially applicable if users connect to Amazon services via their mobile devices. If online privacy[5] is of concern to you, these arguments might encourage you to perform Amazon Smart Search removal.

Transmission techniques of the tool
This search tool is promoted via several channels. If you regularly shop on Amazon or visit associated websites, you may be offered to install this search engine. Therefore, it is often labeled as PUP. It received attention due to its specific distribution channel.
The search tool is promoted as an optional offer entitled as Amazon Assistant. Users often enable Java updates without taking a second look to offer optional programs. Likewise, they often end up installing unnecessary and sometimes even potentially malicious tools. Thus, if you notice such Java notification, remove the checkmarks from the pre-ticked boxes. If you enable “Amazon Smart Search hijack,” you may spend time on dealing with troublesome outcomes.
Eliminating Amazon Smart Search
You can remove Amazon Smart Search in two ways: either manually or automatically. If you opt for the former method, make sure you complete all steps precisely. In addition, you may need to review your browser extensions and uninstall the unknown or the ones appended without your direct consent. For faster Amazon Smart Search removal, you may let an anti-spyware tool get rid of the search tool. It will also scan the entire operating system and eliminate other possible threats.
Uninstall from Windows
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.

Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.

Delete from macOS
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).

Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.

- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.

Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.

Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.

Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.

Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.

Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.

Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.

Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.

Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.

Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.

- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.

Remove from Google Chrome
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.

Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.
Reset Google Chrome:
If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.

Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.

Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.

Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.

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