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  • Active
  • Severity: Medium
  • Adware
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Aug 2018

How to remove GeoSmartDNS

A step-by-step removal guide for affected devices. Follow the verified procedure below — most readers complete it in under 10 minutes.

Jake Doevan · Computer technology expert

GeoSmartDNS is an unwanted app created to generate online advertisements 

GeoSmartDNS 

GeoSmartDNS is a rogue application that has nothing to do with improving users' search sessions by helping them to see uncensored content. This app has been added to adware[1] category which can also be translated to “ad-supported”. As a result, once it infiltrates Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or other browsers, it fills them with banner ads, pop-up windows, and blinking links. This intrusive activity is used to promote related services, pages or products and generates revenue in this way. The official site claims that you can access all of the websites you are not allowed to visit in your country via GeoSmartDNS. However, no matter how useful this service seems, restrain yourself from installing it. 

Name GeoSmartDNS
Type Adware
Promoted as A tool to reach blocked content
Symptoms Modifies web browsers, displays intrusive content
Distribution Downloaded on purpose or with software bundling
Possible danger Adware can collect user information and share it with third-party advertisers
Elimination Use FortectIntego for GeoSmartDNS removal

Before you download this adware to the system, look at its presentation. The so-called GeoSmartDNS virus claims that the service is 100 percent free because it is supported by ads. You should be concerned after seeing such claims as they are the first signal showing that you are about to add adware to your PC system. As a result, you will see an increased amount of advertisements displayed on your favorite websites that can not only redirect you to unwanted sites but can also make your browser run slow and lead into crashes.

Yet another risk while dealing with this app is getting more unwanted software on your computer. The adware and ads that it displays can be used to promote anything from questionable services to rogue programs. This is done to help the Geo Smart DNS publisher generate profit. The same is done by using the data tracking feature added to this program. PUPs like this one can access your browsing habits, most viewed sites, and most searched terms. They can also know your PC's IP address, location[2], and even your social media activity. No matter that this data is not personal, you should keep it just for yourself.

To prevent every risk we mentioned in this guide, you should remove GeoSmartDNS from your computer. Note that constant advertisements that are typically displayed by this adware can seriously affect the performance of your device in a bad way. If you are willing to view blocked content, note that it can also be infected with serious viruses. There is no need to lead yourself to the risk of ransomware or similar malware.

GeoSmartDNS removal should be done only by using reputable anti-malware tools because this program is potentially unwanted and can come together with different components. If it appeared on your system out of nowhere and left additional pieces on the device, use FortectIntego to run a full system scan and get rid of malicious components. 

GeoSmartDNS

Careless behavior leads to cyber infections

You are most likely getting adware or other unwanted programs if you don't pay attention during freeware installation. This process is important to follow because of the software bundling technique and other methods that virus developers use to spread cyber infections. Bundling freeware and PUPs is the most common method of cyber infection spreading. This means that if you are not paying attention and choosing Default options during installation of software or other application, unwanted programs get installed on your device silently.

Researchers[3] all over the world advise users to select Advanced or Custom options when they can so they are able to see every additional piece. This option allows you to de-select unwanted programs from the list and ensures that you are getting the software you need. This is especially important if you use peer-to-peer networks as your freeware source.

Get rid of GeoSmartDNS PUP from the system

To remove GeoSmartDNS, you should use trustworthy programs that are designed for fighting cyber infections. Anti-malware tools can detect and remove various intruders and block potential threats. This option is important because adware tend to have installed additional pieces on your PC and you can remove them by scanning the whole system. You can find a few options for these programs below.

GeoSmartDNS removal is essential because redirects and ads may get more and more intrusive over time. Also, if you have additional intruders, not just this adware, your system becomes more prone to cyber viruses. This intruder may attract other and possibly more malicious programs.

Uninstall from Windows

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

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

Remove the unwanted program:

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

Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

Reset Internet Explorer

Remove dangerous add-ons:

  1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
  2. Pick Manage Add-ons.
  3. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Change your homepage if it was altered:

  1. Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
  2. Select Internet Options.
  3. In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
  4. Click Apply and then select OK.Reset IE homepage

Delete temporary files:

  1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
  2. Under Browsing history, click Delete...
  3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.Clear temporary files from Internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer:

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

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

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

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. 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.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. 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.Reset MS Edge

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

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

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

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

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2

Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

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

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

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

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. 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:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2

Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

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

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

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

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