Search.smokycap.com virus. How to remove? (Uninstall guide)
Why using Search.smokycap.com search engine might be a bad idea?
Search.smokycap.com virus is a typical browser hijacker, but it targets Mac OS users only. However, Windows OS users should be concerned, too, because there are numerous other hijackers that are compatible with both operating systems. The aforementioned hijacker is not malicious, but it can significantly lower the performance of a web browser. Once installed, it adds tracking cookies and installs other tracking technologies to find out what the user is interested in. For example, it starts gathering information about user’s recent browsing sessions and analyzes user’s browsing history, search queries, downloads, clicks, and similar information. It also pays attention to the geolocation of the computer and then selects particular third-party ads for the user. These ads might appear in pop-ups, but mostly they can be encountered when using Search.smokycap.com search engine.
Questions about Search.smokycap.com virus
This tool is highly untrustworthy and might not adequately disclose which search queries are sponsored and which ones are not. Therefore, clicking on these search results can take you to suspicious websites, and you never know what awaits on them. You can end up on sites that promote highly questionable programs, files, ask to fill out surveys that require personal information, and so on. Some untrustworthy sites provide dangerous links, which can lead to even more dangerous Internet pages, so be very careful what you click on. In our opinion, you should not take risks and use a different search engine instead. To remove Search.smokycap.com redirect virus from your browser, you can use automated malware removal software like Reimage or Malwarebytes MalwarebytesCombo Cleaner, or, if you prefer, remove it manually using Search.smokycap.com removal instructions that are placed below the article.
How did you infect your PC with this hijacker?
Browser hijackers are mostly spread via software bundles, which can be downloaded from sites that provide download links to thousands of free programs. Even if you know that these programs are legitimate, be careful when installing them. Their setups typically contain a few customizable options that allow you to choose whether you want to install additional “recommended” third-party software or not. To access these customizable settings, you have to set Custom or Advanced settings for the setup instead of Default/Standard ones. Then simply remove ticks placed next to suggestions to install additional software. If you have experienced Search.smokycap.com hijack, we assume that your computer might also be infected with Genieo virus, because these programs relate to each other.
How to remove Search.smokycap.com hijacker?
To entirely clean up your PC, you should scan the system with an anti-malware program and see what hideous programs are lurking on the system. Potentially unwanted programs typically do not travel alone, so most likely your system is now infected with several PUPs or even more severe software. Therefore, we strongly recommend you to remove Search.smokycap.com virus automatically. We suggest using programs presented below. Alternatively, you can try to remove suspicious programs using these Search.smokycap.com removal instructions.
You can remove virus damage automatically with a help of one of these programs: Reimage, Malwarebytes MalwarebytesCombo Cleaner, Plumbytes Anti-MalwareMalwarebytes Malwarebytes. We recommend these applications because they detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
To remove Search.smokycap.com virus, follow these steps:
Remove Search.smokycap.com from Mac OS X system
SmokyCap browser hijacker is closely related to Genieo virus, so we strongly recommend you to check your Mac for apps and browser extensions that are named similarly. Do not forget to remove other pieces of software that you cannot remember installing.
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If you are using OS X, click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications.
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Wait until you see Applications folder and look for Search.smokycap.com or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Eliminate Search.smokycap.com from Internet Explorer (IE)
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Remove dangerous add-ons
Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top right corner of the browser and choose Manage Add-ons. -
You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for Search.smokycap.com and other suspicious plugins. Disable these entries by clicking Disable:
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the gear icon (menu) on the top right corner of the browser and select Internet Options. Stay in General tab. -
Here, remove malicious URL and enter preferable domain name. Click Apply to save changes.
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Reset Internet Explorer
Click on the gear icon (menu) again and select Internet options. Go to Advanced tab. - Here, select Reset.
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When in the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset again to complete Search.smokycap.com removal.
Uninstall Search.smokycap.com virus from Microsoft Edge
Reset Microsoft Edge settings (Method 1):
- Launch Microsoft Edge app and click More (three dots at the top right corner of the screen).
- Click Settings to open more options.
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Once Settings window shows up, click Choose what to clear button under Clear browsing data option.
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Here, select all what you want to remove and click Clear.
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Now you should right-click on the Start button (Windows logo). Here, select Task Manager.
- When in Processes tab, search for Microsoft Edge.
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Right-click on it and choose Go to details option. If can’t see Go to details option, click More details and repeat previous steps.
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When Details tab shows up, find every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right click on each of them and select End Task to end these entries.
Resetting Microsoft Edge browser (Method 2):
If Method 1 failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method.
- Note: you need to backup your data before using this method.
- Find this folder on your computer:
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
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Select every entry which is saved on it and right click with your mouse. Then Delete option.
- Click the Start button (Windows logo) and type in window power in Search my stuff line.
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Right-click the Windows PowerShell entry and choose Run as administrator.
- Once Administrator: Windows PowerShell window shows up, paste this command line after PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> and press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml -Verbose}
Once these steps are finished, Search.smokycap.com should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
Mac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariErase Search.smokycap.com from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
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Remove dangerous extensions
Open Mozilla Firefox, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Add-ons → Extensions. -
Here, select Search.smokycap.com and other questionable plugins. Click Remove to delete these entries.
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the menu (top right corner), choose Options → General. - Here, delete malicious URL and enter preferable website or click Restore to default.
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Click OK to save these changes.
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Reset Mozilla Firefox
Click on the Firefox menu on the top left and click on the question mark. Here, choose Troubleshooting Information. -
Now you will see Reset Firefox to its default state message with Reset Firefox button. Click this button for several times and complete Search.smokycap.com removal.
Delete Search.smokycap.com from Google Chrome
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Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions. -
Here, select Search.smokycap.com and other malicious plugins and select trash icon to delete these entries.
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Change your homepage and default search engine if it was altered by your virus
Click on menu icon and choose Settings. -
Here, look for the Open a specific page or set of pages under On startup option and click on Set pages.
- Now you should see another window. Here, delete malicious search sites and enter the one that you want to use as your homepage.
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Click on menu icon again and choose Settings → Manage Search engines under the Search section.
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When in Search Engines..., remove malicious search sites. You should leave only Google or your preferred domain name.
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Reset Google Chrome
Click on menu icon on the top right of your Google Chrome and select Settings. -
Scroll down to the end of the page and click on Reset browser settings.
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Click Reset to confirm this action and complete Search.smokycap.com removal.
Get rid of Search.smokycap.com from Safari
- Remove dangerous extensions
Open Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu at the top left of the screen. Once you do this, select Preferences. -
Here, select Extensions and look for Search.smokycap.com or other suspicious entries. Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them.
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Open your Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu section. Here, select Preferences as it was displayed previously and select General. -
Here, look at the Homepage field. If it was altered by Search.smokycap.com, remove unwanted link and enter the one that you want to use for your searches. Remember to include the "http://" before typing in the address of the page.
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Reset Safari
Open Safari browser and click on Safari in menu section at the top left of the screen. Here, select Reset Safari.... -
Now you will see a detailed dialog window filled with reset options. All of those options are usually checked, but you can specify which of them you want to reset. Click the Reset button to complete Search.smokycap.com removal process.