Smartanswersonline.com ads (spam) - Free Guide

What is Smartanswersonline.com ads?

Smartanswersonline.com can abruptly cause pop-up spam if users click on “Allow”

Pop-up ads can lead users to dangerous pages

Smartanswersonline.com is a bogus website that tries to convince people that in order to load the page they need to click the “Allow” button. Instead, they start getting spammed with annoying pop-up ads that can appear even when the browser is closed. Crooks create these types of pages to generate revenue from pay-per-click advertising.

Unfortunately, they may use rogue advertising networks^[1] that place ads leading to dangerous websites. Users can end up on scam pages that try to lure out personal information, trick them into downloading PUPs (potentially unwanted programs),^[2] and even malware.

Usually, people report seeing ads promoting adult pages, fake antivirus deals, software offers, surveys, giveaways, etc. It is important to disable them as soon as possible, especially if there are other people using the affected machine. Read our guide fully to learn how to turn the pop-ups off and how to avoid spam in the future.

Distribution methods

Pages, like Smartanswersonline.com are rarely found in the search results. Usually, they hide on other shady sites that are unregulated. For example, illegal streaming sites are full of deceptive ads and sneaky redirects. They can also display fake “Download” and “Play” buttons^[3] that open new tabs. Even though Google said it would get rid of them, they still exist.

It is best to only visit pages that you know and trust. Do not click on random links and ads even if they seem to be promoting legitimate products and services. Use legitimate streaming platforms, that are safe. They only require a small monthly subscription fee and people can watch as much content as they want.

Push notification spam pages can appear out of nowhere while browsing

Block notifications from Smartanswersonline.com

Because push notifications are subscription-based, they can be turned on and off only manually. We have a detailed guide for the most popular browsers below:

Google Chrome (desktop):

1. Open Google Chrome browser and go to Menu > Settings.
2. Scroll down and click on Advanced.
3. Locate the Privacy and security section and pick Site Settings > Notifications.
4. Look at the Allow section and look for a suspicious URL.
5. Click the three vertical dots next to it and pick Block. This should remove unwanted notifications from Google Chrome.

Google Chrome (Android):

1. Open Google Chrome and tap on Settings (three vertical dots).
2. Select Notifications.
3. Scroll down to Sites section.
4. Locate the unwanted URL and toggle the button to the left (Off setting).

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Open Mozilla Firefox and go to Menu > Options.
2. Click on Privacy & Security section.
3. Under Permissions, you should be able to see Notifications. Click Settings button next to it.
4. In the Settings – Notification Permissions window, click on the drop-down menu by the URL in question.
5. Select Block and then click on Save Changes. This should remove unwanted notifications from Mozilla Firefox.

Safari:

1. Click on Safari > Preferences…
2. Go to Websites tab and, under General, select Notifications.
3. Select the web address in question, click the drop-down menu and select Deny.

MS Edge:

1. Open Microsoft Edge, and click the Settings and more button (three horizontal dots) at the top-right of the window.
2. Select Settings and then go to Advanced.
3. Under Website permissions, pick Manage permissions and select the URL in question.
4. Toggle the switch to the left to turn notifications off on Microsoft Edge.

MS Edge (Chromium):

1. Open Microsoft Edge, and go to Settings.
2. Select Site permissions.
3. Go to Notifications on the right.
4. Under Allow, you will find the unwanted entry.
5. Click on More actions and select Block.

Cookies and cache

After an encounter with Smartanswersonline.com, it is strongly recommended to clear your browsers. Websites can use various tracking technologies to collect data like your IP address, geolocation, websites you visit, links you click on, and things you purchase online. All of this is done with the use of cookies and cache.

These small data files are not inherently bad. Legitimate sites use them to personalize the user experience by showing relevant results, etc. However, they can also be used to generate revenue by selling them to advertising networks, and other third parties. There is an automatic solution to this problem – FortectIntego. This powerful software can stop tracking, delete collected information, and fix serious system errors with a click of a button.

Check your PC for an adware infection

Unwanted browser behavior can also be caused by PUPs. Sometimes pages like Smartanswersonline.com show up without any user input at all. This can be caused by adware^[4] which is a program that can generate commercial content in the machine without the users' knowledge. Many of them are disguised as “handy” tools so they would be more difficult to identify for average users.

Adware is mostly spread on freeware distribution platforms. It usually comes as bundled software that users do not notice. We recommend always choosing the “Custom” or “Advanced” installation methods, read the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. The most important step is to check the file list and untick the boxes next to any unrelated applications.

Professional security tools like SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are essential. Anti-malware solutions can scan the machine and detect suspicious processes running in the background. Besides, it can prevent such infections by warning users about dangerous files trying to enter the system. Otherwise, you can follow our step-by-step instructions for Windows and Mac machines:

Windows 10/8:

1. Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
3. From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
4. Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
5. If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
6. Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.

Windows 7/XP:

1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
3. Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
4. At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
5. In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
6. Click OK once the removal process is finished.

Mac:

1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
2. In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
3. Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)

To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:

1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
2. Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
3. In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
4. Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.