SmartWebSearch: what it is and how to remove it
SmartWebSearch is categorized as a browser hijacker that changes the default engine, homepage, and new tab URL to smartwebsearch.mysearchsocial.com. It mostly appears on web browsers such as Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Mozilla Firefox but can also hijack other apps such as Microsoft Edge or Safari.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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SmartWebSearch: summary
| Name | SmartWebSearch |
|---|---|
| Type/sub-type | Potentially unwanted program/browser hijacker |
| Search engine | After hijacking the web browser, the PUP ads smartwebsearch.mysearchsocial.com as the default search provider and this type of change can be reversed only by erasing the browser hijacker permanently |
| Target(s) | The browser hijacker can appear on both Windows and macOS operating systems and target all types of web browser applications such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Safari |
| Other activities | After changing browser settings such as the search provider, homepage, and new tab URL bar, this product can also start tracking the user's browsing activities, providing intrusive advertisements, and redirecting the victim to sponsored pages some of which might be filled with malicious content |
| Spreading | Such programs come together with other bundled products from third-party downloading sources. The browser hijacker can appear together with some type of player such as Vplay, a download manager, pdf converter, etc. |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 11 more facts
| Termination | You can get rid of the potentially unwanted program with the help of antivirus products that will speed up the termination process or you can employ manual guiding steps that are provided at the end of this article |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Type | Search hijacker extension |
| Symptoms | A changed search engine |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Search page | smartwebsearch.mysearchsocial.com |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 18 February 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is SmartWebSearch dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
SmartWebSearch - a browser hijacker that provides search results directly from Google
SmartWebSearch is categorized as a browser hijacker that changes the default engine, homepage, and new tab URL to smartwebsearch.mysearchsocial.com.
It mostly appears on web browsers such as Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Mozilla Firefox but can also hijack other apps such as Microsoft Edge or Safari. Also known as Smartwebsearch.mysearchsocial.com, the potentially unwanted program generates search query results straight from a legitimate search engine named Google that makes the search results reliable and safe.
However, the browser hijacker is more likely to bring you various disadvantages than advantages, so you should just keep on using Google as your default search provider instead.
SmartWebSearch virus might try to attract a bigger number of users by providing fast access to popular social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and others. However, you can simply save bookmarks as shortcuts to these sources and you will not need to use the browser hijacker's provided services.
When SmartWebSearch gets bundled with other third-party products such as pdf converters, download managers, and various players such as Vplay, it can modify the Windows Registry and fill it with rogue keys. The same can happen with Windows Task Manager and this section might end up with processes that you have never seen before.
SmartWebSearch does not leave web browsers alone too. If you are using Internet Explorer, the browser hijacker will probably fill it with browser helper objects (BHOs) such as add-ons. If you are employing Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, you will likely find various unknown extensions, toolbars, or plug-ins included in these browser apps.
Nevertheless, SmartWebSearch developers know that they have competition with other developers of similar products. Regarding this fact, the browser hijacker might be programmed to place a lock file on a web browser such as Mozilla Firefox in order to prevent other applications from modifying its settings.
Furthermore, SmartWebSearch might install tracking objects such as cookies, pixels, or beacons that are capable of recording browsing-related details such as recently visited websites, saved bookmarks, hyperlinks and adverts accessed, the type of your web browser, your geographic location, and IP address.
Even though SmartWebSearch developers might claim that such information is collected for improving their services, the truth is far from that. In reality, this type of data is shared with other parties for receiving monetary income or used in creating beneficial offers and getting involved in targeted advertising campaigns.
SmartWebSearch can start interrupting your browsing activities with intrusive advertisements. These components can come in forms of banner ads, pop-ups, pop-unders, and coupons. You might be provided with offers to purchase rogue security utilities, subscribe to unneeded services, or participate in some type of survey, lottery.
Most of the ads provided by SmartWebSearch cannot offer anything good for the users and are placed on the computer screen to gather pay-per-click income. However, other pop-ups can redirect the person to sponsored domains some of which might be infected with dangerous malware forms such as ransomware viruses or trojans.
Besides that, SmartWebSearch might also come to the computer system and web browser not alone. Potentially unwanted programs can carry other suspicious products such as adware, browser hijackers, fake security software, and so on. If you find some unnoticed apps, you should uninstall them together with the primary browser hijacker.
You can remove SmartWebSearch from your operating system and web browsers in two different ways. The first technique involves downloading and loading a reliable antivirus tool when the second one is based on manual elimination that the user can complete by himself (go to the end of this article for instructions).
If you think you might struggle with manual SmartWebSearch removal, you should definitely go for the automatical method. Besides if you have found that the browser hijacker or similar apps have altered some directories on your operating system, you can try fixing the compromised locations with the help of software such as .
From our report of Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
Third-party products bring browser hijackers to machines
Virusai.lt cybersecurity experts claim that the most popular technique of distributing browser hijackers is known as software bundling.
PUPs often infiltrate the computer system when users opt for other software such as pdf converters, download managers, and various players that are promoted on secondary downloading sources such as cnet.com, download.com, softonic.com, and soft32.com.
You should pay more attention while choosing the source from which you are going to download your wanted software or service. Better get all products from original developers and their official websites. Furthermore, make sure that you have set the downloading configuration to Custom and Advanced instead of picking the unsafe modes such as Recommended or Quick.
Even though bundling is the most common way to get infected with browser hijackers, it is not the only one. Other sources such as unsafe advertisements, fake flash player updates, and infectious hyperlinks might also be the reason why you have a PUP installed on your computer system.
The main way to avoid all unwanted installations from such types of locations is to browse only on trustworthy pages, not click on every content that appears in front of you, and use a reliable antivirus tool that will likely alert about deceptive or malicious content ahead.
From our report of Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
Terminate SmartWebSearch from your OS and web browsers to diminish unwanted changes
SmartWebSearch virus is not a pleasant program to meet while browsing the Internet, however, it gets on many users' computers due to the fact that people lack knowledge and attention.
Still, it does not matter how the PUP appeared on your machine, you still need to get rid of it or you will be left struggling to perform quality-full searches.
First of all, you should remove SmartWebSearch from your operating system as the browser hijacker might have included suspicious files, processes, and apps on your computer. This type of task can be accomplished with the help of a reliable antivirus tool or by completing the manual step-by-step guidelines that are displayed below.
After SmartWebSearch removal from the OS, you have to get rid of unwanted extensions and other additional products from web browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Safari, otherwise, your browsing apps will still remain hijacked.
From our report of Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on SmartWebSearch
- If you have discovered any altered areas on your operating system, you can try fixing them with
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
smartwebsearch.mysearchsocial.com
How to remove SmartWebSearch
Remove the extension first.
The search settings only stay fixed once nothing on the PC can change them again.
Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add
In Chrome open
chrome://extensions, in Edgeedge://extensions, and in Firefox the menu > Extensions and themes.Remove every extension you do not remember adding, especially search, new tab, coupon, PDF, weather or video downloader add-ons. Check every browser and every profile, because each keeps its own list.
If an extension has no Remove button or comes back, a browser policy holds it (see "Managed by your organization" in the procedure below). The pages are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Put the search engine back and delete smartwebsearch.mysearchsocial.com
In Chrome open Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, make an engine you trust the default, and delete
smartwebsearch.mysearchsocial.comfrom the list.In Edge type
search engineinto the search box at the top of Settings and open Manage search engines; in Firefox use Settings > Search. Then check the homepage and the new tab page in the same settings, because hijackers change all three.If smartwebsearch.mysearchsocial.com is back after a restart, an extension, a program or a policy still sets it, so finish the other steps and check again. The settings are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: check Search engine and On startup. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 3: Uninstall programs you did not mean to install
SmartWebSearch rarely comes alone: it is usually installed by, or together with, a free program. In Windows 11 open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and sort by install date.
Uninstall every entry from the day the trouble began that you did not install on purpose, for example a download manager, a converter or a browser you never chose.
Keep drivers and entries from Microsoft, Intel, AMD, NVIDIA or your PC's maker unless you are sure.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 4: Reset the browser
A reset removes what the steps above could miss:
- changed start pages
- site permissions
- hidden settings
In Chrome open Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; in Edge Settings > Reset settings; in Firefox Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.
Tip: Bookmarks and saved passwords stay, while extensions are turned off and the search engine and start page return to the defaults.
Reset every browser on the PC, including Edge, which Windows 11 and Windows 10 always have.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 5: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
A scan finds the parts of SmartWebSearch that the manual steps cannot see. In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, start a Full scan and quarantine what it reports.
Follow it with Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now, which restarts the PC and checks the disk while Windows and the malware are not running.
It takes about 15 minutes and works the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10. If either scan finds something, run the full scan again after removal until it comes back clean.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Uninstall from Windows
To clean your Windows operating system from suspicious-looking applications and diminish any questionable changes, perform the below-provided instructions
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.
Remove from Google Chrome
To get rid of all the modifications that were applied to Chrome by SmartWebSearch browser hijacker, you should follow these guidelines
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.
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.
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)
To keep Mozilla Firefox optimized and fully clean after the browser hijacker invasion, you should take a look at the below-given instructing lines
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.
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.
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
To get rid of various browser helper objects such as plug-ins, extensions, and add-ons from your hijacked Internet Explorer web browser, you should apply the following guiding steps
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.
Do not let government spy on you
The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices.
Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.
You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using VPN.
Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.
Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack
Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings.
Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact - you can set this process to be performed automatically.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use for the data restoration process.
Questions about SmartWebSearch
Why does my search engine keep changing to smartwebsearch.mysearchsocial.com?
Because something keeps setting it. An extension can change the search engine every time the browser starts, and an ad-supported program in Windows can do it for every browser and re-add the extension after you remove it. Some hijackers also add a policy that locks the setting.
Changing the search engine back only works once the source is gone. Remove extensions you do not recognise, uninstall programs installed around the time smartwebsearch.mysearchsocial.com first appeared, and then set the search engine again. If it still returns, check the browser for the Managed by your organization message and follow the policy steps in this guide.
Is smartwebsearch.mysearchsocial.com a virus?
It is a browser hijacker, not a virus in the classic sense. smartwebsearch.mysearchsocial.com is a search page that an extension or program set as your default without a clear choice from you.
It does not destroy files or spread to other PCs, but it takes control of your searches, collects them and shows ads, and the software behind it is often bundled with other unwanted programs.
Many antivirus products flag such software as potentially unwanted. Removing the extension or program and resetting the search engine is enough in most cases. A full scan afterwards checks for anything else that came with it.
What is smartwebsearch.mysearchsocial.com?
It is the search page used by the browser hijacker SmartWebSearch. It has no search index of its own: it forwards your queries to another search engine and adds ads and tracking along the way.
People rarely choose it on purpose; it becomes the default search engine, home page or new tab after an extension, program or policy changes the browser settings. The page itself is not malware, but it should not be in your browser if you did not set it. The steps above remove the source and restore your settings.
Is smartwebsearch.mysearchsocial.com dangerous?
It is not designed to infect the PC, but it is not neutral either. It logs searches, adds sponsored results that are hard to tell apart from real ones, and its ad partners are not checked as strictly as those of major search engines.
Some hijacker pages have shown ads for fake updates, tech support scams and unwanted software. The main harm is to privacy. Remove SmartWebSearch, and if you entered personal data on sites reached through its results, check those sites carefully.
Do I have to fix every browser?
Yes, every one where the search engine or start page changed. In the cases we checked, SmartWebSearch affected Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
Each browser stores its own search settings and extensions, so fixing one does not fix the others, and Windows-level changes such as shortcuts can affect each browser differently. Work through them one at a time:
- remove the extension
- check the policies
- restore the search engine
- start page
If you sync a browser, stay signed in so the fix spreads to your other computers.
Did smartwebsearch.mysearchsocial.com record my searches?
Almost certainly. Logging is the point of a hijacker search page: each query, with your IP address, browser details and the result you clicked, is valuable to advertisers.
The operators of smartwebsearch.mysearchsocial.com can store and share that data under their own privacy policy, which you never agreed to knowingly. There is no way to delete it from their side. What you can do is stop the flow:
- remove SmartWebSearch
- clear cookies and site data for smartwebsearch.mysearchsocial.com
- treat sensitive searches made in the meantime as known to a third party
Can I just block smartwebsearch.mysearchsocial.com?
You can, but it treats the symptom. Blocking the domain in a firewall or the hosts file makes searches fail instead of redirecting, while the extension or program that set it keeps running and collecting data.
Hijacker operators also switch to new domains in updates, so a block may stop working within weeks. Remove the source instead, then set your own search engine. If you want extra protection afterwards, turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking in Windows Security, which stops many hijacker installers before they run.
What do I lose if I reset Chrome or Edge?
Less than you might think. A reset turns off all extensions, which you can turn back on one by one, restores the default search engine, home page, new tab and pinned tabs, and clears cookies, so you are signed out of most sites.
Bookmarks, history, saved passwords and autofill data stay. Firefox's equivalent, Refresh Firefox, keeps the same essentials but removes add-ons completely. Before you reset, make sure you know your main passwords or have them saved, since you will need to sign in again.
Why does my search page look slightly different?
Because it is not your search engine's own page. SmartWebSearch sends searches to smartwebsearch.mysearchsocial.com, which may copy the colours and layout of a known search engine while adding its own ads and tracking. Small differences give it away:
- an unfamiliar address
- more ads than usual
- a different logo
- a search box with a brand name you do not recognise
Remove the hijacker and set your search engine again from the browser's settings to get the real page back. Then delete the hijacker's entry from the saved search engines list.
Will Fortect remove SmartWebSearch?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For SmartWebSearch, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Norton: What are browser hijackers? (read October 6, 2026)
- Virusai: Virusai.lt (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 6, 2026)