What is Search.smacklek.com? And how does it function?
Search.smacklek.com is a browser extension that supposedly works as a search engine. It features a simple user interface but despite its plain appearance, Search.smacklek.com is not your typical search engine as it is actually categorized as a browser hijacker and a potentially unwanted program (PUP) by security experts since it hijacks a browser’s setting upon installation without so much as a notice to users. Thus, if you install this questionable search engine, it will quickly modify the default settings in your browser like the default search provider, homepage, as well as new tab page.
After its installation, you will see changes in your browsing. One of these changes is the increase in the number of ads that you encounter as you browse the internet. Some of these ads can even redirect you to suspicious web pages that might potentially harm your computer. Aside from that, browser hijackers like this one also track all your browsing activities so that they can obtain information like your browser type, browsing history, IP address, search queries, websites you often visit, and many more. The harvested information is then used to generate more customized ads and personalized ones to lure you into clicking ads which actually profits the developers of Search.smacklek.com. In addition, the information obtained might also be shared with third parties, which is a clear sign that this dubious search engine is a threat to your computer and privacy.
How is Search.smacklek.com distributed over the web?
Like other browser hijackers, Search.smacklek.com is distributed using software bundles or free software packages that can be found on free sharing sites. It is added as one of the optional components in software bundles together with other browser hijackers and unwanted programs.
Delete Search.smacklek.com from your browser and system with the help of the removal guide given below.
Step_1: The first thing you have to do is flush the DNS. Just, right-click on the Start button and click on Command Prompt (administrator). From there, type the “ipconfig /flushdns” command and hit Enter to flush the DNS.
Step_2: After that, restart your computer and then open all the browsers infected by Search.smacklek.com. Reset all the affected browsers to default to their default state.
Google Chrome
- Open Google Chrome, then tap the Alt + F keys.
- After that, click on Settings.
- Next, scroll down until you see the Advanced option, once you see it, click on it.
- After clicking the Advanced option, go to the “Restore and clean up option and click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” option to reset Google Chrome.
- Now restart Google Chrome.
Mozilla Firefox
- Open Mozilla Firefox and tap Ctrl + Shift + A to access the Add-ons Manager.
- In the Extensions menu Remove the unwanted extension.
- Restart the browser and tap keys Alt + T.
- Select Options and then move to the General menu.
- Overwrite the URL in the Home Page section and then restart the browser.
Internet Explorer
- Launch Internet Explorer.
- Next, click the wrench icon for Settings.
- Then click Internet Options.
- After that, go to the Advanced tab.
- From there, click the Reset button. This will reset Internet Explorer’s settings to their default condition.
- Now click OK to save the changes made.
- Restart your computer.
Step_3: Next, tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “appwiz.cpl” in the field and press Enter to open the Programs and Features in Control Panel.
Step_4: From the list of programs installed, look for Search.smacklek.com or any unfamiliar program that could be related to it under the list of installed programs, and once you’ve found it, uninstall it.
Step_5: Edit your Hosts File.
- Tap the Win + R keys to open then type in %WinDir% and then click OK.
- Go to System32/drivers/etc.
- Open the hosts file using Notepad.
- Delete all the entries that contain Search.smacklek.com.
- After that, save the changes you’ve made and close the file.
Step_6: Hold down Windows + E keys simultaneously to open File Explorer.
Step_7: Navigate to the following directories and look for suspicious files associated with the browser hijacker such as the software bundle it came with and delete it/them.
- %USERPROFILE%\Downloads
- %USERPROFILE%\Desktop
- %TEMP%
Step_8: Close the File Explorer.
Step_9: Empty the contents of Recycle Bin.
Congratulations, you have just removed Search.smacklek.com Hijacker in Windows 10 all by yourself. If you would like to read more helpful articles and tips about various software and hardware visit fixmypcfree.com daily.
Now that’s how you remove Search.smacklek.com Hijacker in Windows 10 on a computer. On the other hand, if your computer is going through some system-related issues that have to get fixed, there is a one-click solution known as Restoro you could check out to resolve them.
This program is a useful tool that could repair corrupted registries and optimize your PC’s overall performance. Aside from that, it also cleans out your computer for any junk or corrupted files that help you eliminate any unwanted files from your system. This is basically a solution that’s within your grasp with just a click. It’s easy to use as it is user-friendly. For a complete set of instructions in downloading and using it, refer to the steps below
Perform a full system scan using Restoro. To do so, follow the instructions below.
