Methods of hacking and infecting computers over time are becoming more thoughtful and at the same time aggressive. Advertising worms, which are widely distributed throughout the network, annoy users and prevent them from working, and if an inexperienced user "catches" such a worm, it can threaten it with very unpleasant consequences, up to the need to reinstall the software. The most common and annoying “guest” of personal computers in Russia is the Smartinf.ru advertising worm. How to remove Smartinf.ru from computer completely? First you need to understand what an ad virus is and how it works.
The principle of the advertising worm
Smartinf.ru adware virus can penetrate the computer in several ways: when visiting sites of a pornographic subject, when navigating through portals with a phishing system, and also when visiting a site where there is an algorithm for saving user data. The worm changes the settings of the start page, and, instead of the usual Google or Yandex search engines, the browser now invariably opens the questionable and dangerous Smartinf.ru. Unlike previous versions of such advertising worms, Smartinf.ru does not leave its traces in the main registry of installed programs and remains elusive and invisible to most antiviruses. Realizing this, the user asks how to remove Smartinf.ru and return the settings of the start page.
Smartinf.ru: manual removal
Attempts to remove Smartinf.ru manually through the settings are unlikely to succeed: the creators of the virus made sure that the user could not find traces of the worm in the main registry in the Control Panel (Add or Remove Programs) and browser settings. Adblock ad blocker is also powerless in front of Smartinf. The answer to the question of how to remove Smartinf.ru from a computer completely manually includes several steps:
- Removing an unnecessary process from Startup by pressing Win + R and then selecting and disabling suspicious processes.
- Canceling changes to the properties of the browser shortcut by writing the desired start page in the "Object" field.
- Completion of unnecessary processes in the task manager.
- Registry cleaning.
However, it is difficult to guarantee that an inexperienced user can easily cope with this task, and registry operations for unprepared users may simply end up with system malfunctions.
Is it possible to remove Smartinf.ru using the program?
How to remove Smartinf.ru from the computer using the program? Unfortunately, while there is no mechanism that would do all the above steps without the help of the user. However, there are programs that can help the user clean the registry without any problems. Examples include CCleaner, Reg Organizer, and Regcleaner. After all actions have been performed aimed at disabling the worm, it is recommended to use any of these programs.
Tools for checking browsers
Many articles appeared on the Internet with tips on how to remove the Smartinf.ru adware worm from your computer. Some advanced users suggest using utilities like AdwCleaner and HijackThis. However, thoughtless downloading of little-known utilities can not only be useless, but also harm the computer even more. Before downloading such programs, it is highly recommended to read the reviews and comments under the article, as well as understand the principle of the utility.
Reinstall browser
The user who solves the problem of how to remove smartinf.ru from the computer completely, often resortes to reinstalling the browser. However, the creators of the worm provided such a move: the virus easily catches and re-installed programs. Meanwhile, reinstalling is still necessary, but not as a panacea, but as a final step.
Different browsers - different solutions?
The assertion that the method for resolving the issue of how to remove the Smartinf.ru advertising worm from a computer completely, is different for each individual browser, is incorrect. The virus penetrates the computer system itself, and whatever the browser was initially, it “catches” its settings from the depths of the system. Accordingly, you should first disable the worm and clean the registry and only then reconfigure the browser.
How to avoid infection with an advertising worm?
- Pay particular attention to the address of the link to which the transition will be made. Phishing sites are designed for inattentive users who do not verify the accuracy of the address to which they go. A digit or letter can be added to the real address of a popular site, which the user may not notice, and when clicking on the link, get to the site with viruses.
- Avoid visiting dubious news resources. In order not to puzzle over how to remove smartinf.ru from the computer completely, do not click on banners with enticing headlines. Most likely, a user who switched to a dubious resource through such a banner will pick up one or several worms that will successfully bypass the antivirus.
- Regularly clean your registry. Just as a person observes personal hygiene so as not to catch serious diseases, the user must keep clean in his computer. Cleaning the registry after each Internet session is the best solution for those who care about their PC and choose a safe Internet surfing.
- Do not download little-known software. Quite often, articles with tips on using a computer are nothing more than hidden advertisements for utilities and programs. The developers of such software are not always conscientious and honest with users. In order not to endanger the computer by downloading malware, it is necessary to properly study this area or contact technical support for advice.
- Do not rely entirely on antivirus software. The creators of advertising worms are well aware of how certain antiviruses work, and have learned how to successfully circumvent them. Moreover, some antiviruses can harm the computer no less than the worms themselves. In order to choose the appropriate antivirus, you should pay attention to the reviews about each of them. Nevertheless, along with cleaning the registry, it will be useful to run a computer scan at least once a day, provided that you actively use the Internet.
- Do not trust your inexperienced user to surf the web. Elderly people, children and just beginners who are far from new technologies can be a real disaster for your computer. Despite the explanations, such users can visit phishing sites and questionable resources: a bright banner and a catchy title will surely attract the attention of gullible people. To avoid such situations, you should be near the computer, if it is used by a beginner. In order not to ask subsequently the question of how to remove Smartinf.ru and return the settings of the start page in the browser, before entrusting your PC to an inexperienced user, you should conduct a simple and understandable briefing. If the user often accesses the Internet, it’s worth creating a convenient quick launch panel for him and strictly prohibit accessing anything other than sites that are located on such a panel.