Smilebox – an app that poses security risks to its users SmileBox is a free application that allows creating collages, slideshows, invitations, greetings and other creative stuff. The program is legitimate; however, it has features that can be attributed to the potentially unwanted program (PUP). If you have encountered Smilebox installer on your computer without downloading it, you should take care of its removal. According to computer experts, Smilebox application is also known as a browser hijacker due to these reasons:. silent installation;. alteration of browser’s settings;. delivery of commercial content, such as ads, banners or links.
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The program spreads in software bundles and might get inside the computer unnoticed. For this reason, the appearance of the program makes people think that it’s SmileBox virus. However, it’s a huge misconception. This application is not malicious.
Potentially unwanted programs cannot harm the system or files stored on the computer. Users just have to learn to install freeware and shareware correctly to avoid third-party apps. If you do not pay proper attention to software installation, you may have found yourself wondering what is Smilebox? And what does it do on my computer? The signs that computer is infected are clear.
As soon as the Smilebox malware gets inside the computer, it might alter browsers’ settings. These modifications consist of a changed homepage and/or default search engine to Mystart.smilebox.com, which is a commercial search engine that might display modified search results. Using this search tool, you can notice that search sessions are interrupted by various redirects. Thus, you may end up on unknown and even insecure third-party websites. Also, Smile box can also initiate annoying pop-up ads, in-text links, banner ads and other notifications that are mostly used for affiliate marketing.
While developers generate revenue from your clicks, you have to deal with inconveniences and potential threats. Moreover, Smilebox can start collecting particular information about its users. Collected data includes technical details about your computer, web browser and other software installed on your PC, browsing-related information, visited websites, search queries, clicked ads, interactions on social media, IP address, and in some cases email address, phone number, etc. Thus, if you do not want that all this information would be used against you, you should perform SmileBox removal right now.
Aggregated information usually is used to update, improve and maintain the application, provide interesting online ads, and might be shared with third-parties. How partners, advertisers or advertising networks might use information about you is unknown. Questions about Smilebox. 12/10/17 2. 03/10/13 3 In most cases, information is used for marketing purposes. Though, you can even imagine what might happen if this data gets in the hands of cyber criminals.
Thus, you should remove SmileBox from the computer to prevent all possible problems. Also, we recommend scanning the computer with to clean other suspicious applications from the device. SmileBox is legitimate program; however, it might spread in the software bundles and change browsers' settings. Remove Smilebox from Windows Click 'Start - Control Panel - Programs and Features' (if you are 'Windows XP' user, click on 'Add/Remove Programs'). Remove Smilebox from Windows If you are 'Windows 10 / Windows 8' user, then right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once 'Quick Access Menu' shows up, select 'Control Panel' and 'Uninstall a Program'. Slide 1 of 39 The PUP might be distributed in software packages Though in most of the cases this program is downloaded by people from its official website.
However, it can also infiltrate computers behind people's back because it has been actively promoted with the help of bundling. To avoid system hijack, you need to monitor installation of the freeware:.
Opt only for Custom or Advanced installation of the freeware. Uncheck pre-checked check marks that say that you want to install browser add-ons, extensions, plugins, toolbars and similar components on your computer.
Security experts from Bedynet warn that skipping the latter step might lead you to additional problems, like the loss of your personally non-identifiable information, slowdowns on each of your web browsers, redirects, annoying pop-up ads, and similar issues. Learn how to uninstall Smilebox from your device In the article, we have explained what is Smilebox and what problems it might cause. We assume you want to get back full control over your browser, avoid suspicious redirects and ads, and access your favorite search engine from the main page. Thus, after the hijack, you should waste no time and remove SmileBox from the system. To do it manually, please have a look at detailed instructions that are listed below. Please, follow them carefully to be sure that all hijacker-related components are gone.
Otherwise, you may experience another hijack. However, if you want to be 100% sure that SmileBox removal is successful, opt for automatic removal option. This method requires scanning the computer with an updated anti-malware tool. Guidelines that are listed below will help you remove SmileBox via Control Panel. If you haven't installed this program yourself, please look for other unknown applications and uninstall them as well. Click Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
If you are Windows 10 / Windows 8 user, then right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once Quick Access Menu shows up, select Control Panel and Uninstall a Program. Uninstall Smilebox and related programs Here, look for Smilebox or any other recently installed suspicious programs. Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes. Remove Smilebox from Windows shortcuts Right click on the shortcut of Mozilla Firefox and select Properties. Go to Shortcut tab and look at the Target field.
Delete malicious URL that is related to your virus. Repeat steps that are given above with all browsers' shortcuts, including Internet Explorer and Google Chrome. Make sure you check all locations of these shortcuts, including Desktop, Start Menu and taskbar. To remove SmileBox from IE, you have to reset the browser or remove EVERY suspicious add-on by following these steps:. 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 Smilebox and other suspicious plugins. Disable these entries by clicking Disable:. 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. Reset Internet Explorer Click on the gear icon (menu) again and select Internet options.
Go to Advanced tab. Here, select Reset. When in the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset again to complete Smilebox removal. To fix Firefox, check the list of extensions and remove suspicious ones. Follow the steps below to reset this web browser as well. Remove dangerous extensions Open Mozilla Firefox, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Add-ons → Extensions.
Here, select Smilebox and other questionable plugins. Click Remove to delete these entries. 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. Click OK to save these changes. 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 Smilebox removal.
To uninstall Smilebox from Chrome, check browser extensions and uninstall unknown entries that might be related to this virus. You can also reset browser's settings. Delete malicious plugins Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions. Here, select Smilebox and other malicious plugins and select trash icon to delete these entries. 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. Click on menu icon again and choose Settings → Manage Search engines under the Search section.
When in Search Engines., remove malicious search sites. You should leave only Google or your preferred domain name.
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. Click Reset to confirm this action and complete Smilebox removal. If you need to recover Safari to its previous state, fix it by following these steps. 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 Smilebox or other suspicious entries.
Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them. 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 Smilebox, remove unwanted link and enter the one that you want to use for your searches. Remember to include the 'before typing in the address of the page.
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 Smilebox removal process. Ugnius Kiguolis - The mastermind If this free removal guide helped you and you are satisfied with our service, please consider making a donation to keep this service alive. Even a smallest amount will be appreciated.
References. Eric Ravenscraft. Tips and downloads for getting things done. Bettina Fabos. University Of Northern Iowa. The official website.
Randy Duermyer. Make money personal. Achal Khetarpal.
Design, technology, science and science fiction website. Dan Tynan. A technology news web site operated by Yahoo! Removal guides in other languages.