Smart Search Browser Hijacker on Mac Os X
Smart Search is one of the many potentially unwanted applications that may have quietly landed on your Mac computer without your knowledge. Potentially unwanted apps fill the gray space between legitimate software and seriously damaging malware such as ransomware, viruses and Trojans. While a potentially unwanted application (PUA) will not pose the same immediate, elevated threat to your system like regular malware, it is also going to somehow diminish your user experience and may potentially expose you to further, more dangerous malware.
Smart Search is a type of PUA that is called a browser hijacker. It has the ability to switch out your favorite browser's default search engine and redirect your searches through a number of less reputable search engines such as searchmine dot net, chumsearch dot com and search-smart dot work. This happens quietly and without user consent, which is why apps such as Smart Search are classified as potentially unwanted apps.
Your search result pages delivered through the newly chosen search engine may be riddles with unsolicited ads which would not appear there on a normal search using Google or Bing. Additionally, the relevance and authenticity of your search results is also questionable, as your search results may be modified to display sponsored results from advertisers higher than they would appear or in entirely irrelevant searches.
Smart Search is usually manifested as a browser extension that may end up in your browser, no matter which one you use, whether this is Safari, Chrome or Firefox. The PUA is commonly distributed using fake Flash Player updates and may also appear in bundlers. Bundlers, also known as bundle installers, are free download packages that contain multiple apps.
One of those applications is commonly legitimate and is what the user is after. However, if you do not choose the "custom install" option, you will often end up with all the other apps that are piggy-backing inside the same installer. Those additional apps are often potentially unwanted programs and that is exactly why their presence in the bundle is so poorly disclosed.
It is important to always download your software from reputable and well-curated platforms. If you absolutely must have an app downloaded from a random free download website on the Internet, at the very least make sure you read all the fine print and opt for "custom" and not "express" install, so you can choose not to install any unwanted apps that are also included in the installer bundle.
