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When I open Google Chrome, I get "search.snap.do" and a "smart

 

Customer Question

When I open Google Chrome, I get "search.snap.do" and a "smart bar" that I do not want. I don't know how this got into the computer and I have been unable to remove it. Please help. thank you

 



Already Tried:
does not show up in Programs or in add/remove

Submitted: 359 days and 17 hours ago.
Category: Software
Value: $19
Status: CLOSED
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Expert:  robmpreston replied359 days and 17 hours ago.


robmpreston :

Hello

Customer :

Hi

robmpreston :

One minute please

robmpreston :

Ok the first thing to do is go to Tools -> Settings in Chrome

robmpreston :

then under Search change the search engine back to Google

robmpreston :

Can you give me more details on the smart bar?

robmpreston :

I need the full name of it so I can give you removal procedures.

Customer :

will do

robmpreston :

Thank you.

Customer :

I have gone to settings and deleted (twice!) "feed.helperbar.com" but it keeps re-insertint itself

robmpreston :

Ok thanks those details help.

robmpreston :

What you have is a browser hijacker / malware.

Customer :

Thank you.

robmpreston :

Please try this:

Download MalwareBytes Free from here:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free

Install it, Update it and then do a Full Scan of your system

robmpreston :

Once it completes, remove everything it finds.

Restart. If the problem persists, then restart your computer into "Safe Mode with Networking" and do a Full Scan with MalwareBytes again and remove everything.

robmpreston :

If for some reason it still persists after that, download and install Hitman Pro from here:
http://www.surfright.nl/en/hitmanpro

Run it and remove everything it finds and then you should be good to go.

Customer :

OK. Will do. Thank you

Customer :

I am getting a download button. This is for "Download manager" should I download this first?

robmpreston :

No. That sounds like the malware is redirecting you to a fake site.

robmpreston :

Try going to the Hitman Pro site and using that first.

robmpreston :

See if it will let you get to that site.

robmpreston :

Also try this site for MalwareBytes:

robmpreston :

http://www.filehippo.com/download_malwarebytes_anti_malware/

Customer :

Download MalwareBytes Free from here:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free

robmpreston :

Yes, like I said it sounds like the Malware (browser hijacker) is redirecting you to a fake site

robmpreston :

When you follow my link

robmpreston :

So try the HitmanPro link and the second MalwareBytes link

Customer :

I get a very confusing screen with many download options. Please specify

robmpreston :

Ok let me specify

robmpreston :

Go to this page:

robmpreston :

http://www.filehippo.com/download_malwarebytes_anti_malware/

robmpreston :

On the top right corner click "Download Latest Version"

Customer :

done

robmpreston :

Great. Now install that, update it and run a full scan.

Customer :

will do

Customer :

currently runnin "full scan".have closed all other applications. I am communicating with you from my desktop. The problem is with the laptop.

robmpreston :

Ok

Customer :

It is still scanning

Customer :

Still chugging along.

robmpreston :

Ok

Customer :

Says it has detected 2 objects. However, it is not finished scanning

robmpreston :

Ok once its done I'd run Hitman Pro as well

robmpreston :

just to make sure between the two they get everything

robmpreston :

Hows it going?

Customer :

Let it run overnight. It detected 15 objects that were deleted. Restarted computer. Opened Google chrome. search.snap.do still shows up with task bar. Will now try"hitman Pro"

Customer :

Looked at hitman Pro. Now, it looks like this task bar that keeps coming up is:"community smart bar" i.e. that is a separate item from search.snap.do.

robmpreston :

Is it the Messenger Plus! Community Smart Bar?

Customer :

Community smart bar 1.4 is apparently an extension for google chrome. Although I have deleted it, it keeps reappearing.

Customer :

BTW. search.snap.do does also show up in Firefox.

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Expert:  robmpreston replied359 days and 1 hours ago.

Our chat has ended, but you can still continue to ask me questions here until you are satisfied with your answer. Come back to this page to view our conversation and any other new information.

What happens now?

If you haven’t already done so, please rate your answer above. Or, you can reply to me using the box below.

Accepted Answer

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Expert:  robmpreston replied359 days and 1 hours ago.

Ok try these steps to remove the community smart bar:

Windows XP
Click Start, click Control Panel and then double-click Add or Remove Programs.
In the Currently installed programs box, click the "Messenger Plus! Community Smartbar" then click Change or Change/Remove.

After that try removing it in Chrome

Click the wrench icon next to the browser address bar
Select Options
Click the Basics tab
Click Manage search engines in the "Search" section
Select the Messenger Plus! Community Smartbar Search from the list
Click the X that appears at the end of the row
Select the search engine you want to use as your default search engine
Click the Make default button that appears in the row

Then reset the homepage
Open Google Chrome and click on the Wrench icon
Select Options menu item
Select "Open this page" option in "Home page" section and enter “about:blank” in the text box to set the homepage to blank or enter your desired website URL

Expert TypeConsultant
Category: Software
Pos. Feedback: 100.0 %
Accepts: 7
Answered: 6/25/2012

Experience: Years of computer repair, upgrades, laptop repair, software solutions, consulting and programming.

Ask this Expert a Question >
Customer replied359 days ago.

(1) I do not have Messenger plus.... or community smart bar in add/remove

 

(2) I do not have Options menu item

 

Accepted Answer

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Expert:  robmpreston replied359 days ago.

Wrench icon -> Settings

Under On Startup select:

Open a specific page or set of pages

Click Set Pages and change it to whatever site you want to startup

Expert TypeConsultant
Category: Software
Pos. Feedback: 100.0 %
Accepts: 7
Answered: 6/25/2012

Experience: Years of computer repair, upgrades, laptop repair, software solutions, consulting and programming.

Ask this Expert a Question >
 
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