What is Snap.do, Search.snap.do, Resoft?

Snap.do (Smartbar developed by Resoft) is potential malware, categorized as a browser hijacker, that causes internet browsers to redirect to the snap.do search engine http://www.search.snap.do and other websites. Snap.do was allegedly built and designed to simplify the way people use the web (their claims). Their services can be used voluntarily, in which their product is manually downloaded and installed and the user registers and supplies information, though it can be concluded that Snap.do entraps their users to unethical terms, or without user consent, often bundled with additional software, including malware, most notably spyware applications. Snap.do bundles with many other dangerous malware applications and internet browser objects, including third-party add-ons, extensions, plug-ins, and toolbars, as well as software and files including freeware, shareware, codecs, and torrents.

Resoft and Snap.do claim their vision is to become the leading provider of simple, smart web solutions and complementary applications dedicated to improving browsing efficiency and simplicity using existing technologies and user interfaces. Though this is false, their products are suspected to be built primarily to collect and distribute personal data associated with adware. Snap.do also intends to change internt browser settings ant will.

Snap.do infects Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Internet Explorer simultaneously using browser helper objects to alter internet browser settings (Toolbars, managed searches, homepage settings).

Is Snap.do, Search.snap.do safe?

No, Snap.do, search.Snap.do, and all Snap-Do/Resoft products, services, associates, and links are not safe.

Snap.do – Reosft products and websites (used with or without consent) gather, track, and trace personal and browser information similar to how spyware operates. Resoft and associated Resoft products and websites provide this information to third parties (adware) which can produce malicious and/or unwanted advertisements.

Even visiting Snap.do and Search.snap.do can lead to malicious downloads without consent. These downloads include multiple and malicious internet browser add-ons, extensions, and toolbars (provided by Conduit malware) like DVDVideoSoftTB, General Crawler, and Save Valet.

Removing Snap.do, Search.snap.do, Smartbar. installer.mini, and other Resoft products is strongly recommended for the privacy and safety of you, your family, friends, and computer.

What personal information does Snap.do – Resoft gather?

When you use Resoft Products voluntary or involuntary, they will collect the following information: Copied and pasted from Snap.do’s privacy policy (edited).

1. The Internet domain and IP address from which you access the Resoft Products. (Your location, ID, etc.)

2. Screen resolution of your computer monitor (display).

3. The date and time you intentionally or unintentionally accessed Resoft products.

4. The page you are visiting with the Resoft Products (with or without knowledge of using Resoft products, Snap.do)

5. If you willingly or unwillingly linked to a Resoft website from another referring website, the address of that website.

* By using the Resoft Products, you are consenting to have your personal data transferred to and processed both within and without the United States of America.

* By using the Resoft website, you agree to the preceding uses of your information in this way by Resoft.

What are the hijacker symptoms of Resoft and Snap.do?

• Snap.do simultaneously hijacks internet browser settings for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Internet Explorer. If these internet browsers are installed on your computer you must remove Snap.do from all of them.
• Snap.do installs malicious and/or unwanted add-ons, extensions, and/or toolbars: Smartbar.installer.mini, Snap.do, DVDVideoSoftTB, General Crawler, Save Valet, etc.

• Snap.do  changes the default search engine to search.snap.do, or other feed based URLs which can not be manually removed until deletion using Window’s Uninstaller is successful. (There is no “X” next to the search.snap.do search settings as there is with Twitter in the image below)

• Snap.do  changes the homepage (start up page) to search.snap.do, conduit.com based sites, or other snap.do feed based URLs and websites.

• Snap.do redirects inputted web searches and URLs.

1. Automatic removal instructions (Snap.do malware)

Snap.do has become more difficult to remove than when it was first introduced. In cases where Snap.do seems impossible to remove, use the instructions below to automatically remove Snap.do malware and the search.snap.do search engine from your computer and internet browser using capable and reputable software.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

1. Install the free or paid version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.

 

2. Once Malwarebytes is installed, run the program. If you are using the free version of Malwarebytes you will be prompted to update the database, make sure to do so.

3. On the first tab labeled “Scanner” select the Perform full scan option and click the Scan button to perform a full system scan. Malwarebytes will automatically detect malware infecting the computer system.

4. Once the malware scan is complete, Malwarebytes will prompt a notice stating malicious objects were detected. Select the malicious objects and click the Remove Selected button to completely remove the malicious files from your computer (the image below shows a file that is NOT selected).

CCleaner

CCleaner can be used to automatically repair internet browser settings, start-up settings, or uninstall stubborn Snap.do software.

1. Install the free or paid version of CCleaner by Piriform.

2. Navigate to Cleaner > Windows/Applications and click the Analyze button. Afterwards, click the Run Cleaner button on the bottom right of the program interface.

3. Next, navigate to Tools > Startup and search through each tab starting from windows, internet explorer, etc., all the way to Content Menu, for additional suspicious entries and click Disable and Delete once anything is found.

4. To automatically uninstall Snap.do, navigate to the Uninstall tab and search for Snap do in the list of installed programs. Double click the program to uninstall it.

2. Manual removal instructions (Snap.do malware)

The instructions below detail how to manually renomve Snap.do malware from your computer and internet browser using general proceuders.

The first step you must always take in removing Snap.do and Snap.do related malware is to uninstall the Snap.do application. If this is not done first, removing the intial Snap.do browser attachment may be difficult.

How to Uninstall Snap.do

The video below shows an example of the Snap.do removal steps (steps below video).

1. Navigate to Control Panel > Uninstall a Program (Window’s Uninstaller)

2. Find the Snap.do application from the list or programs and click Uninstall (right click, or highlight Snap.do and select Uninstall). Please keep in mind, Snap.do may install a standalone program to a computer, bundle alongside third-party programs, or bundle inside third-party programs. Uninstalling third-party software often stops your browser from redirecting to the Snap.do search engine.

3. After you select uninstall you will be prompted to “close all internet browsers”, click Yes.

4. You will be promoted again to change your Home Page and default Search provider to the “old settings” (Your normal, safe settings), click Yes. If another prompt appears which states your settings could not be found, etc, that is okay. You will just not have a set up homepage, but may have to delete the additional search engine settings (described below).

5. After complteely removing Snap.do from your computer, if necessary search for the executable application installer (self- exractor) file Smartbar.Installer.Mini and delete this file. This file is commonly found in the “Downloads” folder.

• These 5 simple steps will remove Snap.do, Search.snap.do, and Smartbar.mini from your computer and each infected internet browser. There are no more required steps, though it is suggested to clear your internet browser’s cache and cookie load (video).

Remove add-ons and extensions

Snap.do bundles with many malware add-ons and extensions. Removing all of them is necessary from each internet browser installed on your computer.

• In Google Chrome click the wrench icon, navigate to Tools > Extensions and remove any malicious extension from the list.
• In Mozilla Firefox navigate to Tools > Add-ons > Extensions and remove all malicious extensions.
• In Microsoft Internet Explorer navigate to Tools > Manage add-ons and remove all malicious add ons.

Manually repair search engine settings

Incase settings are still malformed, due to third party malware, or Snap.do please follow the directions below to Delete Additional Search Engines, Remove Malicious Extensions, and Repair Home Page Settings.

Remove search.snap.do default search engine

It’s common for internet browser settings to not change back to normal after removal. If removal from your computer system is a success you will be able to remove addional search engine settings. These malicious “additional” search engines may be from snap.do ,conduit.com, or other malicious additional search engines.

• In Google Chrome, click the wrench icon and navigate to Settings > Manage search engines… click the X next to any suspicious search engines including search.snap.do and/or conduit manufactured search engines.
• In Mozilla Firefox, click the small search magnify glass near the search box (not url/search field) and click “Manage Search Engines…”. Remove any suspicious search engines from the list by highlighting the selection and clicking remove.
• In Microsoft Internet Explorer navigate to Tools > Manage Add Ons and remove the malicious search engine from the list.

Remove search.snap.do from home page

• In Google Chrome click the wrench icon and navigate to Settings. Click “Set pages” under the On startup option. Remove any malicious websites and replace with your preferred URL.
• In Mozilla Firefox navigate to Tools > Options. Under the General tab remove any malicious URL from the “Home Page:” field and replace with your preferred home page.
• In Microsoft Internet Explorer navigate to Tools >Internet Options. Remove any malicious URLs from the Home Page field and replace with your preferred URL.

Remove search.snap.do browser shortcut

1. Find the shortcut of particular browsers (IE, Firefox, Chrome) in all locations of the computer, including but not limited to the desktop;
2. Right click and find “Option”;
3. Delete http://snap.do/ in “Target” field of on the “Shortcut” tab.