How to remove WhiteSmoke Toolbar – whitesmoke.com redirect virus removal (Uninstall guide)
What is Whitesmoke.com (Redirect – Toolbar)?
WhiteSmoke, via Whitesmoke.com and other listed domain names is the distributor of WhiteSmoke “writing” software used to correct grammar and style that has proven to be problematic for many users. WhiteSmoke (and WhiteSmoke Toolbar) is potential malware, categorized as a browser hijacker that changes existing internet browser settings of popular internet browsers without consent, including the home page and default search engine, causing internet browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Internet Explorer to start-up on the WhiteSmoke search engine (search.whitesmoke.com) and redirect to search.whitesmoke.com, isearch.whitesmoke.com, get.whitesmoke.com, ask.com, search.conduit.com, and other websites when attempting to search the internet or input a URL using the browser’s address bar. Furthermore, WhiteSmoke Toolbar is known to install to computer systems as a browser helper object (BHO), add-on, and extension without permission.
WhiteSmoke is often referred to as the WhiteSmoke virus, through this is not an actual computer virus because of symptoms victims have faced when manually and voluntarily installing this software or noticing that this software has installed without consent. If you have fallen victim to symptoms of WhiteSmoke malware without consent, you may run into serious issues concerning your privacy.
In most cases, WhiteSmoke Toolbar bundles with third-party items including freeware, shareware, and media related content such as codecs or torrents (but can also be downloaded from the whitesmoke.com website). If you recently installed software from such websites as download.com or clicked an advertisement on a suspicious website, you may have contracted WhiteSmoke malware in efforts to monetize free online products and services.
Issues concerning WhiteSmoke malware:
WhiteSmoke was once rumored to be a trusted source and legitimate software used to correct grammar, style, punctuation, and more, but now Whitesmoke.com has submitted to unethical tactics; even criminal tactics that have caused problems for many users.
- Whitesmoke.com once promoted their product as a 1-time payment opportunity to many individuals but years later blocked users from their accounts and claimed they now must pay for a subscription. No refund has been reported.
- WhiteSmoke is very invasive and harvests users activity (collects and distributes . Users who have contracted Whitesmoke Toolbar and related software with or without consent are at high risk of issues concerning credit theft and identity theft. On a lesser-scale in the same regard, victims of the WhiteSmoke virus have been added to marketing and mailing lists without their knowledge and have received a high volume of specifically targeted email spam, junk mail, and in some cases phone calls from telemarketers concerning recent computer and internet browser activity.
- WhiteSmoke and the WhiteSmoke Toolbar add-on and extension may allow third-party software to install without consent including adware and spyware. During the installation of WhiteSmoke software, users may also be promoted to accept or decline offers to install unwanted software. In some cases, WhiteSmoke does not respond and will install unwanted software against the will of users.
- WhiteSmoke search results via search.whitesmoke.com and other websites are likely irrelevant, sponsored, and may contain links to malicious websites or promote fraudulent computer security software (scareware).
Related domains:
isearch.whitesmoke.com search.whitesmoke.com whitesmoke.com buy.whitesmoke.com whitesmoke.co.il notifier.whitesmoke.com get.whitesmoke.com
How to remove WhiteSmoke malware
How to remove WhiteSmoke malware- Uninstall WhiteSmoke software – Use the correct procedures to uninstall software relating to whitesmoke.com redirect (from 2 options)
- Remove WhiteSmoke Toolbar – Remove WhiteSmoke and other add-ons and extensions
- Scan computer for malware – Scan for and remove additional malware infecting your computer system
- Automatically repair browser settings – Automatically remove hijacked whitesmoke.com settings and automatically uninstall WhiteSmoke software
- Manually remove search.whitesmoke.com homepage
- Manually remove search.whitesmoke search engine
1. Uninstall WhiteSmoke software (2 options)
Option 1: Windows Uninstall (Manual Uninstall)
1. Access Windows Start Menu and navigate to the Control Panel.
2. Click Uninstall a program or Add and remove a program (depending on your version of Windows).
3. In the list of installed programs search for WhiteSmoke software, WhiteSmoke Toolbar, and unwanted third party programs (or programs you recently installed). Uninstall any unwanted software by double clicking the program’s icon, or highlight the program in the list and click the Uninstall button/tab.
Option 2: CCleaner by Piriform (Automated Uninstall)
CCleaner by Piriform
CCleaner can be used to uninstall stubborn software and software used to promote browser hijackers.
1. Install the free or paid version of CCleaner by Piriform and run the program.
2. Once installed, navigate to Tools > Uninstall tab and locate WhiteSmoke software in the list. To automatically uninstall WhiteSmoke software click Run Uninstaller.
2. Remove WhiteSmoke Toolbar attachments
If necessary after uninstalling unwanted software, you may need to remove a browser add-on or extension such as WhiteSmoke Toolbar. Please note, it may be necessary to remove multiple third-party titles.
Google Chrome
1. Click on the Customize icon (wrench or 3 bar icon) next to the address bar and navigate to Tools > Extensions.
2. Search for the WhiteSmoke Toolbar extension and remove it by clicking the trashcan icon next to them.
Mozilla Firefox
1. Type Ctrl+Shift+A.
2. On the Extensions and Plugin search for the WhiteSmoke Toolbar add-on and remove it.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
1. Click Tools and select Manage add-ons.
2. On the Toolbars and Extensions tab search for the WhiteSmoke Toolbar add-on and remove it if located.
3. Scan computer for malware (Automated removal)
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware can be used to detect and remove additional and/or third-party malware from your computer system, including malware that may be responsible for symptoms of the WhiteSmoke Toolbar virus.
1. Install the free or paid version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software.
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, please do so.
3. Open the first tab labeled “Scanner” and select the Perform full scan option. Click the Scan button to perform a full system scan. Malwarebytes will automatically detect WhiteSmoke Toolbar and third-party malware infecting your computer system.
4. Once the full system scan is complete, Malwarebytes may prompt a message 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).
4. Automatically repair browser settings (Automated repair)
CCleaner by Piriform
CCleaner can also be used to repair internet browser settings and stop your browser from redirecting to http://www.search.whitesmoke.com and other unwanted search engines.
1. Install the free or paid version of CCleaner by Piriform and run the program.
2. Once installed, run the program and 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. Look for anything that may be suspicious or contain “WhiteSmoke or Search” in the title or filename.
5. Manually remove search.whitesmoke.com homepage
- In Mozilla Firefox navigate to Tools > Options or click Firefox in the top left corner and click Options > Options. Under the General tab remove search.whitesmoke.com from the “Home Page:” field and replace it with your preferred home page URL.
- In Microsoft Internet Explorer navigate to Tools >Internet Options. Remove search.whitesmoke.com from the Home Page field and replace it with your preferred URL.
- In Google Chrome click the customize icon (wrench or 3 bars) and navigate to Settings.Click “Set pages” under the On startup option. Remove search.whitesmoke.com and replace it with your preferred URL.
6. Manually remove search.whitesmoke.com search engine
- In Mozilla Firefox, click the small search magnify glass near the search box (not url/search field) and click “Manage Search Engines…”. Remove the search.whitesmoke.com search engine from the list of search providers by highlighting the selections and clicking remove.
- In Microsoft Internet Explorer navigate to Tools > Manage Add Ons > Search Providers and remove the search.whitesmoke.com search engine from the list.
- In Google Chrome, click the customize icon (wrench or 3 bars) and navigate to Settings > Manage search engines… click the X next to search.whitesmoke.com to remove it as your search engine.
Please note, If http://www.search.whitesmoke.com is set as Google Chrome’s default search engine, add (or select) a new search engine (such as Google.com) and select the new search engine as the default search engine, then remove www.search.whitesmoke.com by clicking the X next to it.
I went through all of the steps and was able to delete all references to WhiteSmoke except one. WhiteSmoke New Customized Web Search remains in IE 8 toolbar, upper right corner. In IE>Tools>Manage Add Ons>Search Providers, WhiteSmoke will not allow it to be deleted/removed. The remove button will not activate the same as it does for other providers when I select them however, I can disable it, which I have done. Can I remove WhiteSmoke completely from the IE tool bar? Is there anything else I can do?
Yes that is because Whitesmoke is a BHO that will install to your computer and attach to your internet browser(s) as an add-on or extension… You have to uninstall software using the Windows Uninstaller interface (etc.) before you can remove the add-on from Internet Explorer.