Home Malware Programs Browser Hijackers Mystart.smilebox.com

Mystart.smilebox.com

Posted: November 4, 2011

Mystart.smilebox.com is a browser hijacker that redirects your web browser to undesirable websites while you're attempting to visit unrelated sites. Although Mystart.smilebox.com may be installed in the form of a toolbar or a browser add-on, you shouldn't try to remove a Mystart.smilebox.com-affiliated infection by yourself, since this is extremely likely to fail and may even harm Windows. If your web browser is showing symptoms of being attacked by Mystart.smilebox.com redirects, SpywareRemove.com malware experts recommend that you scan your PC with an anti-malware product that's capable of removing Trojans, rootkits and other PC threats that are known for browser-redirecting behavior. Minimizing exposure to any website that Mystart.smilebox.com hijackers redirect you to will prevent other attacks from targeting your PC via your web browser.

Why Mystart.smilebox.com isn't Something to Smile About

Although its name implies that Mystart.smilebox.com is a web domain, in reality, Mystart.smilebox.com is a widely-used label for a browser hijacker that attaches itself to your browser and then controls which websites you're able to visit. Mystart.smilebox.com may be visible in the form of a search engine toolbar or Mystart.smilebox.com may be undetectable (except for the extra memory Mystart.smilebox.com uses in the Task Manager while Mystart.smilebox.com is active). Obvious signs of Mystart.smilebox.com hijacks that SpywareRemove.com malware analysts encourage you to watch for include:

  • Having your web browser redirected to unfamiliar websites. Redirect attacks may occur when you perform a specific action, such as using a search engine, or they may happen with no rhyme or reason.
  • Experiencing strange error screens that block safe websites, particularly sites that could help you remove a Mystart.smilebox.com browser hijacker.
  • Worsened web browser performance. Your browser may take longer than normal to load websites or fail to respond to input with total accuracy.
  • Pop-ups for unusual advertisements, surveys, contests or fake security scanners may appear whenever you try to use your browser.
  • Finally, your browser's settings may be tampered with and refuse to be restored to normal values.

Giving Mystart.smilebox.com a Reason to Frown

Even though browser redirect attacks from Mystart.smilebox.com can be considered only mildly annoying, Mystart.smilebox.com browser hijackers may also be capable of other types of hostile behavior or to expose you to malicious sites that could attack your PC with drive-by-download program installations. Because of these risks, SpywareRemove.com malware researchers recommend that you remove Mystart.smilebox.com infections as soon as you can manage to do so.

Although Mystart.smilebox.com is a Windows-specific browser hijacker, Mystart.smilebox.com can infect even modern Windows 7 computers. The ideal method of removing Mystart.smilebox.com browser hijackers should always use a qualified type of anti-malware scanner; trying to remove a Mystart.smilebox.com toolbar in the same way that you'd remove a normal toolbar is almost certain to fail or indirectly harm your PC.

Technical Details

File System Modifications

Tutorials: If you wish to learn how to remove malware components manually, you can read the tutorials on how to find malware, kill unwanted processes, remove malicious DLLs and delete other harmful files. Always be sure to back up your PC before making any changes.

The following files were created in the system:



SeekService.exe File name: SeekService.exe
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
%Program Files%\Mystart.smilebox.com\SeekService.com.exe File name: %Program Files%\Mystart.smilebox.com\SeekService.com.exe
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
%Documents and Settings%[UserName]Local SettingsApplication Data [RANDOM CHARACTERS] File name: %Documents and Settings%[UserName]Local SettingsApplication Data [RANDOM CHARACTERS]
%UserProfile%\Desktop\Mystart.smilebox.com.lnk File name: %UserProfile%\Desktop\Mystart.smilebox.com.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
%UserProfile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Mystart.smilebox.com.lnk File name: %UserProfile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Mystart.smilebox.com.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Mystart.smilebox.com\Help.lnk File name: %UserProfile%\Start Menu\Mystart.smilebox.com\Help.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Mystart.smilebox.com\Mystart.smilebox.com.lnk File name: %UserProfile%\Start Menu\Mystart.smilebox.com\Mystart.smilebox.com.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Mystart.smilebox.com\Registration.lnk File name: %UserProfile%\Start Menu\Mystart.smilebox.com\Registration.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
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