Shmokiads

What is Shmokiads?

Our cyber security experts took a look at an adware server called Shmokiads and concluded that its ads are unsafe. Therefore, you ought to remove whatever software is redirecting you to the sites promoted by this server. In the worst case scenario, this server can promote malicious software that you may be convinced is legitimate and download. Hence, you may install malware without even knowing it. It seems that Shmokiads’s owners promote anything and everything as long as they get paid, so you should not trust any of this server’s ads. For more information, please read this whole article.

Where does Shmokiads come from?

Researchers say that Shmokiads’s advertisements may end up on your PC as a result of installing a malicious software bundle that contains and application or browser extension that renders all kinds of advertisements while you browse the web. You can get ad-supported software from freeware websites that that bundle their featured software with shady browser extensions or desktop applications. The owners of those sites probably get paid per install of ad-supported software. Furthermore, the bundled installers may not disclose their full contents and install malicious software without your knowledge or consent. Finally, it is worth noting that Shmokiads is quite popular with French users, so it is an indication of where ad-supported software featuring this adware server’s ads comes from.

What does Shmokiads do?

Shmokiads is what our researchers refer to as an adware server. It is a network that hosts advertisements on the Shmokiads.com domain. As mentioned, this ad server gets on your PC via a desktop application or browser extension and shows ads through it as well. Researchers say that it can promote software such as games, browser toolbars, potentially unwanted programs and even fake anti-virus applications. Researchers say that this ad server can promote programs such as Screen Addict, FromDocToPDF Toolbar, and so on. While the aforementioned programs are not malicious per se, they are also unreliable, and FromDocToPDF Toolbar, in particular, can replace your browser’s homepage address with a search engine that can feature malicious promotional links and ads in its search results. The ads that this server promotes are constantly changing, so there is no telling when you may stumble upon an ad that seems to promote a useful program but will install malware instead. Shmokiads generates revenue per install of promoted software, so rest assured that its developers have a vested interest in providing you with compelling ads. However, since all they care about is making money, they do not care what they promote as long as it is not blatantly malicious.

How do I remove Shmokiads?

To summarize, Shmokiads is a highly unreliable adware server that can enter your PC via a bundled desktop application or browser extension that will also be used to render advertisements from Shmokiads.com. This domain is used to promote potentially unwanted programs and malware that can jeopardize your computer’s security. Therefore, we recommend that you remove any questionable software from Control Panel or reset your browser’s settings to default (depending on the nature of the software.) Please see the guide below for more information.

Uninstall software from Control Panel

Windows XP

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Click Control Panel and select Add or Remove Programs.
3. Find the malware and click Remove.

Windows Vista and 7

1. Click Start and then click Control Panel.
2. Then, go to Uninstall a program.
3. Find the application and click Uninstall.

Windows 10/8.1/8

1. Right-click the Windows Start menu/Start screen.
2. Select Programs and Features.
3. Locate the application and right-click it.
4. Click the Uninstall button.

Reset browser to default settings

Microsoft Internet Explorer

1. Press Alt+T and click Internet Options.
2. Open the Advanced tab and click Reset.
3. Select the Check box.
4. Click Reset and then click Close.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Press Alt+H and click Troubleshooting Information.
2. Click Refresh Firefox.
3. Click Refresh Firefox again in the dialog box.
4. Finish.

Google Chrome

1. Press Alt+F and click Settings.
2. Click Show advanced settings.
3. Click Reset settings and click Reset. Download Removal Tool100% FREE spyware scan and
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