Remove Search Hub by Search Smart from Chrome’s extension manager first, then verify your search engine, startup page, new-tab page and notification permissions. The name comes from a 2019 Malwarebytes guide republished by Geekstogo; Chrome’s current removal controls are the reliable cleanup path today.
How do I know if my computer is affected by Search Hub by Search Smart?
The 2019 guide attributed to the Malwarebytes research team classified Search Hub by Search Smart as a search hijacker. It described behavior such as changing the browser’s start page or search scope and enabling web-push notifications. Those observations document that historical case; they do not establish that the extension or its infrastructure is still active.
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Signs to check in Chrome
- An unfamiliar extension named Search Hub, Search Hub by Search Smart, or a similar label appears in Chrome.
- Searches go through an unexpected provider, or the homepage, startup page or new-tab page changes without your approval.
- Unwanted website notifications appear after you granted a site permission to send them.
Historical technical indicators
The 2019 case identified extension ID migcdcdngigcanbbdbpkhfmiaadppceh and the search URL hp.hgetsearchhub.com/s?query={searchTerms}. Treat both as historical indicators for comparison only, not as proof that a current installation or endpoint is genuine.
How do I remove Search Hub by Search Smart?
- In desktop Chrome, open the three-dot menu and choose Extensions, then Manage extensions. You can also enter
chrome://extensionsin the address bar. - Find Search Hub by Search Smart or the unfamiliar extension you are investigating.
- Select Remove, then confirm the removal. If Chrome shows a report-abuse option, use it only if you want to report the extension; reporting is not required to uninstall it.
- Close and reopen Chrome, then test a new search and a new tab.
Google says that removing an extension restores homepage, new-tab and search-engine settings to the values they had before that extension was installed. Check those settings rather than assuming the browser is clean.
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Check Chrome settings after removal
Search engine
Open Chrome’s three-dot menu, choose Settings, then Search engine. Select the provider you intend to use and review Manage search engines and site search for unfamiliar entries. Delete an unwanted entry where Chrome provides a delete control.
Startup and homepage
In Settings, review On startup and Appearance. Remove an address you do not recognize and set your preferred startup or home-page option. Chrome labels can vary slightly by release.
New-tab behavior
Open a new tab after the extension is gone. If an unfamiliar page still appears, return to chrome://extensions and look for another extension with permission to change the new-tab page.
Stop unwanted notifications
Notifications are controlled separately from extensions. In Chrome, open Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications. Under the section listing sites allowed to send notifications, find the origin you do not recognize and choose Block (or remove its permission). Block the exact site shown in Chrome instead of guessing a related domain.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If the symptoms continue
Persistent redirects or setting changes can indicate another unwanted program, a second extension or a policy applied by installed software. Use this escalation order:
| Step | When to use it | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Inspect extensions again | A redirect or altered search returns immediately | Disable or remove other unfamiliar extensions at chrome://extensions, one at a time, and retest. |
| Check installed programs | Chrome settings revert or the problem affects more than one browser | Review recently installed applications in your operating system and uninstall software you do not recognize. Google recommends checking for unwanted programs when browser symptoms persist. |
| Reset Chrome | Settings remain changed after unwanted software is removed | Open Settings > Reset settings and choose Restore settings to their original defaults, then confirm. Review extensions and notification permissions afterward. |
A reset changes browser configuration; it is not a substitute for removing an unwanted operating-system program. Back up any custom settings you need before resetting.
What the older Malwarebytes guide does—and does not—prove
The guide was published by Geekstogo on September 16, 2019, with permission from Malwarebytes. Its embedded case log recorded Malwarebytes 3.8.3.2965 on Windows 7 Service Pack 1 scanning 235,793 objects in 8 minutes 43 seconds, detecting and quarantining 34 threats. That is one historical machine’s log, not a current detection rate, product guarantee or expected result for your computer.
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The guide also reported installation after a website redirect to the Chrome Web Store. That describes the 2019 report only; it does not show that the route remains available or that every affected user installed the extension that way. Malwarebytes or another reputable security product may be useful for a separate malware check, but the sources do not establish current Search Hub detection or a required scanner.
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