Adware.Linkury.BA is a browser-manipulating program that inserts itself into your web browsing sessions to redirect searches, inject advertisements, and monitor your online activity. Part of the broader Linkury family of potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), this variant specifically modifies browser settings and network traffic routing to generate revenue for its operators through forced ad exposure and affiliate commissions. While not a destructive virus in the traditional sense, it degrades system performance, compromises privacy, and creates security vulnerabilities by opening pathways for more serious infections.
Most users discover Adware.Linkury.BA when their searches suddenly route through unfamiliar domains, when browser homepages change without permission, or when sponsored links appear where they shouldn't. The software typically arrives bundled with free downloads or disguised as legitimate browser extensions, making it difficult for average users to pinpoint exactly when or how the infection occurred.
Threat Profile
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Family | Linkury/SmartBar adware family |
| Classification | Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP), Browser Hijacker, Adware |
| Aliases | PUP.Optional.Linkury, Adware.SmartBar, BrowserModifier:Win32/Linkury |
| Platforms Affected | Windows 7/8/8.1/10/11 (32-bit and 64-bit); targets Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Internet Explorer |
| First Observed | Linkury family active since ~2013; BA variant emerged circa 2016-2017 |
| Distribution Methods | Software bundling, fake update prompts, deceptive ads, freeware installers |
| Persistence Mechanisms | Browser extensions, scheduled tasks, registry Run keys, service installations, reinstaller components |
| Primary Capabilities | Search redirection, ad injection, homepage/new tab hijacking, tracking cookie deployment, DNS manipulation |
| Data Collection | Search queries, browsing history, clicked links, IP addresses, device identifiers, occasionally form data |
| Network Behavior | Establishes proxy settings or browser LSP modifications; communicates with Linkury command servers; redirects through intermediate domains before final destinations |
| Typical Artifacts | Folders in %PROGRAMFILES%\Linkury, %LOCALAPPDATA%\Smartbar, browser extension IDs beginning with specific hash patterns |
| Removal Difficulty | Moderate to High—employs multiple persistence layers and self-restoration mechanisms |
How It Spreads
Adware.Linkury.BA rarely arrives alone or through honest disclosure. The Linkury family has perfected distribution through software bundling partnerships, where the adware payload rides along with legitimate-looking free programs. Users downloading video converters, PDF tools, system optimizers, or codec packs from third-party download sites frequently discover Linkury components installed alongside their intended software. The installation wizards use deceptive interface patterns—pre-checked boxes buried in walls of legal text, "Express" installation options that hide disclosure, or multi-stage installers where declining one offer doesn't prevent subsequent bundled offers from installing.
The operators also leverage fake update notifications designed to mimic legitimate software alerts. A common vector involves browser pop-ups claiming your Flash Player, Java, or media codec is outdated, presenting an official-looking download button that actually delivers the adware installer. These social engineering tactics exploit the average user's uncertainty about which update prompts are genuine and which are malicious.
Primary distribution channels include:
- Freeware bundling: Packaged with download-portal versions of popular free software (video downloaders, media players, file converters)
- Fake update alerts: Browser pop-ups and banner ads mimicking Flash, codec, or browser update notifications
- Torrent and warez packages: Bundled with pirated software installers where users expect some degree of added bloatware
- Malvertising campaigns: Delivered through compromised ad networks on otherwise legitimate websites
- Extension marketplaces: Disguised as productivity tools, themes, or utilities in browser extension stores (though often quickly removed once detected)
- Email attachments: Occasionally distributed through spam campaigns with executable attachments posing as documents or utilities
What It Does On Your Machine
Once installed, Adware.Linkury.BA establishes multiple footholds across your system and browsers. The core component typically installs to the Program Files or AppData directories with obscured folder names—sometimes version-numbered (like "Linkury\Smartbar\VersionXX"), sometimes using GUID-style folder names to avoid easy identification. The software immediately modifies browser configurations, injecting extensions into Chrome, Firefox, and Edge without proper user consent. These extensions gain permissions to "read and modify all data on websites you visit," which is exactly what they proceed to do.
The most noticeable impact occurs during web searches. Linkury variants intercept search queries before they reach Google, Bing, or your chosen search engine, routing them through intermediate domains controlled by the adware network. This allows the operators to substitute search results with sponsored links, modify the order of legitimate results to prioritize affiliate partners, and inject additional advertisements into result pages. Users typically notice unfamiliar domains appearing briefly in the address bar before being redirected to what looks like normal search results—domains such as search.tb.ask.com, search.linkury.com, or various numbered subdomains that change frequently to evade blocklists.
Beyond search manipulation, the adware injects advertisements directly into web pages you visit. Banner spaces on news sites suddenly display different ads than intended, in-text links appear where website operators didn't place them, and pop-under windows open when you click anywhere on a page. These injected ads generate revenue through the pay-per-click model—every accidental click sends a fraction of a cent back to the adware operators and their affiliate partners. The volume approach makes this profitable despite low per-click revenues.
Privacy erosion represents the less visible but more concerning impact. Linkury variants deploy extensive tracking mechanisms—cookies that follow you across websites, browser fingerprinting techniques that identify your device even after cookie deletion, and logging systems that record which sites you visit, what you search for, which links you click, and sometimes what you type into forms. This aggregated profile gets monetized through data broker networks or used to refine the ad targeting algorithms. Users handling sensitive information—banking, medical records, private communications—face particular risk as this tracking operates continuously in the background.
Manual Removal — Step by Step
Disconnect from the Internet
Unplug your Ethernet cable or disable Wi-Fi before proceeding. This prevents the adware from downloading additional components or uploading collected data during the removal process. Linkury variants sometimes attempt to reinstall themselves by downloading fresh payloads from command servers, so severing network access is essential first step.
Boot Into Safe Mode with Networking
Restart your computer and press F8 repeatedly during boot (Windows 7) or hold Shift while clicking Restart from the login screen (Windows 8/10/11), then navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart > press 5 for Safe Mode with Networking. Safe Mode loads only essential drivers and services, preventing the adware from launching its protective processes that interfere with removal.
Uninstall Suspicious Programs
Open Control Panel > Programs and Features (or Settings > Apps on Windows 10/11). Sort by install date and look for programs installed around the time symptoms appeared. Remove anything containing "Linkury," "Smartbar," "SmartWeb," or unfamiliar items from publishers you don't recognize. Also remove any download managers, video converters, or system optimizers you didn't intentionally install. Some variants install under generic names like "Updater" or "BrowserHelper" to avoid detection.
Remove Browser Extensions
Open each installed browser and check extensions/add-ons. In Chrome: three-dots menu > Extensions. In Firefox: three-bars menu > Add-ons > Extensions. In Edge: three-dots menu > Extensions. Remove anything unfamiliar, especially items with generic names, missing icons, or that you don't remember installing. Linkury extensions often use names like "Smart Web," "Quick Search," or appear as unnamed entries with only an ID number.
Reset Browser Settings
The adware modifies homepage, search engine, and proxy settings that persist even after extension removal. In Chrome: Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to original defaults. In Firefox: Help > More Troubleshooting Information > Refresh Firefox. In Edge: Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to default values. This clears hijacked settings while preserving bookmarks and passwords (though consider changing passwords later from a clean system).
Delete Persistence Registry Keys
Press Windows+R, type "regedit" and hit Enter. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run. Delete any entries referencing Linkury, Smartbar, or paths from earlier. Also check HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\ for folders named "Linkury" or "Smartbar" and delete them entirely. Backup your registry first if you're uncomfortable with this step.
Remove Scheduled Tasks
Press Windows+R, type "taskschd.msc" and hit Enter to open Task Scheduler. Click Task Scheduler Library and scroll through the task list looking for entries containing "Smartbar," "Linkury," or update tasks from unknown publishers. Right-click suspicious tasks and select Delete. Linkury variants create scheduled tasks that re-enable components or download updates, so removing these prevents resurrection after reboot.
Delete Application Folders
Navigate to C:\Program Files\, C:\Program Files (x86)\, and C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\. Delete any folders named Linkury, Smartbar, or SmartWeb. Then go to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\ and delete the same. If Windows says files are in use, note the folder paths and return to delete them after the next step. AppData folders are hidden by default—enable "Show hidden files" in File Explorer's View tab.
Run Malwarebytes Free Scan
Reconnect to the internet briefly and download Malwarebytes Free from malwarebytes.com (verify the URL carefully—typosquatting sites exist). Install and run a full scan. Malwarebytes has strong detection for Linkury variants and catches leftover components manual removal misses. Quarantine all detected items. Follow up with a second opinion scanner like AdwCleaner (from the same company) which specializes in browser hijackers and PUPs.
Reboot and Verify Removal
Restart the computer normally (not Safe Mode). Open your browser and test: Does your homepage load correctly? Do searches go directly to your chosen search engine without intermediate redirects? Visit a few typical websites—do injected ads appear? Check Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) for suspicious processes. Monitor for a day or two as some Linkury variants include delayed reinstallation mechanisms that only trigger after apparent removal.
Prevention
- Download software only from official publisher websites. Avoid third-party download portals (download.com, softonic.com, etc.) which frequently bundle adware with installers. If you need VLC media player, get it from videolan.org—not from a search result leading to a download aggregator.
- Always choose Custom/Advanced installation options. Never click "Express" or "Recommended" install. Custom installations reveal bundled offers that Express hides. Read each screen carefully and decline anything that's not the core program you wanted. Pre-checked agreement boxes should raise immediate suspicion.
- Keep a reputable ad blocker active. Extensions like uBlock Origin block malvertising networks that distribute PUP installers through legitimate website ad slots. This prevents infection vectors before they reach you, though ad blockers won't catch everything if you manually download and run a bundled installer.
- Maintain updated antivirus with real-time protection. Windows Defender (now Microsoft Defender) provides adequate protection for most users if kept updated. It catches many common PUPs during download. For enhanced protection, consider Malwarebytes Premium which specifically targets adware families that traditional antivirus sometimes misses or classifies as low-priority.
- Scrutinize browser extension permissions before installing. If a weather extension asks to "read and modify all data on all websites," that's a red flag. Extensions should only request permissions necessary for their stated function. When in doubt, check extension reviews and research the publisher.
- Ignore update prompts from websites. Legitimate software updates through the application itself (Firefox prompts you from Firefox, Adobe Reader from within Adobe Reader) or through dedicated update mechanisms like Windows Update. If a website tells you to update Flash, Java, or your browser, navigate directly to the official vendor site instead of clicking the provided link.
- Create a standard user account for daily use. Operating as a Windows administrator gives every program you run elevated privileges. A standard user account forces potentially malicious installers to prompt for elevation, giving you a checkpoint to reconsider whether that free screensaver really needs admin rights to install (it doesn't).
- Review installed programs monthly. Open Programs and Features and scan for unfamiliar entries. Catching adware early—before it fully embeds—makes removal substantially easier. Set a recurring calendar reminder to check this, especially on computers used by less tech-savvy family members.
Bring It In
Manual removal of Adware.Linkury.BA requires comfort with Task Manager, Registry Editor, and hidden system folders—tools that can cause serious problems if misused. If any step in this guide feels beyond your comfort level, or if you've attempted removal but symptoms persist, professional assistance saves time and prevents the accidental system damage that comes from trial-and-error registry editing. Our Roswell shop sees Linkury infections weekly and has the specialized tools and experience to eliminate them completely, typically within a few hours.
We're located right here in Roswell at [address], open [hours], and you can reach us at (770) 765-6672. Bring in the infected machine or call to discuss remote service options if you're unable to transport a desktop system. We'll assess the infection severity, provide a clear quote before proceeding with work, and ensure your system returns to you clean, fast, and protected against reinfection. Don't spend your weekend fighting adware—let professionals who do this daily handle it efficiently while you focus on what matters.