how can i get rid of TheSmartSearch.net virus for windows 8?

TheSmartSearch.net is absolutely NOT a virus. It's a search engine.

You installed something that "gratiously" offered you to change your default search engine and start page to that site. That offer was defaulted to "Yes". You blindly clicked next, meaning that you agreed to the change.

If using Internet Explorer, open Internet Properties. Change your default search engine and start page to those you want.

If using Firefox: Open Options.
In the "General" section, set your home page as you want.
Go to the "Search" section.
Sellect "TheSmartSearch.net" and click the "Suppress" button. Set the default search engine to the one you want from the drop list.

Electro
January 2015