Q: adware

1. Use  free  AdwareMedic to remove adware

    http://www.adwaremedic.com/index.php

   Install , open,  and run it by clicking “Scan for Adware” button   to remove adware.

   Once done, quit AdwareMedic.

             or

   Remove the adware manually by following the “HowTo” from Apple.

   http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203987

2. Safari > Preferences > Extensions

    Turn those off and relaunch Safari.

    Turn those on one by one and test.

3. Safari > Preferences >  Search > Search Engine :

    Select your preferred   search engine.

There is no need to download anything to solve this problem.

You may have installed one or more of the common types of ad-injection malware. Follow the instructions on this Apple Support page to remove it. It's been reported that some variants of the "VSearch" malware block access to the page. If that happens, start in safe mode by holding down the shift key at the startup chime, then try again.

Back up all data before making any changes.

One of the steps in the article is to remove malicious Safari extensions. Do the equivalent in the Chrome and Firefox browsers, if you use either of those. If Safari crashes on launch, skip that step and come back to it after you've done everything else.

If you don't find any of the files or extensions listed, or if removing them doesn't stop the ad injection, ask for further instructions.

Make sure you don't repeat the mistake that led you to install the malware. It may have come from an Internet cesspit such as "Softonic" or "CNET Download." Never visit either of those sites again. You might also have downloaded it from an ad in a page on some other site. The ad would probably have included a large green button labeled "Download" or "Download Now" in white letters. The button is designed to confuse people who intend to download something else on the same page. If you ever download a file that isn't obviously what you expected, delete it immediately.

Malware is also found on websites that traffic in pirated content such as video. If you, or anyone else who uses the computer, visit such sites and follow prompts to install software, you can expect more of the same, and worse, to follow. Never install any software that you downloaded from a bittorrent, or that was downloaded by someone else from an unknown source.

In the Security & Privacy pane of System Preferences, select the General tab. The radio button marked Anywhere  should not be selected. If it is, click the lock icon to unlock the settings, then select one of the other buttons. After that, don't ignore a warning that you are about to run or install an application from an unknown developer.

Still in System Preferences, open the App Store or Software Update pane and check the box marked

          Install system data files and security updates (OS X 10.10 or later)

or

          Download updates automatically (OS X 10.9 or earlier)

if it's not already checked.

There is no need to follow any complicated manual removal instructions to solve this problem. Running AdwareMedic, as dominic23 suggested, would be the most efficient way to remove adware from your system.

I would suggest that you DO download AdwareMedic. It is a very quick download and when opened will run very quickly. Suggesting that a download is more complicated or will take longer than following the multistep procedure advocated by Linc Davis should be viewed as an erroneous inference.

Unlike Linc Davis' narrowly focused suggestion, AdwareMedic is designed to identify numerous possible problem makers. Therefore it will not be only easier to use but the chances for a successful resolution are much improved. In addition, the complicated procedures advocated by Linc Davis, by comparison, invites the possibility of unnecessary errors and mistakes.

So keep it fast and simple, use AdwareMedic. If there is no success, then by all means try the cumbersome procedure posted by Linc Davis. But the chances are that you will not need to.

This post is not under copyright and can be used in part or whole without attribution.

Ciao.

<Edited by Host>

Are you not an anonymous stranger who is eager to discourage the use of Adwaremedic.  Are you suggesting that only Apple support documents are the only remedy to a given problem.  Does Apple state that as official policy that or is it just your personal opinion?

If some one is actively discouraging you from refraining using a third party application that may well solve your problem, it should arouse questions on your part. To be sure there may be more than one solution, but should not that be presented as such rather than telling you to use an already proposed alternative.

Your best interests are not being well served and it certainly raises questions as to the motives involved in such an action.. Ask Linc Davis if he has ever used AdwareMedic or tested it. If so, then if there are dangers associated with it, should he not disclose those? Silence on his part regarding this aspect indicates that he has not done so, or if he has then there, are other reasons for his discouraging one to use AdwareMedic.

If you search these forums you will find that many, many users have used it with success and have been grateful for the advice. What has not been mentioned is that some users have had AdwareMedic recommended by Apple telephone support and many technicians at many Apple store genius bars.

I have used AdwareMedic with excellent results and I fully endorse it.

Ciao.

<Edited by Host>

Both options you have been provided are accurate. AdwareMedic just saves you time, and reduces the possibility of an incomplete or dangerous removal of adware. See https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-8181.

<Edited by Host>

Actually, Linc has claimed that he has run AdwareMedic before, but what happened when he ran it is a bit ambiguous.

<Edited by Host>

You seem eager to suggest that they ignore the recommendation of a helpful download, and do what you want instead (do you see the irony?)

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As you can tell, there are some significant difference of opinion in how this kind of problem should be handled.

You really have two options. One is to follow some form of manual removal instructions. Apple's instructions are one, and they are okay, but are not the most complete. Another alternative would be my own manual removal instructions, found in my Adware Removal Guide.

The other is to use an automated tool, and the only one I'm aware of at this time that does a decent job is AdwareMedic. Admittedly, I am biased, as I am the author of that app, but there really aren't any others seriously competing with it right now. Anti-virus software doesn't do the trick very well.

The advantage to manual removal is that you're entirely in control, and don't have to trust an unfamiliar app. However, the disadvantage is that it's more difficult, and if you're not very familiar with how to navigate the file system, there's a chance of screwing something up. I've seen people who have wrecked their systems by not following manual instructions properly. The advantage of AdwareMedic is that it's quick and easy, but the disadvantage is that you have to trust it, and if you don't pay attention to the documentation it refers you to, you won't learn how you got infected with adware and might not avoid it again in the future.

(Fair disclosure: I may receive compensation from links to my sites, TheSafeMac.com and AdwareMedic.com.)