HT205004: About the OS X Yosemite v10.10.5 Update

Learn about About the OS X Yosemite v10.10.5 Update
Billytherat

Q: Safari not allowing searches from links since update 10.10.5 update. What do I need to do

Since I updated to 10.10.5 Safari will not accept any links from emails or any shortcut webarchive shortcuts.

What do I need to do ?

MacBook Air, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Aug 19, 2015 6:49 AM

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Q: Safari not allowing searches from links since update 10.10.5 update. What do I need to do

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  • Helpful answers

  • by dominic23,Helpful

    dominic23 dominic23 Aug 19, 2015 12:15 PM in response to Billytherat
    Level 8 (42,047 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 19, 2015 12:15 PM in response to Billytherat

    Go step by step and test.

     

     

    1. Empty Caches

     

        Safari > Preference > Advanced

        Checkmark the box for "Show Develop menu in menu bar".

        Develop menu will appear in the Safari menu bar.

        Click Develop and select "Empty Caches" from the dropdown.

     

    2. Delete Cookies

     

        Safari > Preferences > Privacy > Cookies and other website data:

     

        Click the “Details” button.

        Remove all cookies except  ones from Apple, your internet service provider and banks.

     

    3. Safari > Preferences > Extensions

     

        Turn off Extensions if any and launch Safari again to test.

        Turn on those one by one and test.

  • by Billytherat,

    Billytherat Billytherat Aug 19, 2015 1:34 PM in response to dominic23
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 19, 2015 1:34 PM in response to dominic23

    Thanks

    I ran Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.app and then went through your suggestions and it worked.

    Will now know next time.

    Thank you.

  • by Linc Davis,Helpful

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Aug 19, 2015 5:20 PM in response to Billytherat
    Level 10 (208,037 points)
    Applications
    Aug 19, 2015 5:20 PM in response to Billytherat

    This is for the benefit of others finding the discussion. Never use any kind of "anti-virus" or "anti-malware" software, as it's not needed and there is always risk involved.

    You may have installed one or more variants of the "VSearch" ad-injection malware. Follow Apple Support's instructions to remove it.

    If you have trouble following those instructions, see below.

    Malware is always changing to get around the defenses against it. This procedure works as of now, as far as I know. It may not work in the future. Anyone finding this comment a few days or more after it was posted should look for a more recent discussion, or start a new one.

    The VSearch malware tries to hide itself by varying the names of the files it installs. To remove it, you must first identify the naming pattern.

    Triple-click the line below on this page to select it, then copy the text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination  command-C:

    /Library/LaunchDaemons

    In the Finder, select

              Go Go to Folder...

    from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. You won't see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.

    A folder named "LaunchDaemons" may open. Look inside it for two files with names of the form

              com.something.daemon.plist

    and

               com.something.helper.plist

    Here something is a variable string of characters, which can be different in each VSearch infection. So far it has always been an alphanumeric string without punctuation, such as "cloud," "dot," "highway," "submarine," or "trusteddownloads." Sometimes it's a meaningless string such as "e8dec5ae7fc75c28" rather than a word. Sometimes the string is "apple," and then you must be especially careful not to delete the wrong files, because many built-in OS X files have similar names.

    You could have more than one copy of the malware, with different values of something.

    If you find these files, leave the LaunchDaemons folder open, and open the following folder in the same way:

    /Library/LaunchAgents

    In this folder, there may be a file named

              com.something.agent.plist

    where the string something is the same as before.

    If you feel confident that you've identified the above files, back up all data, then drag just those three files—nothing else—to the Trash. You may be prompted for your administrator login password. Close the Finder windows and restart the computer.

    Don't delete the "LaunchAgents" or "LaunchDaemons" folder or anything else inside either one.

    The malware is now permanently inactivated, as long as you never reinstall it. You can stop here if you like, or you can remove two remaining components for the sake of completeness.

    Open this folder:

    /Library/Application Support

    If it has a subfolder named just

               something

    where something is the same string you saw before, drag that subfolder to the Trash and close the window.

    Don't delete the "Application Support" folder or anything else inside it.

    Finally, in this folder:

    /System/Library/Frameworks

    there may be an item named exactly

                v.framework

    or else an item named

                something.framework

    Again, something is the same string as before.

    This item is actually a folder, though it has a different icon than usual. Drag it to the Trash and close the window.

    Don't delete the "Frameworks" folder or anything else inside it.

    If you didn't find the files or you're not sure about the identification, post what you found.

    If in doubt, or if you have no backups, change nothing at all.

    The trouble may have started when you downloaded and ran an application called "MPlayerX." That's the name of a legitimate free movie player, but the name is also used fraudulently to distribute VSearch. If there is an item with that name in the Applications folder, delete it. I don't recommend that you install the genuine "MPlayerX," because it's hosted on the rogue "SourceForge" website and is bundled with other malware.

    This trojan is often found on illegal websites that traffic in pirated content such as movies. 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.

    Then, 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.

  • by Billytherat,

    Billytherat Billytherat Aug 20, 2015 2:21 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 20, 2015 2:21 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Hi thanks for the addition. I did not find any of the mentioned files in the Apple article but I am a bit confused of the Framework files.

    Here is a list of those I have:-

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/Accelerate.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/Accounts.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/AddressBook.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/AGL.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/AppKit.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/AppKitScripting.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/AppleScriptKit.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/AppleScriptObjC.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/AudioToolbox.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/AudioUnit.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/AudioVideoBridging.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/Automator.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/AVFoundation.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/AVKit.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/CalendarStore.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/CFNetwork.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/CloudKit.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/Cocoa.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/Collaboration.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/CoreAudio.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/CoreAudioKit.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/CoreAuthentication.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/CoreBluetooth.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/CoreData.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/CoreFoundation.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/CoreLocation.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/CoreMedia.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/CoreMediaIO.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/CoreMIDI.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/CoreMIDIServer.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/CoreTelephony.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/CoreText.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/CoreVideo.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/CoreWLAN.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/CryptoTokenKit.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/DirectoryService.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/DiscRecording.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/DiscRecordingUI.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/DiskArbitration.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/DrawSprocket.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/DVComponentGlue.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/DVDPlayback.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/EventKit.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/ExceptionHandling.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/FinderSync.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/ForceFeedback.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/Foundation.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/FWAUserLib.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/GameController.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/GameKit.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/GLKit.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/GLUT.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/GSS.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/Hypervisor.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/ICADevices.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/ImageCaptureCore.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/ImageIO.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/IMCore.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/IMServicePlugIn.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/InputMethodKit.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/InstallerPlugins.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/InstantMessage.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/IOBluetooth.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/IOBluetoothUI.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/IOKit.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/IOSurface.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/JavaFrameEmbedding.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/JavaScriptCore.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/Kerberos.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/Kernel.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/LatentSemanticMapping.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/LDAP.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/LocalAuthentication.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/MapKit.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/MediaAccessibility.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/MediaLibrary.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/MediaToolbox.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/Message.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/module.map

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/MultipeerConnectivity.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/NetFS.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/NetworkExtension.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/NotificationCenter.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/OpenAL.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/OpenCL.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/OpenDirectory.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/OpenGL.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/OSAKit.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/PCSC.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/PegasoidVaporizable.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/PreferencePanes.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/PubSub.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/QTKit.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/Quartz.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/QuartzCore.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/QuickLook.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/QuickTime.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/SceneKit.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/ScreenSaver.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/Scripting.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/ScriptingBridge.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/Security.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/SecurityFoundation.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/SecurityInterface.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/ServiceManagement.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/Social.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/SpriteKit.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/StoreKit.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/SyncServices.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/System.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/SystemConfiguration.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/Tcl.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/Tk.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/TWAIN.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/vecLib.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/VideoDecodeAcceleration.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/VideoToolbox.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/vmnet.framework/

    file:///System/Library/Frameworks/WebKit.framework/

     

    If you suspect any could you please let me know and I will delete them.

    Thanks again.

  • by Linc Davis,Solvedanswer

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Aug 20, 2015 8:03 AM in response to Billytherat
    Level 10 (208,037 points)
    Applications
    Aug 20, 2015 8:03 AM in response to Billytherat

    "PegasoidVaporizable.framework" is part of VSearch. The anti-malware product failed to remove it. I don't know what else it failed to remove, or what it may have removed that wasn't malware. That's one of the reasons why I warn people not to use such things.

  • by Billytherat,

    Billytherat Billytherat Aug 20, 2015 9:44 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 20, 2015 9:44 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Thank you for your help. I have deleted the PegasoidVaporizable.framework and will now restart my Macbook.

    Hoping all is well.

    Thanks again