HT202234: Mac OS X Snow Leopard and malware detection

Learn about Mac OS X Snow Leopard and malware detection
Ianw72

Q: Safari is opening unwanted pages of advertisements as a pop up - how do I stop this?

When I am browsing with Safari it keeps opening new windows containing advertisements for things like MACKEEPER or other products that I have no interest in purchasing.  This has only recently started happening and is probably related to something I have unwittingly downloaded but I now want to get rid of it.   When I used to use Windows it was a case of using the REMOVE PROGRAMS facility but I have no idea how to do this with the MAC:

 

Thanks

 

Ian

MacBook Air, OS X Yosemite (10.10.2)

Posted on Feb 6, 2015 10:24 AM

Close

Q: Safari is opening unwanted pages of advertisements as a pop up - how do I stop this?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Feb 6, 2015 10:26 AM in response to Ianw72
    Level 10 (313,246 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 6, 2015 10:26 AM in response to Ianw72

    Click here and follow the instructions, or if there’s a type of adware not covered by them on the computer, these ones. If you're willing to use a tool to remove it(you don't need to, but may find it easier), you can instead run Adware Medic; this link is a direct download.


    (121769)

  • by Kappy,Apple recommended

    Kappy Kappy Feb 6, 2015 10:27 AM in response to Ianw72
    Level 10 (271,291 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 6, 2015 10:27 AM in response to Ianw72
  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Feb 7, 2015 12:05 AM in response to Ianw72
    Level 10 (207,995 points)
    Applications
    Feb 7, 2015 12:05 AM in response to Ianw72

    There is no need to download anything to solve this problem. You may have installed a variant 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 case. So far it has always been a string of letters 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.

    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 an item named exactly

                v.framework

    It's actually a folder, though it has a different icon than usual. This item always has the above name; it doesn't vary. 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, and if you wish, replace it with the genuine article from mplayerx.org.

    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 Ruchi123,

    Ruchi123 Ruchi123 Jan 20, 2016 8:14 AM in response to Ianw72
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 20, 2016 8:14 AM in response to Ianw72

    same issue. Please help

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Jan 20, 2016 11:50 AM in response to Ruchi123
    Level 9 (72,060 points)
    iTunes
    Jan 20, 2016 11:50 AM in response to Ruchi123
  • by Phil-CB,

    Phil-CB Phil-CB Sep 19, 2016 2:29 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (115 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 19, 2016 2:29 PM in response to Linc Davis

    Followed all your steps and checked all folders you described ... but issue remain.

     

    Copy/pasting the same templates here and there in the forums without asking questions just gives the feeling you do not read / listen, and consider questions are all the same.

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Sep 20, 2016 8:25 AM in response to Phil-CB
    Level 9 (72,060 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 20, 2016 8:25 AM in response to Phil-CB

    You might want to start your own post since this one is from last year. A new post would be much more visible. You can link to this one.


    Did you try Niel's answer?