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Anysearchmanager

Although I tried everything reported on the community to remove Anysearchmanager from my McBook Pro I could not manage.


Can you advise?

Posted on Dec 14, 2019 9:12 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 14, 2019 9:17 AM

Download and run Malwarebytes. Malwarebytes was developed by one of our own colleagues here in ASC and is about the most proven anti-malware software for Mac. It’s the only one recommended by Apple tech support folks.


If you've already tried Malwarebytes, try troubleshooting Safari:

Force Quit Safari ( command + option + esc keys).Then restart Safari holding the Shift key. 


If you still have problems Empty Caches (Safari menu > Preferences > Privacy > Remove all website data. (This will also remove history if you do not want to remove History open Safari Preferences > Advanced and check mark “Show Develop Menu” then choose “Empty Caches” from Develop Menu ).


Then go to Safari menu > Preferences > Extensions and check there. If there is an extension delete it.


Also check in System Preferences > Profiles (if you have that pane). If there's anything in there you don't recognize delete it.

6 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 14, 2019 9:17 AM in response to francescods

Download and run Malwarebytes. Malwarebytes was developed by one of our own colleagues here in ASC and is about the most proven anti-malware software for Mac. It’s the only one recommended by Apple tech support folks.


If you've already tried Malwarebytes, try troubleshooting Safari:

Force Quit Safari ( command + option + esc keys).Then restart Safari holding the Shift key. 


If you still have problems Empty Caches (Safari menu > Preferences > Privacy > Remove all website data. (This will also remove history if you do not want to remove History open Safari Preferences > Advanced and check mark “Show Develop Menu” then choose “Empty Caches” from Develop Menu ).


Then go to Safari menu > Preferences > Extensions and check there. If there is an extension delete it.


Also check in System Preferences > Profiles (if you have that pane). If there's anything in there you don't recognize delete it.

Dec 23, 2019 2:08 AM in response to macjack

Thank you, this link was really helpful.


I just discovered that I was being redirected to AnySearchManager on Safari, but I couldn't find any sign of it in Applications, or System Preferences, or Safari Preferences. All the internet advice I looked at pointed to these locations and said I'd find something there, but there was nothing.


Malwarebytes' website instructions finally had the answer - there was a rogue bit of code in the Profiles section of System Preferences. I don't read code, but the text was pretty clearly forcing Safari to go to AnySearchManager. I highlighted the profile, pressed '-' and deleted it.


Problem solved!


For anyone in a similar situation, go to System Preferences > Profiles. If there are any profiles there, highlight each one. If one of them features the words 'Safari', 'Force' and something like 'anysearchmanager.com', that could be it.


My OS is Mojave 10.14.6

Anysearchmanager

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