SearchPlayNow Virus - Can't Get Removed From Safari

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Level 1

12 points

SearchPlayNow Virus - Can't Get Removed From Safari

Safari still infected with PlaysearchNow

I've gone through all the steps and playsearchnow is still the default homepage when I launch Safari on my Mac. I've done malware bytes scans in Safemode and in regular mode. I've removed all extensions. I don't have profiles. I've checked every field in Safari and I've even done the "trick" where you change your home page but don't hit return. I can't find playsearchnow listed anywhere in the settings, apps, nothing yet still Safari defaults to it when I launch. New tabs do open up blank as set in preferences. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.

MacBook Air 13", macOS 10.14

Posted on Jan 10, 2020 2:19 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Eric Root

Level 10

684,111 points

Jan 11, 2020 9:44 AM in response to C Choj

If necessary, follow the manual instructions. Do not download any other programs that are listed in the articles.

Play Search Now uninstall

Play Search Now uninstall (2)

Play Search Now uninstall (3)

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8581034 Copy and paste into a new tab if necessary

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8579990 Copy and paste into a new tab if necessary

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Answer 2

C Choj Author

Level 1

12 points

Jan 12, 2020 3:21 PM in response to Eric Root

Thanks Eric. The problem has been solved. The answer was found in your 4th suggestion, https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8581034

It looks like it created a bookmark in a folder named 'new page' and set the 'Safari opens with' option to 'New Page' which was pointing to the bookmark. Safari had a lot of book marks, and this folder puts itself all the way at the bottom of the list, so it wasn't so obvious to see. I deleted the new folder with the bookmark in it, and that did it.

Really appreciate all the suggestions and the help. This was a really tricky one to track down.

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Answer 3

C Choj Author

Level 1

12 points

Jan 10, 2020 7:06 PM in response to Eric Root

Neither. I can change it to whatever I want, but it still defaults to the search.playsearchnow.com web page when I launch Safari. So right now, if I look at it, it says https://google.com, but I've put everything in there and it doesn't matter, still launches with that page.

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