How do i remove the "a.akamaihd.net" virus on my mac?

Ive noticed this site has totally controlled my google browser and has set itself as the main search engine. The option to remove it doesn't exist like the other options. It has become severely annoying when it redirects everything through that site and I have tried different methods of removing files associated with this or uninstalling apps that might be linked to it and it hasn't worked. I just cant find the main files associated with this virus to remove it. Is there a trustworthy virus cleaner that might work?

MacBook Air 13", macOS 10.15

Posted on Feb 24, 2020 2:26 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 24, 2020 2:44 AM

Hi, you may try to follow the following steps to manually remove malware on your MAC:


1. Remove suspicious Login Items

Most malware will try to enable itself automatically when you log in to your mac.

a. Go to the Apple menu → System Preferences

b. Choose the Users & Groups section.

c. Make sure your username is highlighted. Open Login Items tab.

d. Choose any recently-added suspicious applications and use the "-" or minus sign to disable all the suspicious apps.

e. Restart your Mac for the changes to take place.


2. Remove malicious profiles

Some malware will install a malicious configuration profile that forced the home page of your browser.

Note: Profiles won't be visible until you have at least one profile installed. If there is none you may skip this step.

a. Go to the Apple menu → System Preferences

b. Click Profiles

c. Check if there is a profile named AdminPrefs or other profile you know that you did not set up on your Mac and delete it.


3. Stop potentially unwanted process running on your Mac

a. Go to Utilities and open Activity Monitor

b. Look for suspicious processes you are not familiar with.

c. Double click the process. A new window will appear, then click Quit. Click Force Quit on the confirmation message to stop the process.


4. Remove potentially unwanted applications from your "Applications" folder:

a. Open your applications folder : Click Go> Applications

b. Look for any recently-added suspicious applications and drag them to the Trash.


5. Remove malicious extensions on your browser.

For Safari

1. Launch Safari.

2. On the top Menu, click Safari. Then select Preferences.

3. Click the Extensions icon, and then uninstall any recently-added suspicious extensions you want to remove.


For Chrome

1. Launch Chrome.

2. Click the menu on the top right corner. Then click More Tools → Extensions

3. A new Tab for Chrome’s Extension will open. Look for any recently-added suspicious extensions you want to remove and click the remove button.


Firefox

1. Launch Firefox

2. Click the Menu bar on the top right corner and then select Add-Ons.

3. A new tab for Firefox’s add-ons will appear. Select the Extensions Tab. Look for any recently-added suspicious add-ons you want to remove and click the remove button


6. Remove related files and folders.

To manually delete any recently-added suspicious files. Do the following:

a. Click Go > Go to Folder

b. Type the following locations below and click go. (One at a time)


Look for any recently-added suspicious files in these locations.

~/Library/ApplicationSupport

~/Library/Caches

~/Library/containers

~/Library/LaunchAgents

~/Library/Logs

~/Library/Preferences

~/Library/Webkit

/Library/ApplicationSupport

/Library/Caches

/Library/Frameworks

/Library/LaunchAgents

/Library/LaunchDaemons

/Library/Preferences

/Library/Logs

/Library/Webkit


Delete any recently-added suspicious files you want to delete by dragging and dropping it to Trash.



7. After you complete all the steps, please empty your trash and restart your Mac



Hope it helps!

7 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 24, 2020 2:44 AM in response to suneha224

Hi, you may try to follow the following steps to manually remove malware on your MAC:


1. Remove suspicious Login Items

Most malware will try to enable itself automatically when you log in to your mac.

a. Go to the Apple menu → System Preferences

b. Choose the Users & Groups section.

c. Make sure your username is highlighted. Open Login Items tab.

d. Choose any recently-added suspicious applications and use the "-" or minus sign to disable all the suspicious apps.

e. Restart your Mac for the changes to take place.


2. Remove malicious profiles

Some malware will install a malicious configuration profile that forced the home page of your browser.

Note: Profiles won't be visible until you have at least one profile installed. If there is none you may skip this step.

a. Go to the Apple menu → System Preferences

b. Click Profiles

c. Check if there is a profile named AdminPrefs or other profile you know that you did not set up on your Mac and delete it.


3. Stop potentially unwanted process running on your Mac

a. Go to Utilities and open Activity Monitor

b. Look for suspicious processes you are not familiar with.

c. Double click the process. A new window will appear, then click Quit. Click Force Quit on the confirmation message to stop the process.


4. Remove potentially unwanted applications from your "Applications" folder:

a. Open your applications folder : Click Go> Applications

b. Look for any recently-added suspicious applications and drag them to the Trash.


5. Remove malicious extensions on your browser.

For Safari

1. Launch Safari.

2. On the top Menu, click Safari. Then select Preferences.

3. Click the Extensions icon, and then uninstall any recently-added suspicious extensions you want to remove.


For Chrome

1. Launch Chrome.

2. Click the menu on the top right corner. Then click More Tools → Extensions

3. A new Tab for Chrome’s Extension will open. Look for any recently-added suspicious extensions you want to remove and click the remove button.


Firefox

1. Launch Firefox

2. Click the Menu bar on the top right corner and then select Add-Ons.

3. A new tab for Firefox’s add-ons will appear. Select the Extensions Tab. Look for any recently-added suspicious add-ons you want to remove and click the remove button


6. Remove related files and folders.

To manually delete any recently-added suspicious files. Do the following:

a. Click Go > Go to Folder

b. Type the following locations below and click go. (One at a time)


Look for any recently-added suspicious files in these locations.

~/Library/ApplicationSupport

~/Library/Caches

~/Library/containers

~/Library/LaunchAgents

~/Library/Logs

~/Library/Preferences

~/Library/Webkit

/Library/ApplicationSupport

/Library/Caches

/Library/Frameworks

/Library/LaunchAgents

/Library/LaunchDaemons

/Library/Preferences

/Library/Logs

/Library/Webkit


Delete any recently-added suspicious files you want to delete by dragging and dropping it to Trash.



7. After you complete all the steps, please empty your trash and restart your Mac



Hope it helps!

Feb 24, 2020 3:19 AM in response to suneha224

suneha224 wrote:

t. Is there a trustworthy virus cleaner that might work?

  How to remove  Any Search manager, lkysearchds4649-a.akamaihd.net,  

SafeFinder, Search Pulse, SearchMine,  SearchMaster,  

  Search Barron, Search Marquis,  SOCKS, UpgradeSearchSystem,  We know,   etc.


   Adware removal

       Run the latest release of Malwarebytes for Mac to remove malware/adware, if installed on your Mac.

       For instructions: Install Malwarebytes for Mac v4      Uninstall Malwarebytes for Mac

       Click the “Scan Now” button. Once done, quit Malwarebytes for Mac.

       Restart the computer and relaunch Safari holding the shift key down.

       Scan for Malware again.


Note: Malwarebytes for Mac will remove malware installed on your Mac..

           But these malware being very invasive, will change user settings.

           A user has to reset those settings.

Malwarebytes for Mac is a trusted app.

Developer of Malwarebytes for Mac is a member of this community.


Related:

      Profiles: https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/configuration-profiles-standardize-settings-mh35561/mac

Reset search engine:    https://support.apple.com/guide/safari/customize-your-search-ibrwe75c2a3c/mac

  Reset  Homepage.   https://support.apple.com/guide/safari/set-your-homepage-ibrw1020/mac 

Apr 15, 2020 4:38 PM in response to erich258

I used number two above. I then went into Chrome and, settings,, search engine (on left), manage search engines, and removed it there too. However, it keeps coming back and I have to repeat this process!


2. Remove malicious profiles

Some malware will install a malicious configuration profile that forced the home page of your browser.

Note: Profiles won't be visible until you have at least one profile installed. If there is none you may skip this step.

a. Go to the Apple menu → System Preferences

b. Click Profiles

c. Check if there is a profile named AdminPrefs or other profile you know that you did not set up on your Mac and delete it.

Apr 17, 2020 2:12 PM in response to derik208

I used number two above. I then went into Chrome and, settings,, search engine (on left), manage search engines, and removed it there too. However, it keeps coming back and I have to repeat this process!

This could mean that there is another file that is causing the issue. For your convenience, you can download an antivirus program or just post your etrecheck diagnostic report here.


Don't know etrecheck? It is an app that creates a diagnostic report on your computer. Download it here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/etrecheck/id1423715984?mt=12

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

How do i remove the "a.akamaihd.net" virus on my mac?

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