How to remove searchbaron

Please refer to this discussion: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251727717

Hey there!

As mentioned, Malwarebytes does a great job of finding the latest known adware floating around on the internet, as older malware, such as Genio and Mac Keeper, etc. and has a huge database, which is awesome.

If a standard restart of your Mac and clearing browser history doesn’t do the job that’s a good step to take.

Other good places to check, that even Malwarebytes may not remove is:

System Preferences > Users and Groups > Login Items.

Highlight and hit the “-“ to remove any unknown or suspicious programs.

Likewise, with Safari open, on the top menu, click Safari > Preferences > Extensions.

From there click any unknown Extensions and click on Uninstall.

If it has a pop up that says “Show in Finder” click that, but if it doesn’t allow you to delete it because it’s open:

Quit Safari.

Open Activity Monitor from Finder > Applications > Utilities.

Search the Extension name, double click on it and select force quit. Then you can delete it from it’s location I’m Finder.

Likewise, over the last year or two, some of this malware prevents you from making certain changes within Safari or Chrome.

If you find this to be the case, and cannot change the default home page or search engine, even after running Malwarebytes:

Open System Preferences.

Look for any category called “Profiles” (Not there by default).

If you do see that, and see installed Profiles on there with names like “SearchBaron” (Example), etc. Highlight them and again press the “-“ sign below to remove them.

Once done restart, test the issue.

Its also possible that the adware changed your network settings to be filtered by a proxy. This isn’t too likely, but if still having troubles, particiularly with loading web pages, mail or even media, go to:

System Preferences > Network > Advanced > Proxies.

If anything is enabled there (Besides the very bottom option), disable it, click Done/Okay, then Apply.

Once done, create a new network location:

System Preferences > Network > “Location” (Usually set to “Automatic”) > Edit Locations > “+” Give it a name > Done > “Apply”.

Once done, run another scan with Malwarebytes, it may find more installed malware in more hidden locations.

Restart, test the issue. I’m sure one of those steps will fix the issue you’re seeing. Hope that helps. This stuff is getting more advanced, and they are finding new ways to manipulate the system via user involvement. That’s why keeping your Mac up to date is the absolute best way to avoid this stuff. However the bad guys work day and night to program more internet scams).

Likewise, just a standard restart of your Mac initiates Apple’s MRT (Malware Removal Tool) which is Apple’s built in form of malware protection, (Besides Gatekeeper, SIP, and other built in OS security Methods).

Hope all goes well!