When I enter Google Chrome I get redirected to QSearch

This is the first time I'm writing here, but I've already informed myself and solved some problems I've had on my macbook with this forum, so I'm posting my problem here to try to get help. For some time now, whenever I enter Google chrome (the browser I have always used) the main page and the main search engine appears as *** and directs me to the QSearch page when before it always directed me to the google search engine. I have checked that the default browser remains google, I have removed all extensions and defaults where QSearch and near by me appear but nothing solves it. Has this happened to anyone else? If someone could help me solve this problem (it seems like a problem to me) I would really appreciate it. Many thanks


Joana M.



[Edited by Moderator] 


MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Apr 23, 2022 12:24 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Apr 23, 2022 12:32 PM

It's not a virus. It's unwanted garbage you inadvertently installed along with something else you recently installed. This is a very common ploy with aggregate download sites, such as Softonic.


Do not - repeat - DO NOT download any of the crap uninstallers you'll find online to remove this (which they insist on touting as a virus). These things are almost always worse than what they claim they're for.


The only option experienced users here would consider safe is MalwareBytes for Mac, or EtreCheck. Both are free to use, though it isn't a sure thing they'll find it. Can't hurt to try, though.

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Apr 23, 2022 12:32 PM in response to joanammag

It's not a virus. It's unwanted garbage you inadvertently installed along with something else you recently installed. This is a very common ploy with aggregate download sites, such as Softonic.


Do not - repeat - DO NOT download any of the crap uninstallers you'll find online to remove this (which they insist on touting as a virus). These things are almost always worse than what they claim they're for.


The only option experienced users here would consider safe is MalwareBytes for Mac, or EtreCheck. Both are free to use, though it isn't a sure thing they'll find it. Can't hurt to try, though.

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When I enter Google Chrome I get redirected to QSearch

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