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Browser redirects on Safari and Google Chrome

I usually use Safari and Google Chrome as my Search Browser's. I use google to search but it seems to redirect to a different search engine (For Google Chrome it redirects to yahoo and Safari it redirects to a couple of domains but ultimately lands on safesearch.com). When I switch the default search engine to duckduckgo, yahoo, etc, it doesn't seem to redirect to the domains (Only Google). I ran the MalwareBytes scan but it didnt find anything suspicious. I read the Removing "Search Marquis" / "Search Baron… - Apple Community article and provided the screenshots, but ultimately I don't know what I'm looking for in these files and if they are considered malicious.


The list of the folders are as follows:


~/Library/LaunchAgents

/Library/LaunchDaemons

/Library/LaunchAgents




MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 15.1

Posted on Nov 28, 2024 1:38 PM

Reply
11 replies

Dec 22, 2024 11:14 AM in response to World_Lore

The way to go about fixing a Mac that isn't working properly is to remove all the add-ons and system modifications that prevent it from working properly.


  1. If that Mac's contents are important to you but you have have no backup for it, create one as a fundamental prerequisite. To learn how to use Time Machine please read Back up your files with Time Machine on Mac - Apple Support.
  2. Remove all "McAfee" products including all of its "security", "health", "daemons", "updates" "scanners", "patches", "shields", "network extensions" etc components by following each of their respective uninstallation instructions. "McAfee" and all similarly categorized products are junk that will prevent a Mac from working properly. Research its documentation, follow those instructions, re-run EtreCheck, confirm their complete and utter eradication from that Mac, and never install them or anything like them ever again.
  3. Repeat those general instructions for any and all "cleaner" products such as "Combo Cleaner" since the same principles apply. They're junk.
  4. Update macOS according to Update macOS on Mac - Apple Support.
  5. Investigate that Mac's Hosts file, which EtreCheck flagged for reasons that may or many not be a factor in its proper operation. To learn how to do that please read Mr Etresoft's User Tip Fixing a hacked /etc/hosts file - Apple Community.
  6. If the Google Chrome browser is misbehaving, it almost certainly needs to be reset by following Google's instructions, here: Reset Chrome settings to default - Google Chrome Help
  7. If you still have trouble run EtreCheck again and post a new report.

Dec 6, 2024 2:26 PM in response to World_Lore

Thanks. Please confirm that you reset Safari's Search Engine to your preference. Instructions for Safari are here: Change Search settings in Safari on Mac - Apple Support.


Do the same for Google Chrome, but for now please limit this particular discussion to Safari since I am not a Chrome expert.


Next step, please download and run EtreCheck. Instructions: How to use the Add Text Feature When Posting Large Amounts of Text, i.e. an Etrecheck Report - Apple Community. EtreCheck is far more comprehensive and is likely to reveal additional clues.

Nov 29, 2024 4:19 PM in response to World_Lore

You need to start your Mac in "Safe Mode" before removing those files.


Excerpted from the User Tip you referenced,



If you are required to use "Chrome" you may also need to reset it according to Google's instructions, here: Reset Chrome settings to default.


While you're at it you might as well remove "Malwarebytes" also. You can see for yourself it did nothing to help solve the problem. It's up to you whether you want to keep it installed or not, but in my opinion if something isn't providing a tangible benefit for you then there is no justification for keeping it installed. Follow its uninstallation instructions.

Browser redirects on Safari and Google Chrome

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