how do I remove ChatZum (it came up after installing VLC)? :(

What a first MAC experience for me.. I decided to switch from windows to mac. I have been a windows user since the 90's. But I do have an iphone, ipod touch, and an ipad. And I suddenly realized I should do the full switch to Mac. Got my first 13 rMBP yesterday, and boom after few hours of use --chatzum--... whew...

Hmmm maybe I was too hyped thinking that MAC are a lot safer compared to Windows... Oh well..

They are a lot safer (see my Mac Malware Guide), provided that you don't download stuff from crap sites like Softonic. Unfortunately, that sort of thing is a good way to get crap software on your comptuer, no matter what OS it's running. Fortunately, ChatZum is not actually malware, and as such, isn't that difficult to remove without consequences.

just missed it by half an hour.. Darn!!!

LOL... Sorry I wasn't faster! 😉

Hey Thomas something came up and it definitely turned out perfect!! Okay here it goes:

On my lunch break this morning I decided to restore my MAC into its original factory settings (having it bought yesterday), I hit com+R and followed the instructions, It says that it was downloading and would take 2.5hours to finish, so what I did was to come back work and finish the restore factory settings when I get back home.

**and that's when I saw your mail, and said I just missed your link by half an hour..

Now as I got home, I checked on the computer and all I saw was the login page with my username on it (weird!) I was thinking that it should have been on the setup or the next part after downloading the OS. So i opened up safari (chatzum) was still there, opened your site, did all your stuff and boom chatzum is all gone. All my files are still here and thank goodness I wont have to recopy my pics,documents,videos,etc which took me 3hours yesterday.

Thomas would you be able to tell what happened? Why didnt it proceed to the next step of installation of OS?

Thanks!

I decided to restore my MAC into its original factory settings (having it bought yesterday), I hit com+R and followed the instructions

Ahh, that doesn't restore to factory settings! That simply reinstalls the OS, installing new files right on top of the old ones and leaving everything else the same. In order to do what you were intending to do, you'd have to erase the hard drive with Disk Utility first (while started up in recovery mode).

Hey Thomas,

Appreciate if you could help me out. I'm pretty new to Mac Software and i couldnt find the location of the SIMBL file. I use the "search" button, but it wasnt detecting any "SIMBL" file. I've tried to look into the Library folder, but it wasnt in it. I'm able to see the SIMBL activity in the Activity Monitor but i just couldnt locate the SIMBL file in the system. I've managed to remove the zako internet plugins though.

Thanks!

Are you referring to these files from my removal instructions?

/Library/Application Support/SIMBL/ /Library/LaunchAgents/net.culater.SIMBL.Agent.plist /Library/ScriptingAdditions/SIMBL.osax

If so, you will find all those in the Library folder at the root level of your hard drive, not the one in your user folder or in the System folder. You can quickly go to that Library folder by choosing Go -> Go to Folder in the Finder (or press command-shift-G) and enter "/Library" (without the quotes), then press the Go button.

Yeayyy! Thomas, you're awesome. Problem solved, thanks to you! I was just stressing out about it just now. Thanks again!

Glad to hear it! (Not that you were stressing, that the problem is solved!)

I had this same problem this morning. I was going through all the steps to remove the files in my library folder and I have NONE of the files. None. I deleted the chatzum uninstaller package and I deleted the VLC player, but I didn't have any of the files in my library. I didn't have the extension in my Safari preferences either in the beginning. Yet I still have the chatzum "search chatzum" in my toolbar? 😟 Also, I'm confused, did I need to just do that to fix it or am I also needing to reinstal my os? I'm on the new Macbook Pro so there is no discs that came with my mac like my old one... am I needing to wipe everything clean?

I think you're looking in the wrong Library folder. See my earlier response to Khairunnisa Abang Ahmad.

Thomas, so when did this chatzum originally start affecting mac OS...? It looks like a pretty new malware...

I had not heard of it before this. Looks like the chatzum.com domain was registered on October 30, 2011, for what that's worth.

Hi Hannah,

My name is Maurice and I work for Softonic’s Customer Support team.

I´m very sorry about your experience with your VLC media player download.

As the biggest multiplatform software guide in the world, we are always trying new services to give our users the most complete software experience in each platform. In this case, we were testing an Installer for Mac on selected software and thanks to your post and other users information, we have immediately stopped the distribution of this installer until our provider corrects the error.

To fix the bug where some users have had their default search changed to ChatZum even if they opted out of the toolbar installation or had difficulties uninstalling the toolbar, please follow these uninstall instructions to ensure that the default ChatZum search is removed: http://support.softonic.com/index.php?/english/Knowledgebase/Article/View/425/35 /how-to-uninstall-chatzum-search-and-toolbar-for-mac

Please let me know if this has solved your problem and do not hesitate to contact us through the following link if you have any more questions or doubts:

http://support.softonic.com/index.php?/english/Tickets/Submit/

Kind regards,

Maurice

we were testing an Installer for Mac on selected software and thanks to your post and other users information, we have immediately stopped the distribution of this installer until our provider corrects the error.

[emphasis mine]

This seems to suggest that Softonic does not have a problem with wrapping free software in an installer that bundles it with crappy adware, contrary to the wishes of the developer of that software, and that the only problem in your eyes is that the installer didn't properly respect the choice to opt out. Is this correct?

If so, I'll have to stand by my call to boycott Softonic. Inserting adware in what people think is a legitimate download is unethical, and potentially illegal in some cases, and should not be tolerated by users.

If this is incorrect, please clarify. As I have not received any clarification in response to a similar e-mail directly to the Softonic rep who contacted me privately, though, I don't expect to hear back. Surprise me.