I recently updated 'Safari' and now "Installmac" has become my search engine

What Mac do you have and what version of OS X?

This is happening to me as well. I don't think it had anything to do with a software update from Apple but is likely from some other malware. I have deleted everything I could find - preferences wise - and am unable to determine how to re-install Safari. I can't delete it and it isn't in the store. The only version to download is the old one. I would like help with this issue as well.

Your problem may not be exactly the same as that of the original poster of this thread, and it can be very confusing for everybody if we try to answer more than one question in each thread.

In order for us to give your problem our undivided attention to try to solve it, would you kindly start your own thread, describing the trouble you are having in the fullest detail, including completing your details to show what Mac you are using, what operating system, and what version of the application in question. Please remember to post in the forum relevant to your hardware or version of OS X.

Back up all data, then remove the "Genieo" spyware by following the instructions on this page.

Then get rid of your useless, time-wasting "anti-virus" software, or refer to its developer for support.

I'm not familiar with anything that sets your search engine to "search.installmac.com," so I can't tell you precisely what to look for. However, it's almost certainly an extension that is installed in Safari. Go to Safari's preferences window and click the Extensions button. What does it show there? Try disabling extensions, one at a time, and see when the problem goes away.

Linc Davis wrote:

Then get rid of your useless, time-wasting "anti-virus" software, or refer to its developer for support.

Fatboy101 never said anything about anti-virus software. Are you aware of some anti-virus software that changes the browser's search engine to search.installmac.com? If so, which one is it?

>>I'm not familiar with anything that sets your search engine to "search.installmac.com,"

'optional' software installs via Genieo, branded 'installmac' but owned by them .

I'm sorry, I responded to the wrong thread. It's because I've been having problems with my account on this site lately.

I agree with Thomas about what you should do.

I'm sorry, I responded to the wrong thread. It's because I've been having problems with my account on this site lately.

You're not alone. I've got several topics right now that I can't see responses on, and reporting posts is hit-or-miss lately.

'optional' software installs via Genieo, branded 'installmac' but owned by them .

Can you be more specific about that? The variants of Genieo I'm familiar with use search.genieo.com as the search engine. Is "installmac" one of their partners, and does the Genieo installer for them use search.installmac.com instead? (Unfortunately, the page that used to link to all of Genieo's partners seems to require logging in with a Google account now.) Where might I find this variant?

>> Is "installmac" one of their partners ... ?

No, Genieo run installmac

Google cache shows two 'installm...' references, don't know for sure if those installers impose search.installmac, but even if not, the coincidence would be striking - a hijacked search to another of the servers controlled by Genieo .