You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

A program changed Safari's search from Google to Bing. How do I change it back?

I installed some "Free" fonts and the installer, I think changed Safari 7.0 search engine from Google to Bing. Is there anyway to get it back to normal? I have Time Machine backups from before the change occured if that helps at all.


Thanks

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Nov 13, 2013 9:13 PM

Reply
6 replies

Nov 14, 2013 11:12 AM in response to 57phildo

To remove the "InstallMac" spyware, start by following the instructions on this page. Back up all data before making any changes. The instructions may not remove the spyware completely.

Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:

/Applications/Genieo.app


Right-click or control -click the line and select


Services Reveal

from the contextual menu.* A folder should open with an item selected. Move the selected item to the Trash. You may be prompted for your administrator password.

Repeat with each of these lines:

/Applications/Uninstall Genieo.app
/Library/Frameworks/GenieoExtra.framework

/Library/LaunchAgents/com.genieo.engine.plist

/Library/LaunchAgents/com.genieoinnovation.macextension.plist

/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.genieoinnovation.macextension.client.plist

/Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.genieoinnovation.macextension.client

/usr/lib/libgenkit.dylib


Note: Some of these items may be absent, in which case you'll get a message that the file doesn't exist.

The following configuration file is either created or modified by the Genieo installer:

/etc/launchd.conf

The file is unlikely to be used by anything but Genieo. If you know that's the case, delete it in the same way as above. Otherwise, edit it to remove the following line:

setenv DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES /usr/lib/libgenkit.dylib

This is not a file, but a line inside a text file. Ask if you need help removing it.

Reboot.

From the Safari menu bar, select


Safari Preferences Extensions


Uninstall any extension you don't recognize. If in doubt, uninstall all extensions. Do the equivalent for the Firefox and Chrome browsers, if you use either of those.

*If you don't see the contextual menu item, copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. In the Finder, select

Go Go to Folder...

from the menu bar, paste into the box that opens (command-V). You won't see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.

The Genieo installer may also install the "Silverlight" web plugin from Microsoft. If you have no use for that plugin, you should remove it according to Microsoft's instructions.

This procedure may leave a few files behind, but it should render Genieo permanently non-functional, as long as you never reinstall it.

Nov 14, 2013 5:49 PM in response to Linc Davis

Did all that you recommended. The switching between Yahoo, Bing and Google allowed me to select Google again. I removed all the files per your instructions.


For the configuration file: /etc/launchd.conf


I found the file: setenv DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES /usr/lib/libimckit.dylib


which I didn't move to trash.


Thanks for your help, I learned my lesson. Nothing is "Free".

A program changed Safari's search from Google to Bing. How do I change it back?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.