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Is my Genieo completely gone? My safari won't open

I don't think its a coincidence that my safari stopped working after uninstalling genieo. I'm afraid its still in my computer!!! How do I permanently get rid of it? and if this is not because of genieo, HOW DO I GET SAFARI TO OPEN AGAIN?

User uploaded file

"Process: Safari [435]

Path: /Applications/Safari.app/Contents/MacOS/Safari

Identifier: com.apple.Safari

Version: 7.0.1 (9537.73.11)

Build Info: WebBrowser-7537073011000000~21

Code Type: X86-64 (Native)

Parent Process: launchd [153]

Responsible: Safari [435]

User ID: 501



Date/Time: 2014-01-13 00:12:40.040 -0500

OS Version: Mac OS X 10.9.1 (13B42)

Report Version: 11

Anonymous UUID: 86CAE6BA-42D1-73D9-B6E4-DAF248B427DB



Crashed Thread: 20



Exception Type: EXC_BAD_ACCESS (SIGBUS)

Exception Codes: KERN_PROTECTION_FAILURE at 0x000000010e28cf9c



External Modification Warnings:

Thread creation by external task.


....."


there's more stuff i didn't copy paste

MacBook Pro

Posted on Jan 12, 2014 9:23 PM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Jan 12, 2014 10:54 PM

There is an uninstaller, but as the developer is not trustworthy, you shouldn't rely on it. I suggest the tedious procedure below to disable Genieo.

Back up all data.


Quit the Genieo application, if it's running. 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 in Finder (or just 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.

*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.


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
/usr/lib/libimckit.dylib
/usr/lib/libimckitsa.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 may be either created or modified by the Genieo installer:

/etc/launchd.conf

The file is unlikely to be used by anything but Genieo or something equally undesirable. Unless you know you need it, delete it in the same way as above, if it exists. Otherwise, edit it to remove the line that begins as follows:

setenv DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES

The above is not a file, but a line inside a file.

Reboot. Your web browsers should now function normally, and you should be able to reset the home page and search engine. If not, stop here and post your results.

From the Safari menu bar, select

Safari Preferences Extensions

Uninstall any extensions you don't know you need, including one called "Spigot" if it's present. If in doubt, uninstall all extensions. Do the equivalent for the Firefox and Chrome browsers, if you use either of those.

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. Don't remove it if you subscribe to "Netflix."

This procedure may leave a few files behind, but it should deactivate Genieo. Make sure you don't repeat the mistake that led you to install it. Chances are you got it from one of the Internet's open sewers such as "Softonic" or "CNET Download." Never visit either of those sites again.

20 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Jan 12, 2014 10:54 PM in response to Justforrfunnn

There is an uninstaller, but as the developer is not trustworthy, you shouldn't rely on it. I suggest the tedious procedure below to disable Genieo.

Back up all data.


Quit the Genieo application, if it's running. 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 in Finder (or just 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.

*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.


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
/usr/lib/libimckit.dylib
/usr/lib/libimckitsa.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 may be either created or modified by the Genieo installer:

/etc/launchd.conf

The file is unlikely to be used by anything but Genieo or something equally undesirable. Unless you know you need it, delete it in the same way as above, if it exists. Otherwise, edit it to remove the line that begins as follows:

setenv DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES

The above is not a file, but a line inside a file.

Reboot. Your web browsers should now function normally, and you should be able to reset the home page and search engine. If not, stop here and post your results.

From the Safari menu bar, select

Safari Preferences Extensions

Uninstall any extensions you don't know you need, including one called "Spigot" if it's present. If in doubt, uninstall all extensions. Do the equivalent for the Firefox and Chrome browsers, if you use either of those.

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. Don't remove it if you subscribe to "Netflix."

This procedure may leave a few files behind, but it should deactivate Genieo. Make sure you don't repeat the mistake that led you to install it. Chances are you got it from one of the Internet's open sewers such as "Softonic" or "CNET Download." Never visit either of those sites again.

Jan 13, 2014 12:10 PM in response to Linc Davis

Oh sorry I failed to clarify... since I already saw one of your posts in a similar thread, I have already deleted most of those files you mentioned above (EXCEPT /usr/lib/libgenkit.dylib

/usr/lib/libimckit.dylib

/usr/lib/libimckitsa.dylib). I rebooted and they solved my safari problem.


However, when I saw your post again, I deleted those 3 remaining files you mentioned, failing to delete /etc/launchd.conf (because I wasn't allowed to transfer it to the trash for some reason). My laptop froze waiting for the file to get deleted and as a result, I forced it to shut off. After that my laptop won't open again. :/

Jan 13, 2014 12:17 PM in response to Linc Davis

Hi Linc


First off - thank you for all the support you give folks here on the forum. I've benefitted a lot in the past from your knowledge and recovered from some perplexing situations :-)


This time round I'm in the same position as Justforrfunnn.


I followed the instructions and deleted the evil files but after rebooting the Mac just spins on the gray logo screen. Doesn't even get to the login prompt.


I recovered from a TM back-up and tried again. Same result.


Any ideas?


Thanks again


Dave

Jan 13, 2014 12:36 PM in response to rzme0

Hello rzme

I read somewhere that you can use a bootable drive to boot your mac and find the /etc/launchd.conf file and your laptop will go back to normal! The problem with me is that I don't have an external hardrive compatible with mac.... However, I'm going to try to target disk mode to boot using another mac book and try to delete the file from there

Jan 13, 2014 12:55 PM in response to Justforrfunnn

Please don't create duplicate threads on the same subject. If you have another Mac, you can use target disk mode as you say. Otherwise I suggest you restore from the backup you made before trying to remove Genieo, and then start over, this time removing the launchd.conf file first. If you're familiar with the shell, you can remove it in single-user mode, but that technique is only suitable for advanced users.

Jan 14, 2014 2:02 AM in response to Linc Davis

Hi Linc


Booting into Safe Mode after recovering through Time Machine and then deleting


/etc/launchd.conf as the very first step is the one that seems to be the key for my system.


Previous attempts to delete the

/usr/lib/libimckit.dylib


/usr/lib/libimckitsa.dylib



files led to them hanging and forcing a reboot. The reboot led to the grey icon screen and spinning wheel and the vicious circle. Getting rid of /etc/launchd.con first and then following your earlier instructions has got Safari back working.


All appears to be well - so thank you again for your help and your expertise.


All the best


Dave

Feb 10, 2014 2:11 PM in response to Linc Davis

Justforrfunnn


Oh sorry I failed to clarify... since I already saw one of your posts in a similar thread, I have already deleted most of those files you mentioned above (EXCEPT /usr/lib/libgenkit.dylib

/usr/lib/libimckit.dylib

/usr/lib/libimckitsa.dylib). I rebooted and they solved my safari problem.


However, when I saw your post again, I deleted those 3 remaining files you mentioned, failing to delete /etc/launchd.conf (because I wasn't allowed to transfer it to the trash for some reason). My laptop froze waiting for the file to get deleted and as a result, I forced it to shut off. After that my laptop won't open again. :/


Hi Linc,

I have had the same problem as others on this thread regarding the Genieo/Bing hijack. I followed the instructions to remove the filepaths that are named above and also at http://www.thesafemac.com/arg-genieo/. After moving the /usr/lib/libfiles to the trash, my mac froze while waiting to delete them. I forced it to shut off, and now it won't open at all (blue screen has a dark dash spinning in a circle). I followed the instructions to restart in safe mode, holding the shift key at the same time as the power button, but that didn't work either.

Any idea of what I can do to get my computer back?

Thank you.

Melissa

Feb 19, 2014 12:41 PM in response to greytdogs

I also ran into this problem when I tried to clean my daughter's MacBook Air. It did not even work in Safe Mode.


Best option would have been to connect it to another Mac via ThunderBolt and boot it in Target Mode (press T during startup). Then one can delete /etc/launchd.conf, eject the Mac, remove the cable and reboot it. It should work now and you should be able to remove the other installer files mentioned above.

But since I did not have a ThunderBolt cable I had to prepare a Mavericks installer USB stick. I used DiskMaker X for this. You have to download the Mavericks Installer (again) from the App Store, DiskMaker X uses it to fill the installer stick.


When you boot your bricked Mac from the stick, don't reinstall the OS. Instead, select the Terminal program from the menu that appears, enter "cd /Volumes", list the content with "ls", look for the name of your Mac's startup disk (usually "Macintosh HD"), "cd Macintosh\ HD/etc" (backslash is for the whitespace) and enter "rm launchd.conf". Then you should be able to restart normally.


If you care for other content in launchd.conf, you have to edit the file instead of removing it (see above).

Is my Genieo completely gone? My safari won't open

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