How do I get rid of loadm.exelator.com

Sorry, I neglected to indicate the problem is with Firefox, not Safari. Safari seems to be ok.

Any thought as to anti virus software, something to scan all programs to clear the virus.

It is not a problem with ads or Windows, it is with Firefox. The first paragraph in my question is from a site which describes just how "loadm.exelator.com" functions. It highjacks your browser and search capabilities. Each time you search for a website, say, Instapundit, the loadm.exelator.com page opens. Is there a virus removal program that would get rid of this in the Firefox program? Thanks for your help. By the way, I searched for loadm.exelator.com on your site but found no reference to it.

Two things.

First, I was able to start Firefox in safe mode and turn off a couple extensions.

Second, the mention at your site that spoke of problems caused by infiltration through modems may have a bearing on the problem. I use Apple Airport Extreme for WIFI, but recently had to replace a Centurylink modem that was outdated and causing problems. The new Centurylink modem includes WIFI which I did not wish to use and had Centurylink disable. Yesterday, it was necessary to reset the modem to establish internet connection and the modem automatically restarted its own WIFI. Then, today, the problems occurred with "loadm.exelator".

In any case, so far, with the extensions turned off the the Centurylink WIFI disabled, the problem seems to have been resolved.

I'll know for sure the next time it is necessary to reset the modem. If "loadm.exelator" doesn't return, it was the extensions. It it's back, it was bad stuff through the modem.

Here's what still puzzles me. The three extensions, two promoting shopping on Amazon and one promoting shopping on eBay, were on both Firefox and Safari. I suspect they were placed by Amazon and eBay and have been there for some time. So my guess is it is unlikely they were responsible for the virus. I seem to recall that, when the Centurylink WIFI was active, it appeared in the WIFI control, although it was not selected to be used. Is it feasible that a virus could, nonetheless, spread from the Centrylink modem and infect Firefox? And why would it not infect Safari, at the same time? As I mentioned earlier, the WIFI capability of the modem was turned off after it was installed to replace an obsolete modem. It is only since the modem was reset and WIFI was activated and remained on that problems with the virus occurred. I am guessing that, under normal circumstances, it should be possible to have more than one WIFI signal active while not selected for use. Puzzle.

I have removed all the browser extensions mentioned in your Adware Removal Guide: Spigot. However your removal instructions also advise removing ~/Library/Application Support/Spigot/

I gather that somewhere on my hard drive (which I can see on he desktop in Version 10.6.8) there lurks ~/Library/Application Support/Spigot/ which I need to remove.

I read your article “Locating files from paths” and note the following paragraph that gives me pause:

One important thing to keep in mind here is that Snow Leopard (Mac OS X 10.6) and earlier systems behave a little differently. If you enter the path to a file, rather than a folder, on later systems, the file will be displayed in the Finder. On Snow Leopard and earlier, an error message will be displayed. On such systems, you will have better luck with a different method.

Maybe I missed it but what is the “different method” to which you refer?

And when I find the offending file do I simply drag it into the trash?

I must say, since removing the browser extensions you noted, things have been running correctly. Is it the case that the Spigot line lurking the Library/Application Support will jump out and cause problems in the future?

Your adware removal tool found Spigot and put it in the trash in the blink of an eye.

Thanks.