netmbng

Q: How to fully remove InstallMac from my Macbook Pro and Google Chrome?

So I was dumb and decided to download some apps without paying attention and decided to download InstallMac into my Macbook Pro. I have done some previous research and installed the Adware Removal Tool and it did help delete some of the items, but I think there's still more to delete that the adware removal tool did not get.

 

Whenever I search something on Google Chrome, the address bar will show search.strtpoint.com before redirecting to my search. For example if I type the letters dasf in the search bar on Google Chrome it will show the url: http://search.strtpoint.com/results.html?c=17&v=insMac&t=1408&ap=997010&q=dasf, and then direct me to google search.

 

I've tried using Avast full system scan and many of the items couldn't be deleted. It would say, Unable to scan: 1675 items and about 37 infections and I believe this is all from the Install Mac that I've downloaded. Please help. I'm really trying to find a way to fix this but I can't find any solutions and I think it's slowing my computer down as well.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.4)

Posted on Aug 30, 2014 2:07 PM

Close

Q: How to fully remove InstallMac from my Macbook Pro and Google Chrome?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Kappy,Helpful

    Kappy Kappy Aug 30, 2014 2:10 PM in response to netmbng
    Level 10 (271,684 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 30, 2014 2:10 PM in response to netmbng

    Helpful Links Regarding Malware Problems

     

    If you are having an immediate problem with ads popping up see The Safe Mac » Adware Removal Guide and The Safe Mac » Adware Removal Tool.

     

    Open Safari, select Preferences from the Safari menu. Click on Extensions icon in the toolbar. Disable all Extensions. If this stops your problem, then re-enable them one by one until the problem returns. Now remove that extension as it is causing the problem.

     

    An excellent link to read is Tom Reed's Mac Malware Guide.

    Also, visit The XLab FAQs and read Detecting and avoiding malware and spyware.

    See these Apple articles:

     

      Mac OS X Snow Leopard and malware detection

      OS X Lion- Protect your Mac from malware

      OS X Mountain Lion- Protect your Mac from malware

      OS X Mavericks- Protect your Mac from malware

      About file quarantine in OS X

     

    If you require anti-virus protection Thomas Reed recommends using ClamXAV. (Thank you to Thomas Reed for this recommendation.)

     

    From user Joe Bailey comes this equally useful advice:

     

    The facts are:

     

    1. There is no anti-malware software that can detect 100% of the malware out there.

    2. There is no anti-malware that can detect anything targeting the Mac because there

         is no Mac malware in the wild, and therefore, no "signatures" to detect.

    3. The very best way to prevent the most attacks is for you as the user to be aware that

         the most successful malware attacks rely on very sophisticated social engineering

         techniques preying on human avarice, ****, and fear.

    4. Internet popups saying the FBI, NSA, Microsoft, your ISP has detected malware on

        your computer is intended to entice you to install their malware thinking it is a

        protection against malware.

    5. Some of the anti-malware products on the market are worse than the malware

        from which they purport to protect you.

    6. Be cautious where you go on the internet.

    7. Only download anything from sites you know are safe.

    8. Avoid links you receive in email, always be suspicious even if you get something

        you think is from a friend, but you were not expecting.

    9. If there is any question in your mind, then assume it is malware.

  • by Esquared,

    Esquared Esquared Aug 30, 2014 2:16 PM in response to netmbng
    Level 6 (8,518 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 30, 2014 2:16 PM in response to netmbng

    See this topic, and specifically the remark of Thomas, near the end of the last page:

     

    A nasty thing called "install.mac" has hijacked my Safari address bar search...

  • by MadMacs0,

    MadMacs0 MadMacs0 Aug 30, 2014 3:08 PM in response to netmbng
    Level 5 (4,801 points)
    Aug 30, 2014 3:08 PM in response to netmbng

    netmbng wrote:

     

    I've tried using Avast full system scan and many of the items couldn't be deleted.

    Note that Avast! installs adware!

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Aug 30, 2014 7:56 PM in response to netmbng
    Level 9 (50,051 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 30, 2014 7:56 PM in response to netmbng

    The first thing you must do is to uninstall Avast. It is garbage.

     

    Avast's uninstaller is included with its downloaded installation package. Use it. The adware you describe may remain, and will require additional effort to eradicate.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Aug 30, 2014 8:50 PM in response to netmbng
    Level 10 (208,017 points)
    Applications
    Aug 30, 2014 8:50 PM in response to netmbng

    Do you have the same problem in Safari?

  • by netmbng,

    netmbng netmbng Sep 1, 2014 9:45 PM in response to John Galt
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 1, 2014 9:45 PM in response to John Galt

    Why is Avast bad? I've read that it's one of the best free anti-virus softwares for mac. Well I could be wrong. Do you recommend any really good free anti-virus softwares for Mac?

  • by netmbng,Solvedanswer

    netmbng netmbng Sep 1, 2014 9:48 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 1, 2014 9:48 PM in response to Linc Davis

    No I do not. And I did the checked Safari's extensions and there's nothing there. However I did solve my problem simply by using the Adware Removal Tool and then resetting Google Chrome. Next, I used Avast to do a full system scan and found several infections. Avast could not delete it for some reason, but fortunately it showed the file path of the Genio and I was able to manually delete it from there. The Genio was on some sort of Installer and was running on a Volume that I needed to eject and then delete the .dmg file. So that's how I solved my problem if anyone else has a similar problem and comes across this.

  • by MadMacs0,Helpful

    MadMacs0 MadMacs0 Sep 1, 2014 9:57 PM in response to netmbng
    Level 5 (4,801 points)
    Sep 1, 2014 9:57 PM in response to netmbng

    netmbng wrote:

     

    Why is Avast bad?

    If you read the article I mentioned you will note that it brings adware with it these days.

     

    As far as A-V scanners go, it's not really bad but it's also not that good. It does routinely do well in detecting a high number of infections, but it also has one of the highest rates of false alarm rates in the business. It even seems finds infections when it's the only thing installed on a fresh copy of OS X. And since I see you have a laptop you need to know that it's been pretty well established that it will run your battery down to zero overnight if you forget to plug it in, even when it's not supposed to be doing a scan.

     

    What you will hear next from the others who have already responded is that you don't need anti-virus software since OS X protects you against all commonly known malware today, as long as you keep it fully up-to-date, don't disable components like GateKeeper and heed/read all warnings carefully. My personal recommendation is to educate yourself on the threat, what protection is built into OS X and your computing habits then make up your own mind. There's some great information available in the Mac Malware Guide.

  • by MadMacs0,

    MadMacs0 MadMacs0 Sep 1, 2014 10:01 PM in response to netmbng
    Level 5 (4,801 points)
    Sep 1, 2014 10:01 PM in response to netmbng

    netmbng wrote:

     

    I used Avast to do a full system scan and found several infections. Avast could not delete it for some reason

    That's because adware isn't considered malware and Genieo is actually a completely legitimate applications signed with a valid Apple Developer ID. Genieo would even have us believe that some users like their work, though I have yet to find a single user that wanted any part of what it offers. Avast! and any other A-V scanners that bother to identify it consider it to be a Potentially Unwanted Application and leave it to the user to delete.

  • by audiorack,

    audiorack audiorack Jan 10, 2015 5:05 PM in response to netmbng
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 10, 2015 5:05 PM in response to netmbng

    Look up "Omnibar" in  Safar iExtensions under Preferences.  Uninstall!

  • by MadMacs0,

    MadMacs0 MadMacs0 Jan 10, 2015 5:23 PM in response to audiorack
    Level 5 (4,801 points)
    Jan 10, 2015 5:23 PM in response to audiorack

    Good start, but you still have more to do. Start with Remove unwanted adware that displays pop-up ads and graphics on your Mac and if that doesn't get everything go to the Adware Removal Guide.