'Search Quick' taking over Safari on my Mac (10.9.5)
I have a malware called 'Search Quick' taking over Safari on my Mac (10.9.5) any ideas how to remove this? I've tried the uninstaller they provide but it not right.
iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9)
I have a malware called 'Search Quick' taking over Safari on my Mac (10.9.5) any ideas how to remove this? I've tried the uninstaller they provide but it not right.
iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9)
Check the links below for options to remove the Adware.
The Easy, safe, effective method:
http://www.adwaremedic.com/index.php
If you are comfortable doing manual file removals use the somewhat more difficult method:
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203987
Also read the articles below to be more prepared for the next time there is an issue on your computer.
Check the links below for options to remove the Adware.
The Easy, safe, effective method:
http://www.adwaremedic.com/index.php
If you are comfortable doing manual file removals use the somewhat more difficult method:
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203987
Also read the articles below to be more prepared for the next time there is an issue on your computer.
There is no need to download anything to solve this problem. You may have installed a variant of the "VSearch" ad-injection malware.
Triple-click the line below on this page to select it, then copy the text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C:
/Library/LaunchDaemons
In the Finder, select
Go ▹ Go to Folder...
from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. You won't see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.
A folder named "LaunchDaemons" may open. Look inside it for a file with a name of the form
com.something.daemon.plist
Here something is a variable word, which can be different in each case. It could be "cloud," "dot," "highway," "submarine," "trusteddownloads," or pretty much anything else.
There may also be a file named
com.something.helper.plist
in the same folder.
Leave the LaunchDaemons folder open, and open the following folder in the same way:
/Library/LaunchAgents
In this folder, there may be a file named
com.something.agent.plist
where the word something is exactly the same as before.
If you feel confident that you've identified these three files, back up all data, then drag the three files you found to the Trash. You may be prompted for your administrator login password. Close the windows and restart the computer.
Don't delete the "LaunchAgents" or "LaunchDaemons" folder or anything else inside either one.
The malware is now permanently inactivated, as long as you never reinstall it. You can stop here if you like, or you can remove two remaining components for the sake of completeness.
Open this folder:
/Library/Application Support
If it has a subfolder named just
something
(where something is the same word as before), drag that subfolder to the Trash and close the window.
Don't delete the "Application Support" folder or anything else inside it.
Finally, in this folder:
/System/Library/Frameworks
there may an item named exactly
v.framework
It's actually another folder, though it has a different icon. Drag it to the Trash and close the window.
Don't delete the "Frameworks" folder or anything else inside it.
If you didn't find the files or you're not sure about the identification, post what you found.
If in doubt, or if you have no backups, change nothing at all.
The trouble may have started when you downloaded and ran an application called "MPlayerX." That's the name of a legitimate free movie player, but the name is also used fraudulently to distribute VSearch. If there is an item with that name in the Applications folder, delete it, and if you wish, replace it with the genuine article from mplayerx.org.
This trojan is often found on illegal websites that traffic in pirated content such as movies. If you, or anyone else who uses the computer, visit such sites and follow prompts to install software, you can expect more of the same, and worse, to follow. Never install any software that you downloaded from a bittorrent, or that was downloaded by someone else from an unknown source.
In the Security & Privacy pane of System Preferences, select the General tab. The radio button marked Anywhere should not be selected. If it is, click the lock icon to unlock the settings, then select one of the other buttons. After that, don't ignore a warning that you are about to run or install an application from an unknown developer.
Then, still in System Preferences, open the App Store or Software Update pane and check the box marked
Install system data files and security updates (OS X 10.10 or later)
or
Download updates automatically (OS X 10.9 or earlier)
if it's not already checked.
Hi Linc Davis,
many thanks for the detailed information on how to remove the malware - Seems to have worked perfectly on my son's mac!
Have reminded him, that he must not "click" and download just any file.
Huge thanks from me, too, Linc Davis - was in a mild state of panic (incorporating much off-piste language) till I stumbled across this thread
and the detailed info that you provided - which has indeed done the trick.
Phew ! And thanks again !
Thanks so much Linc. You prevented my Dad from going crazy and having a heart attack over these ads 🙂
Best Christian
Linc, thanks dude!! Isolating those three files in the trash fixed it for me!
Thanks! Nice to be back in control of my Mac.
Thanks a lot! It worked great!!!! And good riddance, malware!!!
Thank you! Five attempts via others well meaning advise drove me to Firefox for the last year. With a bit of time to kill I came back one more time and finally found the accurate information. Awesome! It worked!
Thank you. This worked for me, too.
Hi Linc,
Just want to personally thank you for your advice on how to remove the search quick page that keeps popping up. Your instructions were clear and easy to follow.
Dylan
Hi, I tried everything, I deleted these strange filesbut I couldn't find v.framework.
Search quick still opens... What ca I do?
thanks
Lorenz
Have you tried using stedman1's suggestion? The first link in his post.
I think it worked! Huge thanks
Still having issues. I've followed the steps searched for files. Trashed files, restarted. Google Chrome seems to be fine but Safari still has search-quick as my homepage. I deleted any file from LaunchAgents, LaunchDaemons, Application Support, but never found the v.framework file. Could this be the culprit?
'Search Quick' taking over Safari on my Mac (10.9.5)