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Cannot get rid of Bing despite changing System Preferences.

Dear All

How on earth do I get rid of BING as my default browser. I must have clicked on something Microsoft which gave me this totally unwanted browser. Looking at other threads on this topic, I have done much of what has been suggested, alas it is still firing on all cylinders.


Can I trash SAFARI and upload anew ?


Any help gratefully received !


Thank you

iMac, iOS 8.1.3

Posted on Mar 3, 2015 11:09 AM

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Posted on Mar 3, 2015 11:19 AM

Try moving the Home/User/Library/Caches/com.apple.Safari folder to the Desktop.

User uploaded file


Reboot, launch Safari and try again. If you can either move the folder back or delete it as it will get recreated.


NOTE: In Lion and Mountain Lion the Home/Library folder is now invisible. To make it permanently visible enter the following in the Terminal application window: chflags nohidden ~/Library and press the Return key - 10.7: Un-hide the User Library folder.


For Mavericks and Yosemite go to your Home folder and use the View ➙ Show View Options menu to bring up this window:

User uploaded file

User uploaded file

7 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Mar 3, 2015 11:19 AM in response to Moleykins

Try moving the Home/User/Library/Caches/com.apple.Safari folder to the Desktop.

User uploaded file


Reboot, launch Safari and try again. If you can either move the folder back or delete it as it will get recreated.


NOTE: In Lion and Mountain Lion the Home/Library folder is now invisible. To make it permanently visible enter the following in the Terminal application window: chflags nohidden ~/Library and press the Return key - 10.7: Un-hide the User Library folder.


For Mavericks and Yosemite go to your Home folder and use the View ➙ Show View Options menu to bring up this window:

User uploaded file

User uploaded file

Mar 3, 2015 1:05 PM in response to Moleykins

You may have installed one or more of the common types of ad-injection malware. Follow the instructions on this Apple Support page to remove it. It's been reported that some variants of the "VSearch" malware block access to the page. If that happens, start in safe mode by holding down the shift key at the startup chime, then try again.

Back up all data before making any changes.

One of the steps in the article is to remove malicious Safari extensions. Do the equivalent in the Chrome and Firefox browsers, if you use either of those. If Safari crashes on launch, skip that step and come back to it after you've done everything else.

If you don't find any of the files or extensions listed, or if removing them doesn't stop the ad injection, ask for further instructions.

Make sure you don't repeat the mistake that led you to install the malware. It may have come from an Internet cesspit such as "Softonic" or "CNET Download." Never visit either of those sites again. You might also have downloaded it from an ad in a page on some other site. The ad would probably have included a large green button labeled "Download" or "Download Now" in white letters. The button is designed to confuse people who intend to download something else on the same page. If you ever download a file that isn't obviously what you expected, delete it immediately.

Malware is also found on websites that traffic in pirated content such as video. 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.

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.

Mar 5, 2015 9:59 AM in response to Old Toad

TThank you very much Old Toad !

sorry to be late in getting back to you. We've been away and no access to reliable working wifi...that's Welsh hotels for you!

i'll certainly give this a try, anythung. I think it was Mackeeper that created the malware problem. It suddenly appeared and offered to scan, before I could think twice, I had hit return.


thanks again.

Cannot get rid of Bing despite changing System Preferences.

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