My younger cousin took my computer and downloaded
some kind of software. Now, my computer is being redirected to all these kinds of different ad pages and pop-ups. I also have blue underlined text with a green arrow.
I've looked up online how to get rid of it, and I just need a step by step guide to know how to fix this.
MacBook Pro
Click here and follow the instructions, or if there’s a type of adware not covered by them on the computer, these ones. If you'd rather not remove it manually, you can instead run Adware Medic; this link is a direct download.
(127723)
Try these links:
The Safe Mac » Adware Removal Tool
All by fellow Community Support member Thomas Reed.
Cheers,
GB
There is no need to download anything to solve this problem.
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.
There is no need to download anything to solve this problem.
Note that nobody agrees with this statement. Follow the other advice given.
I would suggest that you DO download AdwareMedic. It is a very quick download and when opened will run very quickly. Suggesting that a download is more complicated or will take longer than following the multistep procedure advocated by Linc Davis should be viewed as an erroneous inference.
Understand this is also the secondary alternative that already has been suggested so nothing new is being offered Unlike Linc Davis' narrowly focused suggestion, AdwareMedic is designed to identify numerous possible problem makers. Therefore it will not be only easier to use but the chances for a successful resolution are much improved. In addition, the complicated procedures advocated by Linc Davis, by comparison, invites the possibility of unnecessary errors and mistakes which have occurred with other users.
May I also point out that AdwareMedic has been recommended by Apple telephone support employees, and many genius bar technicians who prefer it over the Apple support procedures. They find it much more easy to use and more efficient. So keep it fast and simple, use AdwareMedic. If there is no success, then by all means try the alternative and cumbersome procedure posted by Linc Davis. But the chances are that you will not need to.
This post is not under copyright and can be used in part or whole without attribution.
Ciao. .
You should do your own research to determine the safety and effectiveness of any unknown software, rather than taking anyone’s word for it. I’m not referring to any software in particular, but to all. Trusting software without a good reason is the mistake that caused the problem in the first place. If you continue to repeat that mistake, you’ll continue to be at risk of victimization. Skepticism is the only reliable defense against malware attack.
You should also be aware that there is no need, and no reason, to use unknown software to remove adware. Apple does not recommend doing so.
If some one is actively discouraging you from using a third party application that may well solve your problem, it should arouse questions on your part. To be sure there may be more than one solution, but should not that be presented as such rather than telling you to use an already proposed alternative.
Your best interests are not being well served and it certainly raises questions as to the motives involved in such an action.. Ask Linc Davis if he has ever used AdwareMedic or tested it? If so, then if there are dangers associated with it, should he not disclose those? Silence on his part regarding this aspect indicates that he has not done so, or if he has then there, are other reasons for his discouraging one to use AdwareMedic.
His allusion that only Apple support articles have legitimacy in problem solution is a spurious one. Apple does not now and never had issued a statement that only their support articles are to be used for problem solving.
If you search these forums you will find that many, many users have used it with success and have been grateful for the advice. I have used AdwareMedic with excellent results and I fully endorse it.
Ciao.
If some one is actively encouraging you to use an application that you don't need to solve your problem, it should arouse questions on your part. To be sure there may be more than one solution, but should not that be presented as such rather than telling you to use an already proposed alternative.
Your best interests are not being well served and it certainly raises questions as to the motives involved in such an action.. Ask someone who thinks you should use the unknown software if he has ever read the source code. If not, then if there are dangers associated with it, he would have no way of knowing. Silence on his part regarding this aspect indicates that he has not done so, or if he has then there, are other reasons for his encouraging one to use the software.
His allusion that Apple support articles have no legitimacy in problem solution is a spurious one. Apple does not now and never had issued a statement that only their support articles are to be used for problem solving, because such a statement would be completely nonsensical.
If you search these forums you will find that many, many users have followed Apple's instructions with success and have been grateful for the advice. I have tested those instructions with excellent results and I fully endorse them.
I fully support the statement from Ogelthorpe.
I fully support the advice from Niel, Gail from Maine, Klaus1 and Oglethorpe posted above.
Linc Davis wrote:
If some one is actively encouraging you to use an application that you don't need to solve your problem, it should arouse questions on your part. To be sure there may be more than one solution, but should not that be presented as such rather than telling you to use an already proposed alternative.
Your best interests are not being well served and it certainly raises questions as to the motives involved in such an action.. Ask someone who thinks you should use the unknown software if he has ever read the source code. If not, then if there are dangers associated with it, he would have no way of knowing. Silence on his part regarding this aspect indicates that he has not done so, or if he has then there, are other reasons for his encouraging one to use the software.
His allusion that Apple support articles have no legitimacy in problem solution is a spurious one. Apple does not now and never had issued a statement that only their support articles are to be used for problem solving, because such a statement would be completely nonsensical.
If you search these forums you will find that many, many users have followed Apple's instructions with success and have been grateful for the advice. I have tested those instructions with excellent results and I fully endorse them.
Where your argument falls is that no one here is advocating that the Apple support procedure should not be used. On the contrary, it is a recommendation if the primary option fails to solve the problem. A careful reading on your part is encouraged.
I do feel honored by your paraphrasing my response. 😎
Ciao.
Linc Davis wrote:
You should also be aware that there is no need, and no reason, to use unknown software to remove adware. Apple does not recommend doing so.
Apple does not say one way or another. However, many Apple representatives actually DO recommend it, including some of the specialists on these very forums who are tasked with selecting posts here that they recommend as good answers. See the screenshot of the following post, containing only references to my Adware Removal Guide and AdwareMedic (which is also my app), which was marked as "Recommended" by an Apple representative:
I do not say, nor do I believe anyone else here is saying, that AdwareMedic is the only solution, or that it should be implicitly trusted just because one person says so. However, multiple people here are saying it can be trusted, and a little bit of research online will bear that out. It is one of several reasonable options.
To attempt to imply falsely that Apple recommends against it is bordering on libel.
thomas_r. wrote:
To attempt to imply falsely that Apple recommends against it is bordering on libel.
Not just bordering, IMO.
So you now have several posters recommending AdwareMedic, and one poster who can't see outside the realm of Apple's support article (which is not updated frequently enough to keep up with the adware). I also suggest AdwareMedic, mainly because it saves time, and because you run the risk of incomplete removal, which can sometimes be damaging, if the manual removal instructions are not followed to the letter. You can do a search on these forums for AdwareMedic and you'll find other users who have used it, some of which share their experiences. Some people just can't let go.
How do i get rid of malware and adware for my macbook?
