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How to deactivate Bing?

Bing hijacks Google even though I have Google listed as my default browser in Preferences. I type my search into Google, I

see the Google search results, then when i click on one of the responses I get a new list of search results in Bing! How to I get rid of this? This happens even though Google is selected as my browser! thank you.

MacBook Air (13-inch Mid 2013), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5), Google selected as default browser

Posted on May 22, 2015 11:13 PM

Reply
6 replies

May 23, 2015 2:34 AM in response to Valerie hunter

1. Safari > Preferences > Extensions

Turn all extension off, relaunch Safari and test.

Turn those on one by one and test.


2. Safari > Preferences > Search > Search Engine :

Select your preferred search engine.




3. Use free AdwareMedic to remove adware


http://www.adwaremedic.com/index.php


Install , open, and run it by clicking “Scan for Adware” button to remove adware.

Once done, quit AdwareMedic.


or


Remove the adware manually by following the “HowTo” from Apple.

http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203987

May 23, 2015 7:39 AM in response to Valerie hunter

There is no need to download anything to solve this problem.

If Safari crashes on launch and you don't have another web browser, you should be able to launch Safari by starting up in safe mode.

You may have installed the "Genieo" or "InstallMac" ad-injection malware. Follow the instructions on this Apple Support page to remove it.

Back up all data before proceeding.

Malware is always changing to get around the defenses against it. In addition to the files listed in the support article, you may also have to remove the following in the same way:

~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.Installer.completer.download.plist
~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.Installer.completer.ltvbit.plist
~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.Installer.completer.update.plist
~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.spigot.SearchProtection.plist
~/Library/Application Support/IM.Installer/Completer.app

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.

After removing the malware, remember to reset your home page in all the web browsers affected, if it was changed.

If you don't find any of the files or extensions listed, or if removing them doesn't stop the ad injection, then you may have one of the other kinds of adware covered by the support article. Follow the rest of the instructions in the article.

If you find Apple's instructions too hard to follow, ask for an alternative that doesn't require you to trust a black-box application without knowing what it does.

Make sure you don't repeat the mistake that led you to install the malware. Chances are you got it 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.

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.

May 23, 2015 1:23 PM in response to Linc Davis

Linc Davis wrote:


You may have installed the "Genieo" or "InstallMac" ad-injection malware.


True, although Genieo is not the only adware that redirects to Bing. There are plenty of others that behave that way.


Also, note that neither those instructions nor Apple's include any mention of the "Texiday" or "GoldenBoy" variants of Genieo, and therefore may not result in complete removal. Those instructions also include a component of the Spigot adware, which is entirely separate from Genieo... if the com.Spigot.SearchProtection.plist file is found, Spigot components need to be searched for as well. I'd recommend using some more up-to-date instructions, such as those in my own Adware Removal Guide.


(Fair disclosure: I may receive compensation from links to my sites, TheSafeMac.com and AdwareMedic.com.)

How to deactivate Bing?

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