On startup: do you want to continue the installation?

Adware Genieo is installed without your knowledge. Removing it will help.

1. 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

2. Safari > Preferences > Extensions

Turn those off and relaunch Safari.

Turn those on one by one and test.

3. Safari > Preferences > Search > Search Engine :

Select your preferred search engine.

4. Safari > Preferences > General > Homepage:

Set your Homepage.

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.

It sounds like you have the Genieo (aka InstallMac) adware installed. You should be aware that there are a couple recent variants of Genieo that are not entirely removed by either Linc's instructions or Apple's instructions. I'd advise you to follow the directions in my Adware Removal Guide instead, which are far more complete.

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

In the very unlikely event that Apple's instructions don't solve the problem, post what you found here, where others can benefit from your experience and you won't be asked for money.

Linc Davis wrote:

you won't be asked for money.

The fact that there is a button to allow for donations on my site does not in any way refute the fact that your instructions are less complete than mine. Please stick to factual arguments rather than trying to malign my character.

What do you think is incomplete in Apple's instructions? Post the information here.

<Edited By Host>

I decided to update to Maverick 10.10.3

That's the first step recommended by Apple in the support article I linked to earlier, so the instructions did solve your problem, scare tactics notwithstanding.

Isn't 10.10.3 called Yosemite?

Linc Davis wrote:

What do you think is incomplete in Apple's instructions? Post the information here.

As I have mentioned to you on another topic, there are "GoldenBoy" and "Texiday" variants. They will install browser extensions by that name. The "Texiday" variant will also install several LaunchAgents using the "Texiday" name. Rather than duplicate work by putting full instructions as to what they're called and how to find them, I refer you back to my guide. There is no reason to avoid it just because it has a Donate button on it, there's no need for anyone to click that to access any of the information there.