how do i remove smart search and offers4u from my macbook pro?

I'm not too sure what I've downloaded to allow these to be on my mac, but whenever i search something on safari it is automatically directed to "thesmartsearch.net" and when I'm browsing other pages i get pop adds from "offers4u". I've looked up "v.frameworks" as it says to remove that when i was looking through other threads regarding these two virus' but i don't have that. Any ideas anyone?

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch,Early 2015), OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Nov 1, 2015 9:08 AM

Reply
11 replies

Nov 1, 2015 9:16 AM in response to lewisg88

Adware is installed without your knowledge, removing it will help.


1. Use free Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac/ AdwareMedic to remove adware


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


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

Once done, quit Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.


or


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

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



2. Disable Extensions and test.


Safari 8


Safari > Preferences > Extensions

Turn all extensions off and test

Enable Extensions one by one and test.

To uninstall any extension, select it and click the “Uninstall” button.




3. Safari > Preferences > Search > Search Engine :

Deselect and select your preferred search engine.


4. Safari > Preferences > General > Homepage:

Set your Homepage.

Nov 1, 2015 3:21 PM in response to lewisg88

was a bit unsure about downloading that sort of software

You were right to be unsure. You just repeated the same mistake that caused the problem in the first place: downloading unknown software because a stranger on a website told you to. That's how you create problems, not how you solve them. There is never a reason to use any kind of "anti-virus" or "anti-malware" software on a Mac.

Nov 1, 2015 4:04 PM in response to Linc Davis

Linc Davis wrote:


was a bit unsure about downloading that sort of software

You were right to be unsure. You just repeated the same mistake that caused the problem in the first place: downloading unknown software because a stranger on a website told you to. That's how you create problems, not how you solve them. There is never a reason to use any kind of "anti-virus" or "anti-malware" software on a Mac.

Considering the number of successes for Adwaremedic (now Malwarebytes for Mac) reported on these very forums and the fact that Apple support recommends it and Apple store genius bar technicians use it all the time, indicates that this application is indeed safe. Your comment may certainly be true in some cases, but certainly not all.


Bottom line, this software did its intended job here. Can you deny that success? I think not. 🙂


Ciao.

Nov 1, 2015 4:57 PM in response to lewisg88

Your question brings up the subject of removing adware. This is a general comment on that subject.

Under no circumstances should you ever allow anti-virus software to delete something for you.

The only tools that anyone needs to detect and remove adware are the Finder and a web browser, both of which you already have. Anyone who has enough computer skill to install adware can just as well remove it without using anything else.

Apple's general statements about malware protection are here and here, and here are its instructions for removing the most common types of ad-injection malware. Those statements don't mention any third-party "anti-virus" or "anti-malware" product. Apple's method for removing adware involves only the Finder and a web browser, as stated above.

You become infected with malware by downloading unknown software without doing research to determine whether it's safe. If you keep making that mistake, the same, and worse, will keep happening, and no anti-malware will rescue you. Your own intelligence and caution are the only reliable defense.

The Windows/Android anti-malware industry had more than $75 billion in sales in 2014 [source: Gartner, Inc.] Its marketing strategy is to convince people that they're helpless against malware attack unless they use its products. But with all that anti-malware, the Windows and Android platforms are still infested with malware—most of it far more harmful than mere adware. The same can be expected to happen to the Mac platform if its users trust the same industry to protect them, instead of protecting themselves.

You are not helpless, and you don't have to give full control of your computer—and your data—to strangers in order to be rid of adware.

These are generalities. Regarding the "malwarebytes" product in particular, you may be told that there are no reports that is has caused damage. In fact, there are such reports; for example:

I found malware or adware on my system the other day. I removed it with Maleware Bytes and since then Safari has not worked proper at all.

preferences pane will not load

Read that report and draw your own conclusions—not anyone else's conclusions.

The developer itself admitted that the Windows version of the product has been known to delete essential system files.

Whether the software damages the system or not, it prompts for your password in order to take full adminstrative control, and connects via the Internet to a server controlled by the developer. The developer's privacy policy, linked directly to the product page, reads in part as follows:

"Without limiting the Privacy Policy, you agree that Malwarebytes may track certain data it obtains from your Computer including data about any malicious software or other threats flagged by the Software, data about your license, data about what version of the Software you are using and what operating conditions it runs under and data concerning your geographic location."

(Emphasis added.) So the developer admits to tracking your location, as well as other unspecified data, and gives itself the legal right to collect any data it chooses. How it uses that right, you don't know. By running the software, you accept these terms.

It's sometimes said that the Malwarebytes product only removes adware rather than malware as such (if there's a difference), and that it therefore shouldn't be stigmatized as anti-malware. The developer's own description does distinguish between adware and malware, and specifically mentions removing malware as a selling point six times. A self-described employee of the developer wrote in an ASC discussion, "Actually, it's also a malware removal app..." (emphasis added.)

The question then is: as a security-conscious computer user, do you want to take risks where there is no benefit?

Nov 2, 2015 2:43 AM in response to Linc Davis

Linc Davis wrote:

The only tools that anyone needs to detect and remove adware are the Finder and a web browser, both of which you already have. Anyone who has enough computer skill to install adware can just as well remove it without using anything else.

The problem with this statement is that there are situations where third party applications are more efficient and comprehensive than what is offered by Apple. I know that to be factual because I have experienced it.

Apple's general statements about malware protection are here and here, and here are its instructions for removing the most common types of ad-injection malware. Those statements don't mention any third-party "anti-virus" or "anti-malware" product. Apple's method for removing adware involves only the Finder and a web browser, as stated above.

What you omit is that Apple does not prohibit or discourage the use of third party applications to be used for problem solving. It does not now nor has it in the past. The implication that a user should not use a third party application is a false one. As a matter of fact Apple telephone support personnel and Apple genius bar technicians recommend and use Malwarbytes for Mac instead of the Apple procedures that you seem to be wedded to. Why? Because they find it to be faster, more efficient, more comprehensive and time saving. Post by other users as well as my personal conversations with Apple employees confirm these facts.

The Windows/Android anti-malware industry had more than $75 billion in sales in 2014 [source: Gartner, Inc.] Its marketing strategy is to convince people that they're helpless against malware attack unless they use its products. But with all that anti-malware, the Windows and Android platforms are still infested with malware—most of it far more harmful than mere adware. The same can be expected to happen to the Mac platform if its users trust the same industry to protect them, instead of protecting themselves.

discussion, "Actually, it's alsoa malware removal app..." (emphasis added.)


Your premise is based on conjecture not fact so no valid conclusion can be drawn. Your mention of Windows is of no relevance whatsoever. That just obfuscates the topic unnecessarily. Are we not dealing with Macs here? You really should rewrite this portion omitting the useless Windows reference. It reflects poorly on you suggesting confusion on your part and I should think that your analytic abilities are better than that.

It's sometimes said that the Malwarebytes product only removes adware rather than malware as such (if there's a difference), and that it therefore shouldn't be stigmatized as anti-malware. The developer's own description does distinguish between adware and malware, and specifically mentions removing malware as a selling point six times. A self-described employee of the developer wrote in an ASC discussion, "Actually, it's also a malware removal app..." (emphasis added.)


That is a bonus, yes? In effect that can be viewed as a positive for Malwarebytes for Mac.


Again I am more than willing to assist you in pointing out your errors on this subject in general and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac in particular. I look forward to the next iteration and I trust you will be able to make the appropriate corrections. As it now exists I have to caution the third party reader to approach this post with great caution and skepticism.


Ciao.

Dec 2, 2015 4:37 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

I ran malwarebytes Anti-Malware today. It removed quite a bit of malware. But not everything. A folder called perfetnight appeared in my applications folder, which I had to delete manually, (no scans found it) also soon after I cleared and reset every possible option on firefox, safari and chrome, the offers4u screen pop up appeared on my amazon page. Can barely even view the page anymore. Sent the screenshot to malwarebytes - (on 3rd dec 2015). Hope they can solve this one, I can see its caused a lot of controversy, but why is everything sounding so legal-ish suddenly?


**It deleted most of the appEH crap

Dec 3, 2015 7:21 AM in response to khiyan

Perfetnight is a component of a variant of Genieo. Because these Genieo variants are constantly changing to prevent detection, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac missed that particular item. However, it has since been added to the signatures. Further, it should have detected the components responsible for loading the process inside that folder, and without those components, that folder is harmless (unless you open it and start playing with the contents).


The remaining problems may or may not be due to adware. It could be due to something else new that we haven't seen before, but it also could be due to something like a hacked wireless router or compromised DNS. Malwarebytes support should be able to help you get to the bottom of it.


Thomas Reed

Director of Mac Offerings, Malwarebytes

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

how do i remove smart search and offers4u from my macbook pro?

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