how to remove search genius

You may have installed ad-injection malware ("adware").

Don't use any kind of "anti-virus" or "anti-malware" product on a Mac. There is never a need for it, and relying on it for protection makes you more vulnerable to attack, not less.

Some of the most common types of adware can be removed by following Apple's instructions. If those instructions don't work for you, or if you have trouble following them, see below.

This easy procedure will detect any kind of adware that I know of. Deactivating it is a separate, and even easier, procedure that doesn't involve downloading anything.

Some legitimate software is ad-supported and may display ads in its own windows or in a web browser while it's running. That's not malware and it may not show up. Also, some websites carry intrusive popup ads that may be mistaken for adware.

If none of your web browsers is working well enough to carry out these instructions, restart the computer in safe mode. That will disable the malware temporarily.

Step 1

Please triple-click the line below on this page to select it, then copy the text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C:

~/Library/LaunchAgents

In the Finder, select

Go ▹ Go to Folder...

from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. Press return. Either a folder named "LaunchAgents" will open, or you'll get a notice that the folder can't be found. If the folder isn't found, go to the next step.

If the folder does open, press the key combination command-2 to select list view, if it's not already selected. Please don't skip this step.

There should be a column in the Finder window headed Date Modified. Click that heading twice to sort the contents by date with the newest at the top. If necessary, enlarge the window so that all of the contents are showing.

Follow the instructions in this support article under the heading "Take a screenshot of a window." An image file with a name beginning in "Screen Shot" should be saved to the Desktop. Open the screenshot and make sure it's readable. If not, capture a smaller part of the screen showing only what needs to be shown.

Start a reply to this message. Drag the image file into the editing window to upload it. You can also include text in the reply.

Leave the folder open for now.

Step 2

Do as in Step 1 with this line:

/Library/LaunchAgents

The folder that may open will have the same name, but is not the same, as the one in Step 1. As in that step, the folder may not exist.

Step 3

Repeat with this line:

/Library/LaunchDaemons

This time the folder will be named "LaunchDaemons."

Step 4

Open the Safari preferences window and select the Extensions tab. If any extensions are listed, post a screenshot. If there are no extensions, or if you can't launch Safari, skip this step.

Step 5

If you use the Firefox or Chrome browser, open its extension list and do as in Step 4.

In Step 4, if I see search genius in the extensions list, should I delete it? Thanks.

Yes.

You installed the "mediahm" trojan. Please take the steps below to disable it.

Malware is always changing to get around the defenses against it. This procedure works as of now, as far as I know. It may not work in the future. Anyone finding this comment a few days or more after it was posted should look for a more recent discussion, or start a new one.

Back up all data before continuing.

1. Triple-click the line below on this page to select it, then copy the text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C:

~/Library/LaunchAgents

In the Finder, select

Go ▹ Go to Folder...

from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. You may not see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return. A folder named "LaunchAgents" will open.

2. Inside the folder you just opened, there may be a file with the name

com.mediahm.operator.update.plist

Move that file to the Trash. There may not be anything else in the LaunchAgents folder; in that case, you can delete the folder, but otherwise don't delete it. Other files in the folder are not necessarily malicious (though they could be, if you also installed some other kind of malware.)

Log out or restart the computer. The trojan will now be inactive, but there are a few more components of it that should be cleaned up.

3. Open this folder in the same way as above:

~/Library/Application Support

and move to the Trash the subfolder with the name

mediahm

if present.

Don't move the Application Support folder or anything else inside it.

4. From the Safari menu bar, select

Safari ▹ Preferences... ▹ Extensions

Uninstall all extensions you don't know you need. If in doubt, remove all of them. None is required for normal operation. Do the equivalent in the Chrome and Firefox browsers, if you use either of those.

5. Reset the home page in each of your browsers, if it was changed. In Safari, first load the home page you want, then select

Safari ▹ Preferences... ▹ General

and click

Set to Current Page

Thank you! It worked!

HI,

i guess i can delete all the files in ~/Library/LaunchAgents

In /Library/LaunchDaemons i can/should leave microsoft licensed file and adobe

/in both case i do not plan use virtual box anymore/

and delete from extensions /firefox and safari/ "search genius" issue ... google chrome i have deleted before i found this post ... 🙂

Thanks!

Have a great day,

Zlatko

Done, i have managed to solve the problem by myself at: http://osxdaily.com/2015/01/29/scan-remove-adware-mac-os-x-adwaremedic/

Best!

Z.

Hi, I have followed the steps you posted in the first message. Let me know if you need anything else.

Jessica

This comment is for others finding the discussion.

This message thread, as far as I'm concerned, is dedicated to the original poster's problem, which may not be the same as yours. If you can help him or her, I'm sure your contribution will be welcome. A thread with more than one problem quickly becomes unmanageable.

The best way to get help with a problem of your own is, first, to search the site for answered questions similar to yours. If you don't find a solution that way, start your own thread with a full description of the symptoms, the context, and what you've already done to try to fix it, if anything. That thread will be all yours. You'll have the same chance as anyone else of getting a useful response.

Hi,

I have done the above and deleted mediahm files and folders. Removed from search preferences but search genius still shows up!!??

Can't find anything else where it could be? Any ideas?

Remove Spigot. Download this program which was written by Thomas Reed, a long time poster. The program will do the work for you which makes it easy.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac 10.8 and later

What should I do if Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac didn't solve my problem?

I downloaded and ran malwarebytes but it did not find anything. I had already deleted all the mediahm folder and files I found. There are no browser extentions enabled. A reset of Firefox worked, Safari still has search genius!?

mustakoira2 wrote:

A reset of Firefox worked, Safari still has search genius!?

Be aware that Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac will remove the adware, but it does not try to edit your browser's preferences at this time. You probably still need to change Safari's home page and/or search engine settings. In Safari's preferences window, the home page settings can be changed in the General pane and the search engine settings can be changed in the Search pane.

Thomas Reed

Director of Mac Offerings, Malwarebytes