Search.worthut.com Redirect (Mac)
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is search.worthut.com?
According to the developers, search.worthut.com is a legitimate Internet search engine that generates the most relevant search results.
These false claims often trick users into believing that search.worthut.com is legitimate. In fact, this bogus site continually track users' web browsing activity. Furthermore, developers promote search.searchut.com using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling".
This bogus site is promoted using dubious application "installers" and "downloaders" that stealthily assign Safari, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome default search engine, new tab URL, homepage browser settings to search.worthut.com. All this is done without direct user permission.
Selected app are delivered with various third party browser plug-ins and/or apps called "helper objects" that automatically reassign the aforementioned settings when attempts are made to change them.
Thus, users are unable to return browsers to their previous states and are forced to continually visit search.worthut.com without their consent, significantly diminishing the web browsing experience.
Research shows that this fake Internet search engine (and helper objects) record IP addresses (to determine geographic locations), websites visited, search queries, and other similar data relating to Internet browsing activity.
These data types may seem insignificant, however, there is a high probability that collected information will be personally identifiable and shared by the developers of search.worthut.com with third parties (who misuse private information), thereby causing serious privacy issues.
If you are continually redirected to search.worthut.com, remove all third party applications immediately and avoid visiting this site again.
Developers of search.worthut.com have released many identical websites under different names. Examples include search.wolfnknite.com, search.polebeary.com, and search.springhan.com. All have identical behavior. By giving fake promises to generate improved search results, fake Internet search engines such as search.worthut.com create an impression of legitimate software, and yet, these sites are useless for regular users.
Research shows that all fake Internet search engines are designed only to generate revenue for the developers. Rather than providing valuable functionality, these sites cause unwanted redirects and collect personally identifiable information.
Be aware that some fake search engines generate results leading to untrustworthy websites. Therefore, using them to search the web will result in high-risk adware or malware infections.
How did search.worthut.com install on my computer?
As mentioned previously, search.worthut.com is promoted using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". Developers know that many users do not pay enough attention when downloading and installing software. Aware of this, they monetize free applications by including third party software.
They hide potentially unwanted programs (and, in this case, information regarding modification of browser settings) within the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings of the download/installation processes. Many users skip this section, thereby granting set-ups permission to modify various settings and exposing their systems to risk of various infections.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Many PUPs are distributed using the bundling method. Therefore, closely analyze each step of the download/installation section. Use the "Custom/Advanced" settings, follow all steps, and cancel any additionally-included applications.
Website promoting search.worthut.com browser hijacker:
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Quick menu:
- What is search.worthut.com?
- STEP 1. Remove search.worthut.com related files and folders from OSX.
- STEP 2. Remove search.worthut.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 3. Remove search.worthut.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.worthut.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
Video showing how to remove adware and browser hijackers from a Mac computer:
search.worthut.com redirect removal:
Remove search.worthut.com related potentially unwanted applications from your "Applications" folder:
Click the Finder icon. In the Finder window, select “Applications”. In the applications folder, look for “MPlayerX”,“NicePlayer”, or other suspicious applications and drag them to the Trash. After removing the potentially unwanted application(s) that cause online ads, scan your Mac for any remaining unwanted components.
Remove browser hijacker-related files and folders
Click the Finder icon from the menu bar. Choose Go, and click Go to Folder...
Check for browser hijacker generated files in the /Library/LaunchAgents/ folder:
In the Go to Folder... bar, type: /Library/LaunchAgents/
In the "LaunchAgents" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by browser hijackers - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Browser hijacker commonly installs several files with the exact same string.
Check for browser hijacker generated files in the ~/Library/Application Support/ folder:
In the Go to Folder... bar, type: ~/Library/Application Support/
In the "Application Support" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious folders. For example, "MplayerX" or "NicePlayer", and move these folders to the Trash.
Check for browser hijacker generated files in the ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ folder:
In the Go to Folder... bar, type: ~/Library/LaunchAgents/
In the "LaunchAgents" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by browser hijackers - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Browser hijacker commonly installs several files with the exact same string.
Check for browser hijacker generated files in the /Library/LaunchDaemons/ folder:
In the "Go to Folder..." bar, type: /Library/LaunchDaemons/
In the "LaunchDaemons" folder, look for recently-added suspicious files. For example "com.aoudad.net-preferences.plist", "com.myppes.net-preferences.plist", "com.kuklorest.net-preferences.plist", "com.avickUpd.plist", etc., and move them to the Trash.
Scan your Mac with Combo Cleaner:
If you have followed all the steps correctly, your Mac should be clean of infections. To ensure your system is not infected, run a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus. Download it HERE. After downloading the file, double click combocleaner.dmg installer. In the opened window, drag and drop the Combo Cleaner icon on top of the Applications icon. Now open your launchpad and click on the Combo Cleaner icon. Wait until Combo Cleaner updates its virus definition database and click the "Start Combo Scan" button.
Combo Cleaner will scan your Mac for malware infections. If the antivirus scan displays "no threats found" - this means that you can continue with the removal guide; otherwise, it's recommended to remove any found infections before continuing.
After removing files and folders generated by the browser hijackers, continue to remove rogue extensions from your Internet browsers.
Remove browser hijackers from Internet browsers
Remove Safari browser hijackers:
Open the Safari browser, from the menu bar, select "Safari" and click "Preferences...".
In the preferences window, select "Extensions" and look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions. When located, click the "Uninstall" button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Safari browser - none are crucial for regular browser operation.
Change your homepage:
In the "Preferences" window, select the "General" tab. To set your homepage, type the preferred website URL (for example: www.google.com) in the Homepage field. You can also click the "Set to Current Page" button if you wish to set your homepage to the website you are currently visiting.
Change your default search engine:
In the "Preferences" window, select the "Search" tab. Here you will find a drop-down menu labeled "Search engine:" Simply select your preferred search engine from the drop-down list.
- If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Safari.
Remove Google Chrome browser hijackers:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your homepage
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable the malicious extension (if present), look for a browser hijacker URL below the "Open a specific or set of pages" option. If present, click on the three vertical dots icon and select "Remove".
Change your default search engine:
To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list look for a browser hijacker URL, when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Delete".
- If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.
Remove malicious extensions from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) and select "Add-ons and themes". Click "Extensions", in the opened window locate all recently-installed suspicious extensions, click on the three dots and then click "Remove".
Change your homepage
To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Settings", in the opened window disable malicious extension (if present), remove the browser hijacker URL and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
Change your default search engine:
In the URL address bar, type "about:config" and press Enter. Click "Accept the Risk and Continue".
In the search filter at the top, type: "extensionControlled". Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the button.
- If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Mozilla Firefox.
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