Search.abstractbaby.com Redirect (Mac)
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is search.abstractbaby.com?
search.abstractbaby.com is a fake Internet search engine identical to search.wolfnknite.com, search.polebeary.com, search.pastcost.com, and a number of other bogus sites. All offer identical features (including display of the most relevant search results).
These false claims often trick users into believing that search.abstractbaby.com is legitimate. Be aware, however, that this website is promoted using deceptive installation set-ups that hijack Internet browsers. Furthermore, search.abstractbaby.com records various information relating to Internet browsing activity.
Deceptive application "installers" target Safari, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome. They assign the new tab URL, homepage, and default search engine options to search.abstractbaby.com. This may seem insignificant, however, additional software is often delivered with a number of third party browser add-ons and/or applications (so-called "helper objects").
Helper objects reassign the aforementioned settings when attempts are made to change them. Hence, it becomes impossible to return browsers to their previous states and users continually encounter unwanted browser redirects to search.abstractbaby.com (thus, significantly diminishing the web browsing experience).
Web browsing activity is continually monitored, since search.abstractbaby.com (and, possibly, helper objects) record various information including IP addresses, website URLs visited, pages viewed, and search queries. This information may contain personal details that developers share with cooperating third parties.
Private information if often misused to generate revenue. Therefore, data tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. If you encounter unwanted browser redirects to search.abstractbaby.com, uninstall all suspicious applications immediately and never visit this website again.
All fake Internet search engines give fake promises to enhance the Internet browsing experience, however, sites such as search.abstractbaby.com are designed only to generate revenue for the developers. Therefore, claims to provide 'useful features' are merely attempts to give the impression of legitimate software.
Most of these sites deliver no real value for regular users. Rather, fake Internet search engines cause unwanted browser redirects (to generate the traffic for other sites), collect personally identifiable information (which is later shared with third parties to generate revenue), and deliver intrusive online advertisements (using the "Pay Per Click" [PPC] advertising model).
How did search.abstractbaby.com install on my computer?
This fake Internet search engine has an official promotion site, however, developers also use a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". Be aware that free applications are often monetized by distributing additional applications or promoting various websites (for example, search.abstractbaby.com).
Many users are unaware that this information is hidden within the "Custom/Advanced" settings of the download or installation processes. By skipping this section, users grant set-ups permission to modify various settings and exposing their systems to risk of various infections.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
There are two main steps you should take to prevent this situation. Firstly, select the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings and closely follow each step of the download/installation procedures. Secondly, decline all offers to download/install third party apps and never allow set-ups to modify settings that are irrelevant to the installation.
Website promoting search.abstractbaby.com browser hijacker:
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Quick menu:
- What is search.abstractbaby.com?
- STEP 1. Remove search.abstractbaby.com related files and folders from OSX.
- STEP 2. Remove search.abstractbaby.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 3. Remove search.abstractbaby.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.abstractbaby.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
Video showing how to remove adware and browser hijackers from a Mac computer:
search.abstractbaby.com redirect removal:
Remove search.abstractbaby.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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