Search.shockmute.com Redirect (Mac)

What is search.shockmute.com?

Search.shockmute.com is a fake Internet search identical to search.smokycap.com, search.swissfist.com, search.useaget.com, and many others. According to developers, search.shockmute.com significantly enhances the Internet searching experience by generating improved search results.

These claims often trick users into believing that search.shockmute.com is legitimate and useful, however, developers promote this fake search engine via rogue software download/installation set-ups that hijack web browsers and stealthily modify various options. In addition, search.shockmute.com collects various information relating to users' Internet browsing activity.

Rogue set-ups target Safari, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. Following successful infiltration, these set-ups assign the new tab URL, homepage, and default search engine options to search.shockmute.com.

These changes are minor and may not seem significant, however, set-ups stealthily install several helper objects (third party applications and/or browser extensions) designed to reassign these options when attempts are made to change them.

Therefore, users are unable to return browsers to their previous states and continually encounter unwanted browser redirects to search.shockmute.com, significantly diminishing the web browsing experience.

Furthermore, web browsing activity is continually tracked, since helper objects and search.shockmute.com continually record information regarding users' Internet browsing activity. The collected data (IP addresses, search queries, URLs visited, geo-locations, etc.) might contain private details.

Therefore, developers share this collected information with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who generate revenue by misusing private details.

Therefore, data tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. If you encounter unwanted browser redirects to search.shockmute.com, uninstall all suspicious apps/browser add-ons and never visit this site again.

There are hundreds of fake search engines such as search.shockmute.com. Judging on appearance alone, they may differ, however, all have identical behavior. By offering various so-called 'useful features' (improved search results, weather forecasts, currency exchange rates, latest news, etc.), fake search engines attempt to give the impression of legitimacy.

In fact, these sites are designed only to generate revenue for the developers and deliver no significant value for regular users. Rather than providing any of the features promised, fake search engines cause unwanted redirects and gather various user/system information.

In addition, some generate results leading to malicious websites. Therefore, using a fake search engine can result in high-risk computer infections.

How did search.shockmute.com install on my computer?

search.shockmute.com has an official promotion website, however, it is also promoted via a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". Developers hide information regarding modification of browser settings within the "Custom/Advanced" settings of the download or installation processes.

Users often skip this section, rushing the download/installation processes, thereby inadvertently granting set-ups permission to modify various options, exposing their systems to risk of various infections, and putting their privacy at risk.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Potentially unwanted programs are distributed using the bundling method. Therefore, never rush the download or installation processes. Closely analyze these processes using the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings. Furthermore, cancel all additionally-included programs and offers to download/install them. The key to computer safety is caution.

Website promoting search.shockmute.com browser hijacker:

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Quick menu:

• What is search.shockmute.com?
• STEP 1. Remove search.shockmute.com related files and folders from OSX.
• STEP 2. Remove search.shockmute.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 3. Remove search.shockmute.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove search.shockmute.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.

Video showing how to remove adware and browser hijackers from a Mac computer:

search.shockmute.com redirect removal:

Remove search.shockmute.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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