Search.cateorg.com Redirect (Mac)

What is search.cateorg.com?

search.cateorg.com is a fake Internet search engine identical to search.fleecompliment.com, search.arcahol.com, search.bagonrock.com, and many others. 

By offering improved search results, search.cateorg.com attempts to give the impression of legitimacy, however, this site is promoted via rogue app downloaders/installers that hijack Internet browsers and modify various options without direct user permission. In addition, search.cateorg.com tracks Internet browsing activity by gathering various user/system data.

Research shows that deceptive download/installation set-ups target Safari, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome. After assigning the new tab URL, homepage, and default search engine options to search.cateorg.com, set-ups stealthily infiltrate a number of third party applications and/or browser plug-ins (so-called "helper objects").

These apps and add-ons reassign browser options when attempts are made to change them. Therefore, users are unable to return browsers to their previous states and continually encounter unwanted redirects to search.cateorg.com, significantly diminishing the web browsing experience.

Furthermore, helper objects and search.cateorg.com record various information that might be personally identifiable including geo-locations, search queries, URLs visited, and Internet Protocol (IP addresses) - these are just some examples from many recorded data types.

The information is shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who generate revenue by misusing private information. Thus, data tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. If you encounter redirects to search.cateorg.com, uninstall all suspicious applications/browser plug-ins immediately and never visit this deceptive site again.

There are dozens of fake Internet search engines similar to search.cateorg.com, however, all are designed only to generate revenue for the developers. Regular users receive no significant value.

Websites such as search.cateorg.com merely cause unwanted browser redirects (thereby generating traffic for other websites) and continually record private information (which is later sold to third parties). Some fake search engines generate results leading to malicious websites and using them can result in high-risk computer infections.

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

search.cateorg.com is promoted using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". Developers hide all information regarding modification of browser settings within the "Custom/Advanced" settings of the download or installation processes.

Users often rush these processes and skip most steps, thereby inadvertently granting set-ups permission to modify various browser options. This behavior can lead to serious privacy issues and/or computer infections.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent system infiltration by potentially unwanted programs, take two simple steps. Firstly, analyze the download/installation processes using the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings. Secondly, decline offers to download/install additional applications. The key to computer safety is caution.

Website promoting search.cateorg.com:

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Quick menu:

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

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

search.cateorg.com redirect removal:

Remove search.cateorg.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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