Search.stormygreatz.com Redirect (Mac)

What is search.stormygreatz.com?

According to the developers, search.stormygreatz.com is a "high-quality" Internet search engine that significantly enhances the web browsing experience by generating improved results. On initial inspection, search.stormygreatz.com may seem similar to Google, Bing, Yahoo, and other legitimate search engines.

Therefore, many users believe that search.stormygreatz.com is also legitimate. In fact, this website is promoted using browser-hijacking download/installation set-ups that modify browser options without consent. Furthermore, search.stormygreatz.com records various user-system data.

While running, set-ups hijack the Safari, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome browsers, stealthily modifying the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage options by assigning them to search.stormygreatz.com. These changes may not seem significant, however, users are unable to return browsers to their previous states.

Research shows that set-ups are also designed to stealthily install a number of potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) and/or browser plug-ins (called "helper objects") that continue to reassign browser options when attempts are made to change them.

Therefore, users are unable to revert changes performed by rogue set-ups, and continually encounter unwanted redirects to search.stormygreatz.com. This significantly diminishes the browsing experience. As mentioned above, search.stormygreatz.com (and helper objects) continually gathers various information that might be personally identifiable.

Developers sell this data to third parties. In addition, some PUPs/browser plug-ins stealthily run background tasks (such as mining cryptocurrency) without permission.

Helper objects diminish computer performance and pose a direct threat to your privacy (due to information tracking). If you encounter redirects to search.stormygreatz.com, uninstall all suspicious apps/add-ons and never visit this rogue site again.

Threat Summary:

Name	search.stormygreatz.com browser hijacker
Threat Type	Mac malware, Mac virus
Symptoms	Your Mac became slower than normal, you see unwanted pop-up ads, you get redirected to shady websites.
Distribution methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers, torrent file downloads.
Damage	Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites, loss of private information.
Malware Removal (Mac)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your Mac with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner for Mac To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Limited seven days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

There are many fake search engines identical to search.stormygreatz.com including, for example, search.pollicare.com, search.stuckopoe.com, search.pikatika.com, and search.pabapara.com. In fact, fake search engines are very similar.

All claim to generate improved search results and provide other 'useful features' (for example, weather forecasts, currency exchange rates, shortcuts to popular websites, etc.), however, these offers are merely attempts to give the impression of legitimacy. These websites are useless for regular users - only a small fraction provide the functionality promised.

Fake search engines are designed only to generate revenue for the developers, cause unwanted redirects, and record various user-system information.

They often generate deceptive search results and display 'malvertising' ads. These fake results and intrusive ads can lead to other malicious websites. Furthermore, once clicked, some ads execute scripts that download and install malware. Therefore, using a fake Internet search engine is very risky.

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

As mentioned above, criminals promote search.stormygreatz.com using rogue downloaders and installers. This deceptive marketing method is called "bundling". Developers hide all details of browser modifications (usually within the "Custom/Advanced" options) and do not properly disclose this information.

Many users rush and skip the download/installation steps. In doing so, they inadvertently grant set-ups permission to modify browser options, expose their systems to risk of various infections, and compromise their privacy.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Be aware that PUPs are distributed using the "bundling" method, and via the aforementioned malvertising ads. Therefore, be extremely cautious when downloading/installing software and browsing the Internet. Carefully analyze each window of the download/installation dialogs to opt-out of all additionally-included programs.

Third party download/installation tools commonly "bundle" additional apps - using these tools often leads to inadvertent installation of PUPs. Therefore, download your software from official sources only, using a direct download URL. Most malicious ads appear genuine and, thus, determining if they originate from the visited (legitimate) website is difficult.

If, however, they redirect to surveys, gambling, adult dating, pornography, and other suspicious sites, we strongly advise you to remove all suspicious applications and browser plug-ins. Avoid clicking these ads in future. The key to computer safety is caution.

Website promoting search.stormygreatz.com:

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▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner for Mac By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Limited seven days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

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

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

search.stormygreatz.com redirect removal:

Remove search.stormygreatz.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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