Search.debrikon.com Redirect (Mac)
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is search.debrikon.com?
search.debrikon.com is another fake search engine identical to search.borderov.com, search.parazipper.com, search.pensirot.com, and many others.
By offering a variety of improved results, this website attempts to give the impression of legitimacy, however, developers promote this website using rogue download/installation set-ups that modify browser options without permission. Furthermore, this site continually monitors information relating to browsing activity.
Rogue set-ups typically target the most popular browsers: Safari, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome. Following successful infiltration, they assign the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage options to search.debrikon.com. These changes may not seem significant, however, users are unable to revert them.
Research shows that rogue set-ups also stealthily infiltrate a number of "helper objects" (third party applications and/or browser plug-ins). These are used to reassign browser settings when attempts are made to change them.
Therefore, returning browsers to their previous states becomes impossible and users are encouraged to visit search.debrikon.com when they open a new browser tab. This significantly diminishes the browsing experience. Once a search query is entered, users are redirected to search.yahoo.com and they end up searching via Yahoo (a legitimate search engine).
This makes search.debrikon.com useless and irrelevant. Another significant downside is information tracking. Research shows that search.debrikon.com and "helper objects" continually record IP addresses, website URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, and other similar information relating to browsing activity.
Collected data usually includes personal details that developers share with third parties. These people misuse private information to generate revenue.
Therefore, data tracking might lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. If you encounter redirects to search.debrikon.com, immediately remove all dubious applications and browser plug-ins. Never return to this website.
Name | Debrikon 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. |
The internet is full of fake search engines that share similarities with search.debrikon.com. By offering "useful features" (improved search results, shortcuts to popular websites, local/worldwide news, weather forecasts, etc.), fake search engines attempt to trick users into believing that these sites are legitimate and useful.
In fact, their only purpose is to generate revenue for the developers. Rather than giving any real value for regular users, fake search engines such as search.debrikon.com cause unwanted redirects and gather sensitive data, thereby diminishing the browsing experience and posing a direct threat to your privacy and web browsing safety.
Bear in mind that some fake search engines feed users with misleading results or intrusive ads, leading to dubious websites. Thus, using fake search engines can lead to various system infections.
How did search.debrikon.com install on my computer?
As mentioned above, search.debrikon.com is promoted using rogue download/installation set-ups. This deceptive marketing method is called "bundling". Developers know that users often rush download/installation processes and skip steps.
Therefore, all information regarding modification of browser settings is hidden within "Custom/Advanced" options (or other sections) of the download/installation processes. Furthermore, many users carelessly skip steps - behavior that often leads to inadvertent installation of unwanted apps.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Potentially unwanted applications are also distributed using the "bundling" method, and intrusive advertisements that redirect to dubious websites or even run scripts designed to download/install PUAs. To prevent this situation, be very cautious when browsing the internet and downloading/installing software.
Carefully observe all steps of the download/installation processes using the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings. Decline offers to download/install additional applications and opt-out of those already included. We also recommend that you avoid using third party downloaders/installers, since developers monetize them by promoting rogue apps.
Software should be downloaded from official sources only, using direct download links. Remember that intrusive ads usually seem legitimate, but once clicked, redirect to dubious websites (gambling, adult dating, pornography, and so on).
Most PUAs are delivered by adware-type software, and thus if you encounter them, immediately remove all dubious applications and browser plug-ins. The main reasons for computer infections are poor knowledge and careless behavior - the key to safety is caution.
If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate them.
Website promoting search.debrikon.com:
Instant automatic Mac malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of Mac malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
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Quick menu:
- What is search.debrikon.com?
- STEP 1. Remove search.debrikon.com related files and folders from OSX.
- STEP 2. Remove search.debrikon.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 3. Remove search.debrikon.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.debrikon.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
Video showing how to remove search.debrikon.com browser hijacker using Combo Cleaner:
search.debrikon.com redirect removal:
Remove search.debrikon.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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