Searchpage.com Redirect (Mac)
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is searchpage.com?
searchpage.com is another fake search engine similar to search.bravogol.com, nvsearch.club, beonline.pw, and many others. Judging on appearance alone, searchpage.com barely differs from Google, Bing, Yahoo, and other legitimate search engines. Therefore, many users believe that searchpage.com is also legitimate and useful.
Be aware, however, that this website is promoted using browser-hijacking download/installation set-ups that modify browser options without permission. Furthermore, searchpage.com continually records data relating to browsing habits.
Rogue set-ups typically target the most popular web browsers: Safari, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome. After successful infiltration, they assign the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage options to searchpage.com.
Furthermore, set-ups stealthily install a number of "helper objects" (third party applications and/or browser plug-ins) to reassign browser options when attempts are made to change them. Therefore, returning browsers to their previous states becomes impossible and users are encouraged to visit searchpage.com when they open a new browser tab or search via the URL bar.
This significantly diminishes the web browsing experience. Another significant downside is information tracking. Research shows that searchpage.com and "helper objects" continually record information relating to browsing activity. Recorded information typically includes personal details that developers share with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals).
These people generate revenue by misusing private information. Therefore, information tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. If you encounter redirects to searchpage.com, immediately eliminate all dubious applications and browser plug-ins. Never return to this website.
Name | searchpage.com redirect |
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 searchpage.com. By offering various "useful features" (improved results, shortcuts to popular websites, weather forecasts, latest news, etc.), they attempt to give the impression of legitimacy, however, these websites provide no real value for regular users.
They cause unwanted redirects and gather information, thereby diminishing the browsing experience and posing a threat to your privacy.
Some even feed users with misleading results and intrusive advertisements that lead to dubious websites. Therefore, using these sites can result in system infections. Most of these fake search engines have just one purpose: to generate revenue for the developers.
How did searchpage.com install on my computer?
As mentioned above, searchpage.com is promoted using rogue download/installation set-ups. This deceptive marketing method is called "bundling". Developers know that many users 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. By rushing and skipping steps, many users inadvertently grant set-ups permission to modify browser options, thus exposing their systems to risk of infection and compromising their privacy.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Potentially unwanted applications are proliferated using the "bundling" method and intrusive advertisements (that redirect to malicious sites and execute scripts that download and install malware). Therefore, to prevent this situation, be very cautious when browsing the internet and downloading/installing software.
Select "Custom/Advanced" settings and carefully analyze all windows of the download/installation dialogs. Opt-out of additionally-included programs and decline offers to download/install them. We advise you to download programs from official sources only using direct download links.
Third party downloaders/installers often include ("bundle") unwanted apps, and thus these tools should never be used. Intrusive advertisements usually seem legitimate, but once clicked, redirect to gambling, adult dating, and other dubious sites. Most are delivered by adware-type applications.
Therefore, if you encounter suspicious ads or redirects, immediately remove all dubious applications and browser plug-ins. The key to computer 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.
IMPORTANT NOTE! Rogue setups/apps that promote the searchpage.com website are designed to create a new device profile. Therefore, before taking any further removal steps, perform these actions:
1) Click the "Preferences" icon in the menu bar and select "Profiles"
2) Select the "AdminPrefs" profile and delete it.
3) Perform a full system scan with Combo Cleaner anti-virus suite.
After performing these actions, you can proceed with further removal steps for this browser hijacker.
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 searchpage.com?
- STEP 1. Remove searchpage.com related files and folders from OSX.
- STEP 2. Remove searchpage.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 3. Remove searchpage.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove searchpage.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
Video showing how to remove adware and browser hijackers from a Mac computer:
searchpage.com redirect removal:
Remove searchpage.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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