Search.getvideomonkey.com Redirect (Mac)
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is search.getvideomonkey.com?
search.getvideomonkey.com is a fake search engine that is virtually identical to many others of this type including search.regevpop.com, search-operator.com, and search.tapufind.com. The site is promoted using rogue download/installation installers that modify targeted browser settings.
Developers promote this search engine as legitimate and claim that it provides features and tools that will enhance the browsing experience in various ways.
Rogue downloaders/installers mostly target browsers such as Google Chrome, Safari, and Mozilla Firefox. In this case, they assign search.getvideomonkey.com as the new tab URL, homepage, and default search engine. Typically, these changes are irreversible, since downloaders/installers usually install so-called "helper objects" (browser applications, extensions).
These apps reassign the settings when attempts are made to modify them. Therefore, users are forced to visit search.getvideomonkey.com when they open a new browser window, new tab, or enter a search query into the URL bar. The search.getvideomonkey.com website simply provides results generated by Yahoo (search.yahoo.com).
Therefore, it does not generate any unique results and there is no point in using it. Furthermore, search.getvideomonkey.com and most "helper objects" record data such as IP addresses, geo-locations, search queries, URLs of visited websites and other browsing-related data. They might also record personal/sensitive data.
Developers share this information with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue. For these reasons, we recommend that you do not use search.getvideomonkey.com or have unwanted, suspicious applications installed, since this might cause problems such as privacy issues, issues with browsing safety, or even identity theft.
Name | Search.getvideomonkey.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. |
Typically, developers of fake search engines offer 'useful' tools or functions, however, these claims are merely attempts to give the impression of legitimacy. These search engines generate revenue for the developers and deliver no real value for regular users. Using them leads to problems and gives not positive outcome.
How did search.getvideomonkey.com install on my computer?
As mentioned above, developers promote search.getvideomonkey.com through rogue downloaders/installers. This is achieved using "bundling", a deceptive marketing method that developers use to trick people into allowing modification of browser settings, or to install unwanted apps together with other software.
They hide information regarding the impact to browsers and installation of additional apps in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar options/settings of the download or installation processes.
Note, however, that unwanted installations and changes to browser settings usually occur only when users skip installation/download steps without checking and adjusting the available settings.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
To avoid unwanted installations or changes to browser settings, download and install software carefully. To not download software using tools such as third party downloaders, unofficial websites, torrents, eMule, and other peer-to-peer networks. Use only official websites and direct links.
Do not skip software installation steps. Check "Custom", "Advanced", and other similar options (settings) of any installation set-up and deselect offers to install additional/unwanted software. Be careful with online ads. Many intrusive ads cause redirects to websites related to gambling, adult dating, pornography, and so on.
Do not click ads displayed on dubious websites. If these redirects occur often (even without clicking anything), check installed apps (extensions, plug-ins, and add-ons) on the browser and programs on the computer. Remove/uninstall all suspicious, unknown or unwanted software immediately.
If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate them.
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.getvideomonkey.com?
- STEP 1. Remove search.getvideomonkey.com related files and folders from OSX.
- STEP 2. Remove search.getvideomonkey.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 3. Remove search.getvideomonkey.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.getvideomonkey.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
Video showing how to remove adware and browser hijackers from a Mac computer:
search.getvideomonkey.com redirect removal:
Remove search.getvideomonkey.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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