Search.montageobox.com Redirect (Mac)
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is search.montageobox.com?
search.montageobox.com is a deceptive website identical to search.dailybugget.com and search.dashingpool.com. This site claims to be a legitimate Internet search engine, however, it is promoted via deceptive application 'installers' developed to modify Internet browser settings. In addition, search.montageobox.com continually monitors browsing activity.
Deceptive installers usually target the most popular web browsers - Safari, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome. Installers stealthily assign the default search engine, homepage, and new tab URL browser settings to search.montageobox.com.
In addition, a number of browser plug-ins and/or apps (called 'helper objects') are installed to prevent users from returning browsers to their previous states. When attempt are made to change the settings, helper objects automatically reassign them to search.montageobox.com.
This leads to continual unwanted browser redirects, significantly diminishing the Internet browsing experience. Furthermore, search.montageobox.com collects IP addresses, website URLs visited, pages viewed, and other similar browsing-related data. Be aware that this data might be personally identifiable and shared with third parties.
This type of data tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. If you are continually redirected to search.montageobox.com without your consent, uninstall all recently-installed suspicious apps and never visit this site again.
Research shows that there are hundreds of dubious websites such as search.montageobox.com. Claims by them to provide 'valuable functionality' are false, since search.montageobox.com and other similar websites are developed solely to generate revenue for the developers.
Rather than providing useful functions, they cause unwanted browser redirects, gather personal data, and deliver intrusive online advertisements.
How did search.montageobox.com install on my computer?
This site is promoted using deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling'. Many users do not express enough caution during the download and installation processes. The developers are aware that users often skip the 'Custom/Advanced' settings and, therefore, they intentionally hide all modification details within this section.
By skipping this stage, users allow installers to modify their settings, thereby exposing their systems to risk of various infections and putting their privacy at risk.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
This situation can be prevented by taking two simple steps. Firstly, never rush when downloading and installing software - closely analyze each step of these processes using the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings. Secondly, opt-out of all third party software hidden within this section and do not allow them to perform any modifications to your system.
Deceptive application installers promoting search.montageobox.com:
Website promoting search.montageobox.com:
Instant automatic Mac malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is search.montageobox.com?
- STEP 1. Remove search.montageobox.com related files and folders from OSX.
- STEP 2. Remove search.montageobox.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 3. Remove search.montageobox.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.montageobox.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
Video showing how to remove search.montageobox.com browser hijacker using Combo Cleaner:
Search.montageobox.com redirect removal:
Remove search.montageobox.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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