Every time I click on a link in safari, an ad page pops up
Hello,
I have a MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2013) and I am using MacOsX Yosemite edition. A few hours ago something's happened to my safari and almost every time I click on a link, an ad opens up in a tab. When I search something from the address bar, it uses a search engine called http://thesmartsearch.net/ in stead ıf gooogle. Although, I set it back to google from preferences, it automatically goes back to this smartsearch engine. Also, streaming has slowed down, it feels like something is continuously running at the background and my fans are non-stop working right now. I'm scared if I have a virus or something. Could you help me solving this problem? Many thanks,
Sinem
There is no need to download anything to solve this problem. You may have installed a variant of the "VSearch" ad-injection malware. Follow Apple Support's instructions to remove it.
If you have trouble following those instructions, see below.
Malware is always changing to get around the defenses against it. This procedure works as of now, as far as I know. It may not work in the future. Anyone finding this comment a few days or more after it was posted should look for a more recent discussion, or start a new one.
The VSearch malware tries to hide itself by varying the names of the files it installs. To remove it, you must first identify the naming pattern.
Triple-click the line below on this page to select it, then copy the text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C:
/Library/LaunchDaemons
In the Finder, select
Go ▹ Go to Folder...
from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. You won't see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.
A folder named "LaunchDaemons" may open. Look inside it for two files with names of the form
com.something.daemon.plist
and
com.something.helper.plist
Here something is a variable string of characters, which can be different in each case. So far it has always been a string of letters without punctuation, such as "cloud," "dot," "highway," "submarine," or "trusteddownloads." Sometimes it's a meaningless string such as "e8dec5ae7fc75c28" rather than a word. Sometimes the string is "apple," and then you must be especially careful not to delete the wrong files, because many built-in OS X files have similar names.
If you find these files, leave the LaunchDaemons folder open, and open the following folder in the same way:
/Library/LaunchAgents
In this folder, there may be a file named
com.something.agent.plist
where the string something is the same as before.
If you feel confident that you've identified the above files, back up all data, then drag just those three files—nothing else—to the Trash. You may be prompted for your administrator login password. Close the Finder windows and restart the computer.
Don't delete the "LaunchAgents" or "LaunchDaemons" folder or anything else inside either one.
The malware is now permanently inactivated, as long as you never reinstall it. You can stop here if you like, or you can remove two remaining components for the sake of completeness.
Open this folder:
/Library/Application Support
If it has a subfolder named just
something
where something is the same string you saw before, drag that subfolder to the Trash and close the window.
Don't delete the "Application Support" folder or anything else inside it.
Finally, in this folder:
/System/Library/Frameworks
there may an item named exactly
v.framework
It's actually a folder, though it has a different icon than usual. This item always has the above name; it doesn't vary. Drag it to the Trash and close the window.
Don't delete the "Frameworks" folder or anything else inside it.
If you didn't find the files or you're not sure about the identification, post what you found.
If in doubt, or if you have no backups, change nothing at all.
The trouble may have started when you downloaded and ran an application called "MPlayerX." That's the name of a legitimate free movie player, but the name is also used fraudulently to distribute VSearch. If there is an item with that name in the Applications folder, delete it, and if you wish, replace it with the genuine article from mplayerx.org.
This trojan is often found on illegal websites that traffic in pirated content such as movies. If you, or anyone else who uses the computer, visit such sites and follow prompts to install software, you can expect more of the same, and worse, to follow. Never install any software that you downloaded from a bittorrent, or that was downloaded by someone else from an unknown source.
In the Security & Privacy pane of System Preferences, select the General tab. The radio button marked Anywhere should not be selected. If it is, click the lock icon to unlock the settings, then select one of the other buttons. After that, don't ignore a warning that you are about to run or install an application from an unknown developer.
Then, still in System Preferences, open the App Store or Software Update pane and check the box marked
Install system data files and security updates (OS X 10.10 or later)
or
Download updates automatically (OS X 10.9 or earlier)
if it's not already checked.
Similar Messages
-
Each time I click on a link in safari a new page opens. How do I stop this?
How do I stop a new page from opening each time I click on a link?
If the page contains the link you clicked on, choose Preferences from the Safari menu, click on Tabs, and change the settings as desired.
If the page contains an ad, click here and run the tool.
(112477) -
Block adverts appearing every time I click on a link?
How to block adverts appearing every time I click on a link? Whichever website I'm on, every time I click on any link, up to 5 new pages open trying to sell me something. Very annoying and time consuming to continually close them down. Any suggestions, please?
1. Use free AdwareMedic by clicking “Download ” from here
http://www.adwaremedic.com/index.php
Install , open, and run it by clicking “Scan for Adware” button to remove adware.
Once done, quit AdwareMedic by clicking AdwareMedic in the menu bar and selecting
“Quit AdwareMedic”.
or
Remove the adware manually by following the “HowTo” from Apple.
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203987
2. Safari > Preferences > Extensions
Turn those off and relaunch Safari to test .
Turn those on one by one and test. -
Every time I click on a link to download an app the itunes store starts opening and then crashes?
Iam using google chrome.I believe this is a duplicate of an existing question, which has answers: https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/questions/749313
Thanks,
Dave -
every time i click on a link another random link pops up in a new window. Does this mean i have a virus on my mac?
No; it means that the computer has adware. Click here and follow the instructions, or if there’s a type of adware not covered by them on the computer, these ones. If you're willing to use a tool to remove it(you don't need to, but may find it easier), you can instead run Adware Medic; this link is a direct download.
(122523) -
I get the following additional instance of Firefox almost every time I click on a link
Every time I click on a link in any Firefox window, one or two more Firefox windows pop open. Sometimes, it's a blank screen, other times I get 4 tabs with garbage. Tab 1 has the following address:
http://www.^þ!“Þ•øÀŽÑµo%1f'¬æ%28Ñ.ªgô/%C3%BDF%C3%B9%28%C6%92%C2%BA%C6%92N%E2%80%9C%C3%B8%E2%80%A21%C2%A9%E2%80%9D%C3%8F%C3%A7%C3%9B%3C%C2%A10%C3%92%C3%85%18%28CI
Tab 2 has this one:
http://www.ó»pì;”¬lkùy7=¢¾ñãðØ`¶6p%28jü~pyÕÚg™Ö%29a˜n%28šÅÀ`©.com/
Tab 3 has this one:
file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Michael%20Hinton/
Tab 4 has no address.
Any help appreciated!Start Firefox in <u>[[Safe Mode|Safe Mode]]</u> to check if one of the extensions (Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance).
*Do NOT click the Reset button on the Safe mode start window or otherwise make changes.
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Safe+Mode
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes
Do a malware check with some malware scanning programs on the Windows computer.<br />
You need to scan with all programs because each program detects different malware.
Make sure that you update each program to get the latest version of their databases before doing a scan.
*Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware:<br>http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php
*SuperAntispyware:<br>http://www.superantispyware.com/
*Microsoft Safety Scanner:<br>http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx
*Windows Defender: Home Page:<br>http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx
*Spybot Search & Destroy:<br>http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
*Kasperky Free Security Scan:<br>http://www.kaspersky.com/security-scan
You can also do a check for a rootkit infection with TDSSKiller.
*http://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/solutions?qid=208280684
See also:
*"Spyware on Windows": http://kb.mozillazine.org/Popups_not_blocked -
I am getting a the same popup video every time I click on a link
Every time I click on a link I get the same video that pops up? Is there a setting or something to prevent this or do I have a more serious issue?
Clear Safari and restart the iPad.
Go to Settings>Safari>Clear History, Cookies and Data. Restart the iPad. Restart the iPad by holding down on the sleep button until the red slider appears and then slide to shut off. To power up hold the sleep button until the Apple logo appears and let go of the button.
Or quit Safari completely and reboot the iPad. Quit the app completely and restart the iPad. Go to the home screen first by tapping the home button. Double tap the home button and the task bar will appear with all of your recent/open apps displayed at the bottom. Tap and hold down on any app icon until it begins to wiggle. Tap the minus sign in the upper left corner of the app that you want to close. Tap the home button or anywhere above the task bar.
Reboot the iPad by holding down on the sleep and home buttons at the same time for about 10-15 seconds until the Apple Logo appears - ignore the red slider - let go of the buttons. -
Every time I click on a link from an email it opens two exact firefox browers.
Every time I click on a link from my emails it opens two exact firefox browers to that link. Not two tabs, two browers. How can I prevent this from happening.
Start Firefox in <u>[[Safe Mode]]</u> to check if one of the extensions is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).
* Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
* https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Safe+Mode
* https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes -
How do I combine files, every time I click on the link "combine files", the answer I receive is a suscription window, I already have a monthly suscription!
A quick alternative to email.
Copy the files onto a USB drive. Make sure that "Ignore permissions on this drive" is set. (Get Info on the drive from Finder).
Then copy them from the drive to the destination user account.
Cheers,
Rodney -
Hangs every time I click on a link
It appears that every time I clicked a link in Firefox, it would just hang. It didn't matter which website I was going to, the second I clicked on something, it would hang. I even tried to ask a question about it here using Firefox and it hung when I clicked the "submit" button. This is my 57934th attempt to ask this question
Try running Firefox in [[Safe Mode]]. If it functions properly in that configuration, then one of your add-ons is the culprit.
Also, if you have some kind of security software installed which scans links like AVG Safe Search, AVG Link Scanner, McAfee Secure Search, McAfee Site Advisor, or some other kind of anti-phishing tool, try disabling it. -
This happens when I get an email with a link attached. Also, every single time I open up the NEW version, it defaults to the "welcome to Firefox 4" page. Is there a way to make it stop doing that too? Did I just download the new version too soon, before the bugs were worked out?
Version 3.6.16 is opening....as it did when I clicked the link in your email message to me about this situation. The upgraded version (Firefox4) sits in my dock and the old version opens when I click on a link.
-
My illustrator links window enlarges itself every time I click on a link
I'm currently using creative cloud and a mac. Every time I work on a file and select a linked image the links window expands itself even when my settings are saved for my palette. Any one know how to stop this?
No; it means that the computer has adware. Click here and follow the instructions, or if there’s a type of adware not covered by them on the computer, these ones. If you're willing to use a tool to remove it(you don't need to, but may find it easier), you can instead run Adware Medic; this link is a direct download.
(122523) -
when I receive a email and I click on a link to open it in my I receive one window with the Google start page and another goes to the link that I clicked on. Is there a way to fix this so it only goes to the link that I click on instead of opening 2 windows
Start Firefox in <u>[[Safe Mode]]</u> to check if one of the extensions is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).
* Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
* https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Safe+Mode
* https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes -
New tab opens every time i click on a link
When I'm searching on...lets say Google and I click on the linked website it opens a new tab in Safari Version 6.0.2. How can I turn that off?
I want it to open that link in the current tab.That’s not a virus; it’s adware. Click here and follow the instructions, or if desired, run Adware Medic.
(115040) -
Until I installed an Adobe update, my firefox worked fine, I have had to restore my computer and restart firefox due to advertising which was installed along with the update. Now each time I click on a webpage, a new tab opens and I can no longer view the webpage in the current tab. As you can tell, I am not that computer savy, but I have tried to change all the settings in the options and nothing has worked. I hope this makes sense, please help as it's driving me mad having all of these tabs.
Start Firefox in [[Safe Mode]] to check if one of your add-ons is causing your problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Tools > Add-ons > Themes).
See [[Troubleshooting extensions and themes]] and [[Troubleshooting plugins]]
If it does work in Safe-mode then disable all your extensions and then try to find which is causing it by enabling one at a time until the problem reappears.
You can use "Disable all add-ons" on the [[Safe mode]] start window to disable all extensions.
You have to close and restart Firefox after each change via "File > Exit" (Mac: "Firefox > Quit"; Linux: "File > Quit")
Maybe you are looking for
-
Mac black screen when opening files in Creative cloud products
I have pasted the system log below the issue occured around 16:20, the iMac was recently upgraded to Mountain lion at the same time roughly a week ago upgraded from CS5.5 to creative cloud, no issues until two days ago Oct 1 16:10:57 localhost com.a
-
How to auto capitalize after a period in text field
Is there a way to make a text field auto capitalize after a period if the user has forgotten. I am currently using LiveCycle Designer ES4
-
Please help, need to install photoshop cs6 on new macbook pro
I just purchased a macbok pro and would like to install photoshop cs6 on it which i purchased last year for my imac but can't figure out how to do it without a cd drive. I really don't want to have to purchase it again since we are allowed to install
-
Soundtrack Pro überweirdness: "extra" windows and unexpected errors
So yesterday STP (3.0.1) started opening an extra window everytime I ran an analysis on a audio file. Annoying and really strange for a program that's supposed to have a tabbed, unified workspace but whatever. Now my client's project keeps crashing.
-
Query to see the Status of all jobs including steps
Hi, I have 5 jobs in my sql server and each job has 5 steps. I need a query which returns the job status, along with steps status in a single query. i want the result of last execution only