What is Searchmime.com?
Is Searchmime.com secure or is it malware?
Searchmime.com is a site known to be pushed by potentially unwanted programs categorized as browser hijackers. The major goal of this type of apps is to hijack browsers by placing bogus search engines like Searchmime.com on the homepage, new tab page, and default search engine preferences.
Questionable search engines tend to display untrustworthy results. Sometimes they cause various kinds of online browser reroutes that enable other bogus sites to drop trackers on your device and start spying on your online behavior. Advertisements may also stat to flood browsing sessions.
Ads shown by Searchmime.com can be harmful to your computer system. We highly recommend that you read this removal guide article and find out how to remove this hijacker from your Mac.
Searchmime.com Summary
| Name | Searchmime.com |
| Type | Browser Hijacker/PUP for Mac |
| Short Description | Aims to modify the settings on your web browser in order to get it to cause browser redirects and display different advertisements. |
| Symptoms | Your web browser begins to display various types of online advertisements, which results in slowing down of your machine. |
| Distribution Method | Bundled downloads. Web pages which may advertise it. Fake updates for Flash Player. |
| Detection Tool |
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Searchmime.com Detailed Description
Searchmime.com hijacker on Mac may have obtained access to the system and the browsers installed on it by using the help of vicious methods like software bundling, online scam programs, fake updates for installed software, and others.
It looks like a useful search engine but the truth is that is pushed by a potentially undesired app that has infected your machine with the help of one of the methods mentioned above.
Similar hijackers that look like useful tools but harvest data and show ads instead, are nearbyme.io, QSearch, ElementarySearchSignal.
The hijacker might have obtained access to the browser after the associated PUP installed a browser extension. Unguarded changes applied by the hijacker may transform the way you regularly use your preferred web browser.
The homepage, new tab page as well as the default search engine might be set to open Searchmime.com in order to force you to use its unreliable services. Then the site could start redirecting the affected browser to additional questionable sites misused for the promotion of rogue apps, online scams, malicious software, and fake services.
For as long as a hijacker is running on your computer system, you may notice an increased number of ads. All of the following types of ads may start to show up:
- Highlighted text advertisements.
- Pop-ups.
- MacSearch redirects.
- Online search results page that are ad-supported.
- Push notices.
- Banners on the sites you see.
All of these promotions may drop cookies, geo-locators, and also many other monitoring apps. When trackers are established on your Mac, they could track what you prefer and what you do online. Along with this privacy-related issue, comes the security risk caused by Searchmime.com to your affected Mac.
Altogether the issues that occur when this app has access to your macOS demand an immediate reaction. Getting rid of Searchmime.com as quickly as possible is the only solution that can help you to browse the web safely. To ensure that your macOS is secured against additional malware you have to add an additional security layer as anti-malware software and keep it up to date.
Remove Searchmime.com from Mac
To get rid of Searchmime.com entirely, we advise you to check out the instructions shown down below. They are made to help you remove Searchmime.com from your Mac and browsers. If you want quick and much more efficient results, we highly recommend that you use the help of a professional anti-malware app. Such a program can efficiently scan for and get rid of all types of unwanted files as well as safeguard your macOS against future infections.
Gergana Ivanova
Highly motivated writer with 5+ years of experience writing for ransomware, malware, adware, PUPs, and other cybersecurity-related issues. As a writer, I strive to create content that is based on thorough technical research. I find joy in the process of creating articles that are easy to understand, informative, and useful. Follow me on Twitter (@IRGergana) for the latest in the field of computer, mobile, and online security.
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Steps to Prepare Before Removal:
Before starting to follow the steps below, be advised that you should first do the following preparations:
- Backup your files in case the worst happens.
- Make sure to have a device with these instructions on standy.
- Arm yourself with patience.
- 1. Scan for Mac Malware
- 2. Uninstall Risky Apps
- 3. Clean Your Browsers
Step 1: Scan for and remove Searchmime.com files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Searchmime.com, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Quick and Easy Mac Malware Video Removal Guide
Bonus Step: How to Make Your Mac Run Faster?
Mac machines maintain probably the fastest operating system out there. Still, Macs do become slow and sluggish sometimes. The video guide below examines all of the possible problems that may lead to your Mac being slower than usual as well as all of the steps that can help you to speed up your Mac.
Step 2: Uninstall Searchmime.com and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
2. Find Activity Monitor and double-click it:
3. In the Activity Monitor look for any suspicious processes, belonging or related to Searchmime.com:
4. Click on the "Go" button again, but this time select Applications. Another way is with the ⇧+⌘+A buttons.
5. In the Applications menu, look for any suspicious app or an app with a name, similar or identical to Searchmime.com. If you find it, right-click on the app and select “Move to Trash”.
6. Select Accounts, after which click on the Login Items preference. Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to Searchmime.com. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
7. Remove any leftover files that might be related to this threat manually by following the sub-steps below:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove Searchmime.com via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
1. Click on "Go" and Then "Go to Folder" as shown underneath:
2. Type in "/Library/LauchAgents/" and click Ok:
3. Delete all of the virus files that have similar or the same name as Searchmime.com. If you believe there is no such file, do not delete anything.
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 3: Remove Searchmime.com – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
Searchmime.com-FAQ
What is Searchmime.com on your Mac?
The Searchmime.com threat is probably a potentially unwanted app. There is also a chance it could be related to Mac malware. If so, such apps tend to slow your Mac down significantly and display advertisements. They could also use cookies and other trackers to obtain browsing information from the installed web browsers on your Mac.
Can Macs Get Viruses?
Yes. As much as any other device, Apple computers do get malware. Apple devices may not be a frequent target by malware authors, but rest assured that almost all of the Apple devices can become infected with a threat.
What Types of Mac Threats Are There?
According to most malware researchers and cyber-security experts, the types of threats that can currently infect your Mac can be rogue antivirus programs, adware or hijackers (PUPs), Trojan horses, ransomware and crypto-miner malware.
What To Do If I Have a Mac Virus, Like Searchmime.com?
Do not panic! You can easily get rid of most Mac threats by firstly isolating them and then removing them. One recommended way to do that is by using a reputable malware removal software that can take care of the removal automatically for you.
There are many Mac anti-malware apps out there that you can choose from. SpyHunter for Mac is one of the reccomended Mac anti-malware apps, that can scan for free and detect any viruses. This saves time for manual removal that you would otherwise have to do.
How to Secure My Data from Searchmime.com?
With few simple actions. First and foremost, it is imperative that you follow these steps:
Step 1: Find a safe computer and connect it to another network, not the one that your Mac was infected in.
Step 2: Change all of your passwords, starting from your e-mail passwords.
Step 3: Enable two-factor authentication for protection of your important accounts.
Step 4: Call your bank to change your credit card details (secret code, etc.) if you have saved your credit card for online shopping or have done online activiites with your card.
Step 5: Make sure to call your ISP (Internet provider or carrier) and ask them to change your IP address.
Step 6: Change your Wi-Fi password.
Step 7: (Optional): Make sure to scan all of the devices connected to your network for viruses and repeat these steps for them if they are affected.
Step 8: Install anti-malware software with real-time protection on every device you have.
Step 9: Try not to download software from sites you know nothing about and stay away from low-reputation websites in general.
If you follow these reccomendations, your network and Apple devices will become significantly more safe against any threats or information invasive software and be virus free and protected in the future too.
More tips you can find on our MacOS Virus section, where you can also ask any questions and comment about your Mac problems.
About the Searchmime.com Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Searchmime.com how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific macOS issue.
How did we conduct the research on Searchmime.com?
Please note that our research is based on an independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware definitions, including the various types of Mac threats, especially adware and potentially unwanted apps (PUAs).
Furthermore, the research behind the Searchmime.com threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.