This article aims to help you with the removal process of Search.spidersearchshop.com hijacker from your affected Mac.
Search.spidersearchshop.com is a deceptive search engine classified as a browser hijacker. It is known to affect mainly Mac devices. Its tricky capabilities of modifying browser settings without your permission make it a potentially unwanted program. And for the sake of the security of your data and your macOS device you should remove this hijacker as well as all its associated files from affected browser and system.
Threat Summary
| Name | Search.spidersearchshop.com |
| Type | Browser Hijacker |
| Short Description | A deceptive search engine that replaces preferred browser homepage, new tab page and searching service without asking for yor explicit permission. |
| Symptoms | Basic browser settings are hijacked by the domain of the hijacker. An increased number of ads appear during browsing sessions and cause significatnt slowdowns. |
| Distribution Method | Software Bundles, Freeware Installers, Corrupted Web Pages |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
SpyHunter
Malware Removal Tool
|
User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Search.spidersearchshop.com. |
Search.spidersearchshop.com – How Did I Get It
It’s realistic to suggest that the reason for the appearance of Search.spidersearchshop.com during browsing sessions is a potentially unwanted program installed on your Mac. Program of this kind could have landed on your device with the help of commonly used distribution techniques. One of the most preferred is freewae packages. It enables developers of PUPs to inject the code of their apps into the installers of various free third-party apps and then release the modified copies across the web.
In order to trick users into installing all extras, they keep the information about their presence hidden. So there is a chance that during the installation process of any desired freeware you have unnoticeably installed some additional potentially unwanted apps on your device. Happily, in future it is possible to prevent such adverse effects by selecting the Advanced/Custom configuration option of the installer as there may be stated that some additional apps are going to be installed along with the primary one.
Another channel used for the distribution of Search.spidersearchshop.com is its official website spidersearchshop.com. How it may appear in your browser is after a redirect caused by a visited deceptive web page. Here is how its main page looks like:
Search.spidersearchshop.com – More Information
The questionable website Search.spidersearchshop.com is classified as a browser hijacker due to its specific capabilities that enable it to modify certain browser settings without your explicit permission. So once its associated files are started on your macOS they access predefined system resources in order to change some essential settings of target browsers.
Changes usually affect the homepage, new tab page and default search engine settings. As a result you may start to see its main page each time you open your preferred web browser. All you can see on its main page is shown in the picture below:
There are many ads generated in the search results displayed by the hijacker. And no matter that these ads are slightly different than the organic results, it is really easy to miss the indicators and eventually get tricked into visiting sponsored content. The tricky part with such an issue is that sponsored results are not always the best available across the web. Thus, by being tricked into selecting them you may skip the chance to review the pages that match best your search queries.
Even though this program doesn’t inject any malicious files that aim to harm your Mac, its presence on the system hides some risks. The most significant one is data theft. On one hand, the privacy policy of this website reveals that it is designed to obtain certain details from the affected browser. So you should know that as long as it is running in your browser it receives the permission to collect all of the following:
- Clicks and visited pages
- Browser’s home page
- Search queries
- Type of device and technical information about it
- Type of used browser
- Operating system type
- Internet protocol (IP) address
- Geographic location
- The domain name of current Internet service provider (ISP)
- Information collected by cookies, web beacons or other related technologies
On the other hand, the associated files dropped on your Mac may make its system more vulnerable to malware attacks. For example, if cyber criminals identify that Search.spidersearchshop.com hijacker is running in your browser they could write a malicious code that explicitly exploits the code of the hijacker and this way compromise your system.
Another confusing event is the appearance of the name of yet another hijacker – Safe Finder on the search results page opened by Search.spidersearchshop.com. Why confusing? You may be wondering.. Because the bogus programs that are able to obtain details related to your browsing behavior become two. And consequently, the companies that could take advantage of these details by flooding your browser with lots of annoying ads are also two.
In the policy section of Search.spidersearchshop.com it is clearly stated that advertising is one of the reasons why it is designed to collect data and send it to its connected servers. Eventually, once hijacked by Search.spidersearchshop.com your browser becomes a convenient distribution channel for ads of all kind including pop-ups, pop-unders, banners, in-text links, new tab pages, scroll triggered boxes and others.
The chances are that you will experience browser slowdowns and even crashes or become a target of malicious advertising campaigns. So in case that you want to use your system in a secure manner and prevent it from being infected by serious malware infections you need to remove this nasty hijacker as soon as possible.
Remove Search.spidersearchshop.com Hijacker Completely
In order to remove the annoying Search.spidersearchshop.com hijacker along with all its associated files from your Mac you should complete all steps listed in the removal guide that follows. It presents both manual and automatic removal instructions that combined will help you to remove this undesired program in full.
In case that you have further questions or need additional help, don’t hesitate to leave a comment or contact us via email.
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 Search.spidersearchshop.com files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Search.spidersearchshop.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 Search.spidersearchshop.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 Search.spidersearchshop.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 Search.spidersearchshop.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 Search.spidersearchshop.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 Search.spidersearchshop.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 Search.spidersearchshop.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 Search.spidersearchshop.com – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
Search.spidersearchshop.com-FAQ
What is Search.spidersearchshop.com on your Mac?
The Search.spidersearchshop.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 Search.spidersearchshop.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 Search.spidersearchshop.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 Search.spidersearchshop.com Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Search.spidersearchshop.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 Search.spidersearchshop.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 Search.spidersearchshop.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.