Search.installmac(.)com is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and specifically – a browser hijacker. It attaches itself to your browser, changes its homepage, the new tab, the search engine and adds a browser extension. You can be shown ads and even sponsored search results redirecting to websites with potentially malicious content.
Name | Search.installmac(.)com |
Type | Browser Hijacker, PUP |
Short Description | The homepage of your browser will be changed and you can be shown ads and sponsored sites from search results. |
Symptoms | Sets a custom browser homepage, search engine, new tab page and adds a browser extension. |
Distribution Method | Freeware Installers, Bundle Packages |
Detection Tool | Download Malware Removal Tool, to See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware |
User Experience | Join our forum to discuss Search.installmac(.)com. |
Search.installmac(.)com – Distribution
The Search.installmac(.)com browser hijacker is usually distributed with third-party installers. Without knowing, you can get the hijacker on your machine, because it can hide in freeware installations and bundled packages. In such packages, additional components for installation are not always disclosed, and you can get deceived into installing PUPs like Search.installmac(.)com. Sometimes this can be avoided if you check the Advanced or Custom setting in an installation setup to see what you are installing.
Another way of distribution for Search.installmac(.)com is if you visit suspicious sites or if you click on advertisements, pop-ups or banners. They might add a related browser extension or make modifications to your browser. That way you might see and constantly be redirected to the search.installmac(.)com page. All browsers can be affected, especially the most popular ones, like Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Safari.
Search.installmac(.)com – In Detail
Search.installmac(.)com is a browser hijacker. It is developed by InstallMac, like other PUPs they have made in the past, such as Start Point. When installed on your computer, the hijacker changes the browser’s homepage, the new tab page, and the search engine. It may also install a browser add-on or an extension. Its official domain to which you can get redirected from the browser modifications is: Search.installmac(.)com.
While your browsers are hijacked, whenever you do a search, the results will go through the Search.installmac(.)com search filter. If you try doing a search or using the new tab page, sponsored and sometimes even misleading results may be shown. You may also see advertisements like pop-ups and banners being displayed. Sites, to which you may be redirected, can make revenue on a pay-per-click basis. These sites may also contain malware. In some cases you can be redirected to an edited version of various search engines like Yahoo, Bing, and Bit-search:
Some of the modifications of the edited search engines are missing features and added advertisements and toolbars in their place.
The Privacy Policy (EULA) of Search.installmac(.)com is missing, so you don’t have access to any information about your privacy:
The Terms of use, Contact us, Reset Search links don’t work either and show the same error as in the image above. Most probably, the hijacker collects information about you and your PC, which can be shared with third parties, and affiliates of Search.installmac(.)com and InstallMac.
Remove Search.installmac(.)com Completely
To remove Search.installmac(.)com manually from your PC, follow the step-by-step removal guide below. In case the manual removal does not get rid of the browser hijacker and its modifications completely, you should search and remove any leftovers with an advanced anti-malware program. Installing such a program will also keep your PC safe in the future.
Step 1: Remove/Uninstall Search.installmac(.)com in Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps to remove that program. No matter if you are using Windows 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program get left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, mistakes with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Select the program that you want to remove, and press “Uninstall” (fig.3).
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall Search.installmac(.)com.
Step 2: Remove Search.installmac(.)com from your browser
Select the “Add-ons” icon from the menu
Select Search.installmac(.)com and click “Remove”
After Search.installmac(.)com is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red “X” in the top right corner and start it again.
Select Search.installmac(.)com to remove, and then click ‘Disable’. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected toolbar, and some additional toolbars might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click ‘Disable’.
After Search.installmac(.)com has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red ‘X’ in the top right corner and start it again.
Open the drop menu by clicking on the sprocket icon in the top right corner.
From the drop menu select ‘Preferences’
In the new window select ‘Extensions’
Click once on Search.installmac(.)com
Click ‘Uninstall’
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall Search.installmac(.)com. Select ‘Uninstall’ again, and the Search.installmac(.)com will be removed.
Step 3: Remove Search.installmac(.)com automatically by downloading an advanced anti-malware program.
- Guide 1: How to Remove Search.installmac(.)com from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of Search.installmac(.)com on Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove Search.installmac(.)com in Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase Search.installmac(.)com from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall Search.installmac(.)com from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove Search.installmac(.)com from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate Search.installmac(.)com from Internet Explorer.
- Guide 8: Disable Search.installmac(.)com Push Notifications in Your Browsers.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
How to Remove Search.installmac(.)com from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Search.installmac(.)com





Step 2: Uninstall Search.installmac(.)com and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:



Step 3: Clean any registries, created by Search.installmac(.)com on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by Search.installmac(.)com there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:



Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Get rid of Search.installmac(.)com from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Search.installmac(.)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:
- 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.installmac(.)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:
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 2: Scan for and remove Search.installmac(.)com files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Search.installmac(.)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.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Remove Search.installmac(.)com from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Erase Search.installmac(.)com from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Uninstall Search.installmac(.)com from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Remove Search.installmac(.)com from Safari.
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the Search.installmac(.)com will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Eliminate Search.installmac(.)com from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
Remove Push Notifications caused by Search.installmac(.)com from Your Browsers.
Turn Off Push Notifications from Google Chrome
To disable any Push Notices from Google Chrome browser, please follow the steps below:
Step 1: Go to Settings in Chrome.
Step 2: In Settings, select “Advanced Settings”:
Step 3: Click “Content Settings”:
Step 4: Open “Notifications”:
Step 5: Click the three dots and choose Block, Edit or Remove options:
Remove Push Notifications on Firefox
Step 1: Go to Firefox Options.
Step 2: Go to “Settings”, type “notifications” in the search bar and click "Settings":
Step 3: Click “Remove” on any site you wish notifications gone and click “Save Changes”
Stop Push Notifications on Opera
Step 1: In Opera, press ALT+P to go to Settings
Step 2: In Setting search, type “Content” to go to Content Settings.
Step 3: Open Notifications:
Step 4: Do the same as you did with Google Chrome (explained below):
Eliminate Push Notifications on Safari
Step 1: Open Safari Preferences.
Step 2: Choose the domain from where you like push pop-ups gone and change to "Deny" from "Allow".