Did the unwanted app SearchMine appear on your Mac? You are wondering how to remove SearchMine from your Mac? In this article, we will try to explain what is SearchMine virus and show you how to remove SearchMine from Mac.
What is Search Mine?
Search Mine is a potentially unwanted program for Mac. It claims to be capable of enhancing online browsing experience but does the opposite instead. If you have Search Mine on your Mac, then there is a chance that it could bring dangerous sites via ads on your computer. Furthermore, this suspicious search engine is designed to gather information and redirect users to other fake search engines.
SearchMine Virus
SearchMine is often called a virus because it lands on Mac devices without the knowledge of their owners. In fact, it is an ad-supported tool that affects Chrome, Firefox, or Safari browsers on Mac. The purpose of SearchMine is to show various types of advertising content after “hijacking” browsers. It is not developed to corrupt macOS, it affects, or personal files. However, it is still recommendable that you remove SearchMine virus from Mac.
Otherwise, the affected browser on your Mac (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or another) will keep being redirected to searchmine.net. In addition, the system will be forced to load the undesired program on every system start.
If you want to see the removal steps directly, go to our SearchMine removal guide.
SearchMine Summary
| Name | Search Mine / SearchMine.net |
| Type | Adware, Browser Hijacker, PUP |
| Short Description | The program shows various types of advertised content after “hijacking” your browser, hence it’s categorized as a browser hijacker. |
| Symptoms | Intrusive ads that interrupt the browsing experience. |
| Distribution Method | Bundling, Freeware Packages |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
Download
Combo Cleaner
|
User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss SearchMine. |
SearchMine Virus Mac
SearchMine is considered a Mac virus by the majority of the affected users. In fact, it is an unwanted program that can slow your Mac machine down and might also try to install other undesirable software on it. You should carefully read this article and see how SearchMine performs and see for yourself what steps to take to remove it.
The primary method of you getting the ads is likely due to software bundling. Search Mine may be added to your computer due to being included as an “optional offer” or a “free extra” to your current installation. And this “free extra” is often located in one of the install steps of a free app you may have downloaded from a third-party site on your Mac. These third-party apps often get slithered via this method or false advertising of their usefulness.
Either way, once on your computer, this “virus” app is very difficult to remove as one user Kirsten Doherty has reported on Google Chrome forums:
Hi Chrome community, I have just discovered I have search mine malware on my computer. help?
I have deleted unknown extensions, used system preferences to delete unknown profiles, looked for suspicious files and restored back to original settings on the browser.
It still says managed by an organization on my browser and I cannot change it. Please give me any suggestions you can.
Why is Searchmine.net My Default Search Engine?
The main idea of this app is to begin changing the settings of your browser and then start changing your home and new tab page to its custom one – searchmine.net. What’s more, the hijacker will be redirecting all your searches to other legitimate-like search engines such as Yahoo and Bing, or questionable ones such as weknow.ac and Universal Web Results.
Usually, such hoax search pages are not HTTPs secured and contain tracking cookies, pixels, tags and geo-locators used to obtain different information from your online activity. Such data can be what you search online, what sites you visit, which ads you click on.
The ads that can come on your computer as a result of the redirects could be the following types:
- Browser Redirects.
- Banners.
- Ad-supported search results.
- Pop-ups.
- Push notifications.
The ads that are displayed by the adware could eventually lead to various different types of sites, some of which may turn out to be outright dangerous to your computer system. Some of those sites could be scam sites or outright malware-infested sites.
How to Get Rid of SearchMine from Mac
If you want to remove SearchMine from your Mac, we recommend following the removal steps underneath this article. They have been created with the primary purpose to help you delete as many files associated with SearchMine as possible. Removing SearchMine from Mac in an efficient way is possible with the help of a specialized tool that scans all system locations for harmful files. If you want to speed up the removal process, we recommend that you go ahead to downloading advanced anti-malware software. Such a program’s primary purpose is to thoroughly scan your computer and remove all files and objects related to this browser hijacker from your Mac.
Video Removal guide for Search Mine virus redirect:
Ventsislav Krastev
Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and 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 SearchMine files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as SearchMine, 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 SearchMine 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 SearchMine:
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 SearchMine. 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 SearchMine. 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 SearchMine 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 SearchMine. 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 SearchMine – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
SearchMine-FAQ
What is SearchMine on your Mac?
The SearchMine 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 SearchMine?
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 SearchMine?
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 SearchMine Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this SearchMine 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 SearchMine?
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 SearchMine threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.
Hello SensorsTechForum,
I got hit by this virus. I browsed to a news site and search mine installed on my mac computer. What is dangerous about it is that a lot of pages started appearing, this slow down my mac.
I had trouble gettting it off from my computer. I will follow now your instructions. Thank you.
Se me instaló searchmine en chrome y ahora en safari, está muy bien explicado pero por más que lo hago igual no me aparece ni la app maliciosa en finder ni en actividad ni en las extensiones… no sé ya cómo hacerlo… :(