What Is Standartnet on Mac?
Standartnet or Search.standartnet.com is a hijacker for Mac that affects certain settings of installed browsers. Hence, Standartnet is yet another potentially unwanted program that lowers macOS security. Its access to target web browsers enables it to push its strange search engine. Bogus ads may start to load during browsing sessions as well.
Even though, Standartnet is a browser hijacker, it may be categorized as a Mac virus because of the dangerous content it tends to present users with. Furthermore, the app may harvest specific details that reveal users identities or online behaviour.
Security experts advise affected users to remove Search.standartnet.com from their affected Macs as soon as they detect it.
Standartnet Summary
| Name | Standartnet (Search.standartnet.com) also known as Browser.MacOS.Search.standartnet.com (SpyHunter for Mac) |
| Type | Adware, PUP, Redirect for Mac |
| Short Description | Aims to modify the settings on your computer in order to cause browser redirects and display adverts. |
| Symptoms | The appearance of various types of online advertisements results in lowered macOS security and slowed Mac performance. |
| Distribution Method | Software bundles; Dangerous web pages which advertise it; Fake software updates. |
| Detection Tool |
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Search.standartnet.com – How Did I Get Infected?
Potentially unwanted programs or browser hijackers associated with the strange search engine Search.standartnet.com tend to be spread via shady methods. All the techniques are designed to hide the installation files of undesired apps so that users are easily misled into installing them. Software bundles, corrupted installers of free apps, fake software updates, torrent files, cracks and others may be used for the spread of StandartNet.
Here is a vivid example of a fake Flash Player update that tries to mislead people to install apps they don’t need:
StandartNet – What Does It Do?
Various reputable anti-malware tools detect StandartNet as browser hijacker. Hence, this application won’t corrupt system settings or personal data but what it will do is changes of main browsing preferences. Then it will start showing the questionable search engine Search.standartnet.com on affected browsers’ homepages and new tabs.
The fake search engine may also cause the popular Google redirects to Yahoo issue. During the redirecting process, the affected web browser may be forced to load poorly secured web pages designed to run automatically malicious scripts. As a result, various trackers may be driopped on the system to harvest data.
Example of cookies that have been added to a browser to collect data:
All of the installed web browsers (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Opera) may be affected by the hijacker. Your online browsing sessions may also be flooded with a large number of ads as a result of having this hijacker running on the macOS.
Here are a few more potentially unwanted apps that should be kept away from the macOS:
Is Search.standartnet.com a Virus?
Browsers affected by Search.standartnet.com hijacker may be forced to show misleading sponsored search results as well as lots of other suspicious ads including:
- Pop-ups,
- Video,
- Pop-unders,
- Images,
- Banners,
- In-text links,
- Fake notifications, etc.
The bad news is that some of the ads generated by Search.standartnet.com hijacker may redirect you to poorly secured or hacked websites. This issue, in turn, may lead to a load of sites that endanger the overall Mac security.
If you focus on the immediate removal of Search.standartnet.com hijacker from your Mac, you can prevent the occurrence of some serious security issues.
How to Remove Search.standartnet.com from Mac
To remove Search.standartnet.com along with all created entries on the Mac system, you should complete several removal steps in a precise order. The guide below presents you with both manual and automatic removal approaches. We recommend that you combine the steps to eliminate files installed by undesired programs and strengthen macOS security.
Before manually removing files or folders on your Mac, make sure to identify the accurate components of Search.standartnet.com, because deleting other apps’ files or system settings files by mistake may trigger malfunction of installed apps or even your system.
In case you have further questions or need additional help with the removal process, don’t hesitate to leave us a comment.
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.standartnet.com files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Search.standartnet.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.standartnet.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.standartnet.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.standartnet.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.standartnet.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.standartnet.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.standartnet.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.standartnet.com – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
Search.standartnet.com-FAQ
What is Search.standartnet.com on your Mac?
The Search.standartnet.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.standartnet.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.standartnet.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.standartnet.com Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Search.standartnet.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.standartnet.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.standartnet.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.