Removing Search Marquis from Mac Safari: A Comprehensive Guide

Search Marquis is a pesky browser hijacker that can take over your browser without your consent. It changes your default search engine and homepage, redirects you to unwanted websites, and floods your browser with annoying ads. If you’re struggling with this issue, don’t worry, we’ve got your back. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of removing Search Marquis from Mac Safari. Follow these steps carefully, and you’ll be able to get rid of this annoying browser hijacker in no time.

Step 1: Accessing the Utilities Folder

1. Click on the “Finder” icon located at the bottom left corner of your screen.
2. Click on “Applications” in the left sidebar.
3. Scroll down and open the “Utilities” folder.

Alternatively, you can press “Command + Shift + U” to open the Utilities folder directly.

Step 2: Opening the Terminal

1. In the Utilities folder, find the “Terminal” application and double-click on it to open it. You can also search for “Terminal” using Spotlight search (Command + Space) at the top right corner of the screen.
2. Type the following command in the Terminal window:

defaults write com.apple.Safari IncludeInternalDebugMenu 1

3. Press “Enter” to execute the command.
4. Quit the Terminal application.

By running this command, you enable the debug menu in Safari, which gives you access to Safari’s hidden settings.

Step 3: Accessing Safari’s Debug Menu

1. Open Safari.
2. Click on “Safari” in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
3. Click on “Preferences”.
4. Click on the “Advanced” tab.
5. Check the box that says “Show Develop menu in menu bar”.
6. Close the Preferences window.
7. Click on “Develop” in the menu bar.
8. Click on “Empty Caches”.
9. Click on “Disable Extensions”.

By disabling extensions, Safari will become more secure against any hijackers or malicious extensions that you may have inadvertently installed.

Step 4: Uninstalling Suspicious Extensions

1. Click on “Safari” in the menu bar.
2. Click on “Preferences”.
3. Click on the “Extensions” tab at the top of the screen.
4. Uninstall any suspicious extensions that you don’t remember installing or that seem fishy.
5. Restart Safari.

Suspicious extensions can be a gateway for hijackers and other malware to get into your system, so it’s best to get rid of them as soon as possible.

Step 5: Removing Search Marquis from Safari

1. Click on “Safari” in the menu bar.
2. Click on “Preferences”.
3. Click on the “General” tab.
4. Make sure your homepage is set to a trusted website that you recognize. If it’s not, change it to a safe website.
5. Check the “Safari opens with” setting and make sure it’s not set to “All windows from last session”.
6. Check the “New windows open with” setting and make sure it’s not set to “Homepage”.
7. Check the “New tabs open with” setting and make sure it’s not set to “Homepage”.
8. Close the Preferences window.
9. Click on “Safari” in the menu bar.
10. Hold down the “Shift” key and click on “Safari” again.
11. Click on “Reset Safari”.
12. Check all the boxes in the “Reset Safari” window.
13. Click on “Reset”.
14. Restart Safari.

Resetting Safari will remove all data stored in Safari, including cookies, cache, and browsing history. This can be a useful step to take if you suspect that the Search Marquis hijacker has stored some malicious data on your browser.

Step 6: Running a Scan with Malwarebytes

1. Download and install the Malwarebytes for Mac application.
2. Open Malwarebytes for Mac.
3. Click on “Scan”.
4. Wait for Malwarebytes to scan your system for malware, adware, and other potential threats.
5. If Malwarebytes detects any threats, follow the instructions to remove them.
6. Restart your Mac to complete the removal process.

Malwarebytes is a powerful anti-malware tool that can help you remove any type of malware, adware, and other potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) from your Mac. It’s a good idea to run a scan with Malwarebytes after removing the Search Marquis hijacker to ensure that no other malware is present on your system.

Step 7: Clearing Browsing Data

1. Open Safari.
2. Click on “Safari” in the menu bar.
3. Click on “Clear History”.
4. Select “All History” from the dropdown menu.
5. Click on “Clear History”.
6. Click on “Safari” in the menu bar again.
7. Click on “Preferences”.
8. Click on the “Privacy” tab.
9. Click on “Manage Website Data”.
10. Select all data related to Search Marquis.
11. Click on “Remove”.
12. Close the Preferences window.

Clearing your browsing history and data can help improve your browser’s performance, free up disk space, and protect your privacy from potential hijackers or other malicious programs.

Step 8: Creating a Backup

Before proceeding with the following steps, it’s recommended that you create a full backup of your Mac to ensure that you don’t lose any important files or data in case something goes wrong.

1. Connect an external hard drive or USB drive to your Mac.
2. Open Time Machine from the dock or search for it using Spotlight.
3. Click on the “Select Backup Disk” button and choose the external drive as your backup destination.
4. Click on the “On” button to turn on Time Machine.
5. Wait for Time Machine to finish creating the backup.

You can also use other backup tools and services, such as iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox, to create backups of your important files and data.

Step 9: Checking for System Updates

1. Click on the Apple icon located at the top left corner of your screen.
2. Click on “System Preferences”.
3. Click on “Software Update”.
4. Check if there are any updates available for your system.
5. If there are any updates available, click on the “Update Now” button to download and install them.
6. Restart your Mac once the updates are installed.

Keeping your system up to date is crucial for maintaining its security, stability, and performance. System updates contain important security patches and bug fixes that can help prevent hijackers and other types of malware from exploiting vulnerabilities in your system.

Step 10: Changing Your Password

1. Open System Preferences.
2. Click on “Users & Groups”.
3. Select your user account.
4. Click on “Change Password”.
5. Enter your current password and your new password twice.
6. Click on “Change Password”.

Changing your password can help prevent other people from accessing your account and compromising your security. Choose a strong and unique password that consists of at least 8 characters, including numbers, letters (both uppercase and lowercase), and symbols.

Step 11: Disabling Automatic Login

1. Open System Preferences.
2. Click on “Users & Groups”.
3. Select your user account.
4. Click on the “Login Options” tab.
5. Click on the lock icon and enter your password to make changes.
6. Uncheck the box that says “Automatic login”.
7. Close System Preferences.

Disabling automatic login can help prevent other people from accessing your account and compromising your security.

Step 12: Enabling Firewall Protection

1. Open System Preferences.
2. Click on “Security & Privacy”.
3. Click on the “Firewall” tab.
4. Click on the lock icon and enter your password to make changes.
5. Click on the “Turn On Firewall” button.
6. Click on the “Firewall Options” button to configure your firewall settings.

Enabling firewall protection can help block unauthorized access to your computer and protect it from potential hijackers, viruses, and other types of malware. Make sure to configure your firewall settings according to your needs and preferences.

Step 13: Updating Your Antivirus Software

1. Open your antivirus software.
2. Check if there are any updates available for your antivirus software.
3. If there are any updates available, download and install them.
4. Restart your Mac once the updates are installed.

If you have an antivirus software installed on your Mac, make sure to keep it up to date to ensure that it can detect and remove the latest threats and protect your system from potential hijackers and other types of malware.

Step 14: Scanning Your Mac with Antivirus Software

1. Open your antivirus software.
2. Select the option to perform a full system scan.
3. Wait for the antivirus software to scan your system for viruses, hijackers, and other types of malware.
4. If the antivirus software detects any threats, follow the instructions to remove them.
5. Restart your Mac once the scan is complete.

Performing a full system scan with your antivirus software can help detect and remove any viruses, hijackers, or other types of malware that may have infected your system.

Step 15: Running Apple’s Malware Removal Tool

MacOS includes a built-in malware removal tool that can help you detect and remove malware, including hijackers and adware. Here’s how to use it:

1. Open the Apple menu.
2. Select “System Preferences”.
3. Select “Security & Privacy”.
4. Click on the “General” tab.
5. Click on the lock icon and enter your password to make changes.
6. Click on the “Open Anyway” button next to the message that says “System software from developer ‘Apple’ was blocked from loading”.
7. Open Spotlight search by clicking on the magnifying glass icon in the top right corner of your screen or pressing “Command + Space”.
8. Type “malware” in the search bar.
9. Select “Malware Removal Tool” from the search results.
10. Click on the “Open” button to run the tool.
11. Follow the prompts to scan and remove any malware found on your system.
12. Restart your Mac once the scan is complete.

The Malware Removal Tool is designed to remove known malware from your Mac’s system folders, applications, and user folders. It’s recommended to run this tool periodically to keep your system free from malware and other threats.

Step 16: Resetting Your Mac’s DNS Cache

1. Open Terminal.
2. Type the following command in the Terminal window:

sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

3. Press “Enter” to execute the command.
4. Type your password when prompted.
5. Press “Enter” again to confirm.

Resetting your Mac’s DNS cache can help fix DNS-related issues and prevent hijackers and other types of malware from redirecting your browser to malicious websites.

Step 17: Reinstalling MacOS

If all the above steps fail to remove the Search Marquis hijacker and your Mac is still behaving abnormally, you may need to consider reinstalling MacOS from scratch. Here’s how to do it:

1. Backup your important data to an external drive or cloud storage service.
2. Restart your Mac and hold down the “Command + R” keys to boot into Recovery Mode.
3. Select “Reinstall macOS” from the list of options.
4. Follow the prompts to reinstall macOS.
5. Once the installation is complete, restore your data from the backup.

Reinstalling macOS is a drastic step, but it can help you remove any malware, including hijackers, adware, and other types of malware, that may have infected your system and restore your Mac to its default settings.

FAQ

What is Search Marquis?

Search Marquis is a type of browser hijacker that can take over your browser without your consent. It changes your default search engine and homepage, redirects you to unwanted websites, and floods your browser with annoying ads.

How does Search Marquis infect Macs?

Search Marquis can infect Macs through a variety of methods, including software bundling, fake software updates, spam emails, and malicious websites. It can also piggyback on other malware or adware that you may have inadvertently installed on your Mac.

How can I remove Search Marquis from Mac Safari?

To remove Search Marquis from Mac Safari, follow these steps:

1. Access the Utilities folder.
2. Open the Terminal and run the command to enable Safari’s debug menu.
3. Access Safari’s debug menu and disable extensions.
4. Uninstall any suspicious extensions.
5. Reset Safari and clear browsing data.
6. Run a scan with Malwarebytes.

How can I prevent Search Marquis from infecting my Mac again?

To prevent Search Marquis from infecting your Mac, follow these best practices:

• Be cautious when downloading and installing software from the Internet.
• Avoid clicking on suspicious links and pop-ups.
• Keep your system and software up to date with the latest security patches and bug fixes.
• Use a reputable antivirus software to detect and remove potential threats.
• Use strong and unique passwords for your accounts.
• Enable two-factor authentication for your accounts.
• Use a VPN to encrypt your online traffic and protect your privacy.

Kesimpulan

Removing Search Marquis from Mac Safari can be a challenging task, but by following these steps, you can get rid of this pes