What is SearchMine.net?

SearchMine.net is a browser hijacker for Mac OS. A browser hijacker is a piece of software that can change homepage, new tab page or default search engine of a browser and take measures to prevent users from changing those settings back. SearchMine does that by adding a new profile to System Preferences to make www.searchmine.net the default search engine, homepage, etc. SearchMine.net redirects users’ searches to opti-page.com, webcrawler.com and other unwanted search engines. Other than altering browser settings, browser hijackers often keep track of users’ browsing activity and use this information to display customized ads on webpages users visit, or sell it to third parties. We recommend you to remove SearchMine.com browser hijacker from your Mac.

A screenshot of https://www.searchmine.net (Mac virus)

How SearchMine.net gets on your Mac?

Usually Searchmine.net appears on users’ Macbooks after users get redirected to rogue sites claiming that an Adobe Flash Player update needs to be installed, and end up installing it. As a result, several pieces of adware, malware and potentially unwanted software, including SearchMine, get installed on their Macs. Other ways for Searchmine.net and other browser hijackers to end up on users’ machines are users installing free software and not opting out of extra programs that are also offered for installation, or users opening files downloaded from shady websites. If that had happened and SearchMine.net took over your browser, you may follow our tutorial to remove SearchMine.net from your Mac.

Recommended Anti-malware tools:

The easiest and most modern way of removing hijackers, pop-ups, Trojans, ransomware or other viruses is to use automatic removal tools. See our Anti-malware tools below for further instructions.

Try SpyHunter

SpyHunter is a powerful removal tool. It can detect and remove all instances of newest viruses, pop-ups, ransomware or trojans. The free version of SpyHunter allows you, subject to a 48-hour waiting period, one remediation and removal for results found. The full version of SpyHunter costs $42 (you get 6 months of subscription). By clicking the button, you agree to EULA and Privacy Policy. Downloading will start automatically.

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Try SpyHunter for Mac

SpyHunter for Mac fully removes all instances of newest viruses from Mac/MacBook and Safari. Besides, leaner can help to optimize MacOS and free up disk space. Compatible with all versions of MacOS. The free version of SpyHunter for Mac allows you, subject to a 48-hour waiting period, one remediation and removal for results found. The full version of SpyHunter costs $42 (you get 6 months of subscription). By clicking the button, you agree to EULA and Privacy Policy. Downloading will start automatically.

Download SpyHunter for Mac

MacOS versions

Also, you can try to remove SearchMine.net manually.

Alternative solution. Step 1: Remove SearchMine.net from Mac

SearchMine.net may not have the app associated with it in Applications. However, we recommend you to inspect the list of installed applications and remove unknown or suspicious ones. Look for SearchMine.net or SearchMine.net.app.

Mac OSX:

  1. Open Finder
  2. In the Finder sidebar, click Applications
  3. If you see Uninstall SearchMine.net or SearchMine.net Uninstaller, double-click it and follow instructions
  4. Drag unwanted application SearchMine.net from the Applications folder to the Trash (located on the right side of the Dock)

Learn more about uninstallation of programs in Mac OSX

Step 2: Remove Admin Preferences from Mac

  1. Open System Preferences.
  2. Click on Profiles.
  3. Click on AdminPrefs on the left panel.
  4. Click the minus button below to delete rogue settings.

Step 3: Remove SearchMine.net from browsers

Safari:

  1. Open Safari
  2. Click Safari menu.
  3. Choose Extensions.
  4. Find Weknow or other suspicious extensions.
  5. Click Uninstall button to remove it.

Learn more about removing extensions from Safari.

Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome
  2. Push Alt + F.
  3. Click Tools.
  4. Choose Extensions.
  5. Find Weknow or other suspicious extensions.
  6. Click the trash can icon to remove it.

Learn more about removing extensions from Chrome.

Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Firefox.
  2. Push Shift + Ctrl + A.
  3. Choose Weknow or other suspicious extensions.
  4. Click Disable or Remove button.

Learn more about removing extensions from Firefox.

Step 4: Resetting your browser search and homepage settings

Reset browser setting in Safari:

  1. Open Safari.
  2. Click on the Safari menu.
  3. Choose Reset Safari….
  4. Click Reset button.

Learn more about resetting browser settings in Safari.

Reset browser setting in Google Chrome:

  1. Click the Chrome menu (3 bar button) in the top right corner.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Click Show advanced settings.
  4. Go to Reset browser settings section.
  5. Click Reset browser settings.
  6. In the dialog that appears, click Reset.

Learn more about resetting browser settings in Google Chrome.

Reset browser setting in Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox.
  2. Go to Help.
  3. Go to Troubleshooting information.
  4. Click Reset Firefox… button.

Learn more about resetting browser settings in Mozilla Firefox.

9 Comments

  1. ok! I tried all of these steps on my mac and they didn’t work. Previously, i tried malware bytes, i tried ccleaner, i tried resetting. Only Combo Cleaner works perfectly!

    • if you are Chrome user, launch Terminal
      Copy and paste the following entries one by one each time by pressing “ENTER”:
      defaults write com.google.Chrome HomepageIsNewTabPage -bool false
      defaults write com.google.Chrome NewTabPageLocation -string “https://www.google.com/”
      defaults write com.google.Chrome HomepageLocation -string “https://www.google.com/”
      defaults delete com.google.Chrome DefaultSearchProviderSearchURL
      defaults delete com.google.Chrome DefaultSearchProviderNewTabURL
      defaults delete com.google.Chrome DefaultSearchProviderName
      Relaunch Chrome

  4. ahhhhhhh des semaines que je m’en sort pas et j’ai l’impression que l’étape 2 a fonctionné !!!!
    A voir si ça revient mais en tout cas merci beaucoup ! Au top MERCI MERCI

  5. I was about to pay CA$60 for 6 months subscription with Combo Cleaner, just to get rid of the Yahoo Search bug from my Chrome on Mac. Tried everything, till I reached the STEP 3. Removed all the extensions that I didn’t use for some time, and voila… That bastard is gone, and back to Google Search Engine. Thank you, guys…

  6. I still have the problem with SearchMine
    I’d try delete extension but mycouponsmart with a M símbol is not avaible to delete only details.

    • try to check your browsers’ shortcut. Sometimes even removing malicious programs from your computer and web browser can’t help. If you are still facing an unknown webpage when you open your web browser, then you might have your browser shortcut changed. To do so:

      1. Right-click on your browser shortcut, choose Properties.
      2. If you see a link to some website after .exe in the Target field, read on.
      3. Usually, you are not able to delete a link from the Target field, that’s why you need to click on the Open File Location button in this window.
      4. Once you’ve opened file location, select chrome.exe/firefox.exe/iexplore.exe.
      5. Right-click on this file and choose Sent to option, then Desktop (create shortcut).
      6. New shortcut will have no additional redirection links.
      7. Delete old infected shortcut. If you got one in your taskbar, delete it from there too.
      8. Now you have new and clear shortcut without redirection to unknown websites.

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