can’t uninstall search engine mac

[Chuck Reti]

I don’t understand what you mean by “search engine mac.” Please explain.

Chuck Reti

[Hugo Garcia]

Hi,
Yesterday I was looking for a plug-in and I must’ve done through a “bad” site or something, the thing is that I ended up with what appears to be a malware, or so I’ve read online… When I open my Google Chrome, the search engine, instead of saying Google, says “Search” and I am not able to reestablish my opening page. Now the problem is that I’ve noticed my accounts (Facebook so far) have been tried to be hacked. I am worried about the rest of myself stuff like PayPal accounts and the content of my computer.

[Jared Ewing]

I’ve had this happen to with Safari and I used Malwarebytes to get rid of it: https://www.malwarebytes.com/mac-download/

[Hugo Garcia]

Hi Jared,
Thanks for responding… I did try Malwarebytes, the free trial, wanted to see if it recognizes the malware before purchasing it. But the result says everything is ok, that my Mac is clean…. Usually they find them fist and then ask you to buy it, but is not giving me any results… Do you think the free trial is not able to find it until I buy it???

[Jared Ewing]

If it’s able to find something, the free trial would show it.

Try using Safari to test. Do you have issues with the search engine while using Safari? If Safari works without issue, then it is most likely a Chrome extension or add-on that is likely the cause. Check to see if any extensions are installed as they may be the cause of the search issue: https://support.google.com/chrome_webstore/answer/2664769

[Hugo Garcia]

Yes, I am actually using Safari right now (works fine) since this is happened, I tried getting rid of the extensions too, pretty much every solution google has giving me but nothing works ☹ Still, even if I use Safari from now and on I am afraid of being hacked. Someone tried to access my FB page (from a windows server, so I know wasn’t me) I have deleted every password now.

[Jared Ewing]

Makes sense.

What steps did you use to uninstalling Chrome?

https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95319

A few other troubleshooting steps:

• It may help to continue narrowing where the problem is. We know it’s not impacting other browser and is limited to Chrome. Next, see if it’s impacting just your user account or all users of that Mac. Use System Preferences to create a new test user account. Log out of your account and switch to the test account. See if the search issue happens there too.

• safe mode might create a change in behavior with Chrome: https://support.apple.com/HT201262