Toolbars&Hijackers

MacOSDefender or MacOSDefender.app is malicious application for MacOS, that takes over search and homepage settings in Safari, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. While searching for something, users can see multiple redirects, for example: goto-searchitnow.global.ssl.fastly.net -> my-search.com -> searchroute-1560352588.us-west-2.elb.amazonaws.com -> alphashoppers.co. Some of this web addresses figured in our previous articles, from what we can make a conclusion, that those hijackers have similar roots and, probably, one team of developers.

There are a lot of hijackers, that install Search.yahoo.com (Us.yhs4.search.yahoo.com) as default search engine and homepage. Search engines fight for the market and different companies use various ways to distribute their product. Along with their own browser add-ons Yahoo is partnering with thousands of software developers and webmasters, allowing them to earn by driving traffic and customers to search.yahoo.com website. Developers earn on user clicks on ads inside Yahoo Search or just per each installation of Yahoo search products in browsers.

SafeFinder is browser extension that is installed in 3 major browsers (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer). SafeFinder replaces default search and homepage of all your browsers to search.safefinder.com. Even if you remove SafeFinder from Control Panel and extensions from browsers these settings will remain unchanged.

Ads and redirects from Laubeyrietechnology.com in Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are caused by installed browser extensions. As a result, users constantly see advertising blocks before and after Google search results. After clicking on links in this ads, they are redirected to the aforementioned domain. Currently, there is a list of certain add-ons, known to be the source of infection, however, malware developers may extend distribution by purchasing more and more Chrome and Firefox extensions projects. Ads and redirects appear soon after updating such e This is a dangerous and perfidious way of spreading the infection, as it hits unsuspecting owners of previously good and safe add-ons.

Search.playsearchnow.com and PlaySearchNow are, respectively, bothersome search hijacker and extension for Safari, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox browsers running on Mac OS. PlaySearchNow is add-on, that installs in browsers, in the first place, and then captures search engine and homepage settings. Malware modifies them to search.playsearchnow.com, which looks characteristically for this type of threats. If users start using new engine, their searches will be redirected to Yahoo, Bing or some unknown third-party resource. The purpose of applications like this is to get revenue from advertising generated by people using this rogue search. Users should be aware, that along with search redirects, PlaySearchNow gets access to some browsing data, like history, cookies etc. This may this may have negative consequences for overall security of your Mac and privacy in the future.

Search.borderov.com is typical browser hijacker, that aims Safari, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox browsers running on Mac OS. It is accompanied with Borderov browser extension, that starts to manage search and homepage settings after infection. Hijacker alters values of the settings and redirects users search queries to search.borderov.com and then to search.yahoo.com. The purpose of applications like this is to get revenue from advertising generated by people using this rogue search.

Search.genieo.com or Genieo virus is malicious Mac application, that is classified as adware and browser hijacker. Virus installs Genieo app and two extensions: Genieo and Omnibar. With help of this add-ons malware takes control over search settings and homepage in Safari, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. It modifies those settings to search.genieo.com. Also, Genieo will generate intrusive ads in these browsers, that will be marked like "Ads by Genieo", "powered by Genieo", "brought by Genieo". Search.genieo.com hijacker is connected with Infospace advertising network.

Feed.utilitooltech.com or Utilitool Default Search or Utilitool.co is molestful browser hijacker, that infects Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer. Upon infection, it alters the settings of browser search, homepage and newtab. Malicious extension intercepts control over searchscopes and won't allow you to make changes, unless you remove it. Feed.utilitooltech.com gets access to private user data, stored in browsers, and generates ads and pop-ups based on users online behaviour.