Ask HN: Does anybody know what 'searchbenny' is?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9002650

by neilpeel • 11 years ago

6 17 11 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

I installed Skype on a new mac and then bing hijacked my Chrome and Safari and now I can't get rid of it...And also when I search for something it goes to search.searchbenny.com, is this a virus? Anyone know how to remove?

scorpwarp23• 11 years ago

Where did you download the Skype installer from?

It is malware quite likely and can be undone. If you could share the link of where you downloaded the Skype dmg I can try and give you a fix.

neilpeel3• 11 years ago

It appears I stupidly downloaded it from here:

http://skype.download-for-mac.com/

I wasn't really paying attention at the time.

Would be great if you could help, thanks!

brudgers2• 11 years ago

What search engine led you to that site?

wildthing84• 11 years ago

So here goes:

1. Open Finder.

2. Go to Applications

3. You'll see an app called "Reset Search" Alternatively there may be a folder called "InstallMac". Drag it to Trash and empty Trash

4. Open Chrome. Go to Settings

5. Click the button called "manage search engines" and make Google the default. Then click the cross to remove "search the web"

6. In Chrome Settings under "Appearance" click "Change" and then set "Use the new tab page." Also in the "On Startup" section ensure you delete the searchbenny page. and then set to "open a new tab".

7. In Safari open Preferences and head to "General Settings". Change your default engine (IMHO bing is better than Google). In newer Safari versions you can do this in the "Search" tab. Also remove all garbage from the "Manage Websites" section.

8. Set the homepage to "http://www.apple.com/startpage/" Alternatively open "Top Sites" in a new tab and use that by selecting "Use Current page"

9. Open "Activity Monitor" - Quit the "InstallerT" process.

10. You're set. Just some malware. No permanent damage. All it did was change your search defaults.

Had to post using a different account cause HN says I was submitting too fast.

cr3ative• 11 years ago

There's an honest-enough looking uninstall procedure on the site itself:

http://download-for-mac.com/uninstall.php?name=Skype#how_to_...

fustify• 11 years ago

Hello, I downloaded the same malware on accident when trying to download utorrent. I have followed the steps below sucessfully, but I noticed that the installerT process keeps coming back after I reboot my computer. Also advice on how to remove it completely? Thanks, this thread has been extremely helpful.

ihaveaquestair• 11 years ago

I have also the same problem. If I search in Google, and click on a search result. I don't go to the URL of the search result, but to Bing, in the URL it says 'search.searchbenny.com' How do you remove this? I have a Mac and use Safari

applakias• 11 years ago

I had the same problem and just fixed it.

it was an extension named "fast search" in the Safari > Preferences > Extensions section. I unistalled it and the problem was solved!

Before that though i moved to trash all the suspicious files from the Finder > Applications section as they were described from the wildthing84 below.

hope i helped

Kadavu223• 11 years ago

I use fox fire and have not been able to get rid of searchbenny. I deleted file called installmac and when I go to google chrome it looks like all settings have been corrected I even restarted computer many time but search benny keeps opening as my search engine.

Kadavu223• 11 years ago

I have not been able to uninstall searchbenny. I have a mac and I'm using foxfire. I deleted install mac, emptied trash and reset google chrome settings. And restared computer. Search benny.com still comes up as search engine. I'm very frustrated. Can anyone help.

Kadavu223• 11 years ago

I solved my problem, searchbenny actually provides a link that tells you how to uninstall in variety of situations - safari, foxfire etc

abcdefghasdifka• 11 years ago

Many thanks, this helped me too. I got it from downloading a supposedly safe app from

http://en.softonic.com/s/pdf-merge:mac

Ask HN: Does anybody know what 'searchbenny' is?

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