How to remove Searchmine.net (Mac)

What is Searchmine.net

Searchmine.net (a.k.a. SearchMine) is low-quality search engine related to notorious webcrawler.com developed by InfoSpace Holdings LLC, that provides irrelevant search results filled with ads and sponsored content. Hijacker replaces default browser settings, such as the search engine, the home page, new tab, with new values. All user’s searches will be redirected to http://www.webcrawler.com, which delivers results drastically different from familiar Google.com, Yahoo.com, Bing.com. WebCrawler is offering search solutions to monetize audience via a search-based advertising revenue stream and shares revenue with software developers and website owners, that compulsively spread Searchmine.net and other similar malware. The main danger of such services is the loss of online privacy and using gathered data by the malware to send ads and pop-ups. Searchmine.net mostly hits Mac OS systems and Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari browsers. Using the guide below will help you remove Searchmine.net and restore browser settings.

How Searchmine.net infected your Mac

Searchmine.net comes bundled with freeware applications and fake Adobe Flash updates. It is offered as a free search add-on during the installation of video players, downloaders, media converters. Hijacker targets Mac computers, however, it is possible that SearchMine can infect Windows PC. Download tools below to protect your machine from threats like this or remove existing infections with malware.

Remove Searchmine.net manually for free

Here is the manual step-by-step tutorial for full Searchmine.net removal from your computer. This works 99% and was checked with the latest versions of Searchmine.net installer on operating systems with the latest updates and browser versions.

Important update: Searchmine.net hijacker installs malicious Device Profile called AdminPrefs on MacOS, that won’t allow users to make changes to browser search engine and homepage settings. Follow instructions below to remove this profile.

Remove Searchmine.net profile

1. Go to System Preferences and click on Profiles.
2. In the list of profiles on the left side choose AdminPrefs and click on “-” button to remove it.
3. In your case it can be named differently, in this case remove all visible profiles. Check the picture below to see how it looks like.

Remove Searchmine.net from Applications

Remove Searchmine.net from Mac:

1. In the Finder sidebar, click Applications.
2. SearchMine might have an Uninstaller. If you see Uninstall SearchMine or SearchMine Uninstaller, double-click it and follow the onscreen instructions.
3. Otherwise, drag SearchMine or SearchMine.app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located at the end of the Dock).
4. Then choose Finder > Empty Trash.

Cannot uninstall Searchmine.net

If you can’t uninstall Searchmine.net using instructions above, or it keeps coming back, you can use free AppCleaner for Mac to remove all residual data and libraries of Searchmine.net. Follow instructions below:

1. Download free AppCleaner.
2. Drag SearchMine from Applications folder to AppCleaner window.
3. Choose files and folders you want to remove along with SearchMine.
4. Click Delete button.

Remove Searchmine.net add-on from your browsers

Removing SearchMine from Applications often does not bring the desired effect. It is a browser extension and it may still be active in Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Here are instructions on how to remove the SearchMine extension from your browsers manually.

Safari:

1. Start Safari on your Mac, click Safari to open drop-down menu and choose Preferences
2. Click Extensions tab.
3. Find SearchMine extension.
4. Click Uninstall button to remove it.

Google Chrome:

1. Start Google Chrome browser
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) chrome://extensions.
3. Find SearchMine extension.
4. Click the trash can icon to remove it.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Start Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) about:addons.
3. Choose SearchMine extension.
4. Click Disable or Remove button.

Reset browser settings

To finish Searchmine.net removal reset your browser settings to make sure, there are no leftover items in browser folders.

Reset Safari:

1. Start Safari on your Mac, click Safari to open drop-down menu and choose Preferences
2. Go to the Privacy section of Safari’s preferences.
3. Click Remove All Website Data button.
4. In opened window click Remove Now button to remove data stored by websites in Safari.
5. Go to the Advanced section of Safari’s preferences.
6. Click the Show Develop menu in menu bar option.
7. In the menu click Develop and select Empty Caches from this menu.
8. Again, go to Safari menu and choose Clear History….
9. Choose to clear all history and click Clear History button.

Reset Google Chrome:

1. Start Google Chrome browser
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) chrome://settings.
3. Scroll down and find Show advanced settings link.
4. Click on it and scroll down to the bottom again.
5. Click Reset settings button and click Reset to confirm.

Reset Mozilla Firefox:

1. Start Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) about:support.
3. Click Refresh Firefox… button.
4. Click Refresh Firefox to confirm.

Remove following files and folders of Searchmine.net


~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.SearchMine.plist
~/Library/Safari/Extensions/SearchMine.safariextz


How to protect Mac OSX from adware, like Searchmine.net

Mac OSX is known to be one of the safest operating systems, and for a long time there was no need in antivirus products for Mac. But with the growing popularity of Mac computers and notebooks and evolving technology, viruses, trojans, adware, toolbars, hijackers and other malware paved the way for Mac users. We recommend you to use one of the best anti-malware for Mac available – Malwarebytes for Mac.