Searchshp.com Redirect (Mac) (2024)

What is searchshp.com?

Very similar to searchp.icu, homesweeklies.com, playsearchnow.com, and many others, searchshp.com is a fake search engine. The developers claim that this search engine provides the most relevant results and quick access to popular websites (such as Soundcloud, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and so on).

Judging by its clean interface, this may seem to be a legitimate search engine, however, searchshp.com is promoted using rogue downloaders and installers that modify affected browser settings without users' permission. Furthermore, this website records data relating to browsing activity.

Rogue set-ups that promote searchshp.com target popular browsers such as Safari, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. Once searchshp.com has infiltrated the browser, it assigns searchshp.com as the default search engine, homepage, and URL of newly-opened tabs.

Furthermore, these rogue set-ups install "helper objects" (third party apps and/or browser plug-ins) to prevent users from undoing the changes. They reassign browser options when attempts are made to revert them. Therefore, it is impossible to undo these changes in the usual way and users are forced to visit searchshp.com when a browser window or new tab is opened.

Note also that searchshp.com causes redirects to search.playsearchnow.com. After entering a queryintosearch.playsearchnow.com, users are redirected to search.yahoo.com(a legitimate Yahoo search engine). These pointless redirects make the searchshp.com search engine completely useless. Another negative aspect is information tracking.

Most fake search engines gather data such as IP addresses, search queries, keystrokes, URLs of visited websites, etc. The collected data often includes personal/sensitive details that the developers share with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who use this data to generate revenue.

Therefore, visiting searchshp.com (and search.playsearchnow.com) might lead to various privacy or browsing safety issues. In some cases, users might end up having their identities stolen. If you encounter redirects to searchshp.com or search.playsearchnow.com, check your browser and remove any unwanted/unknown apps (browser plug-ins) as soon as possible.

There are many fake search engines, includingsearchshp.com, that arepromoted as 'useful' and supposedly able to provide improved search results. These sites usually serve just one purpose: to generate revenue for their developers. In most cases, they provide none of the features promised or any other enhancements.

They often cause unwanted redirects and gather data. Furthermore, using fake search engines risks various privacy issues or even more serious problems such as identity theft.

How did searchshp.com install on my computer?

As mentioned above, fake search engines such as searchshp.com are promoted using rogue downloaders/installers. This is a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". Software developers use this method to trick users into giving permission for rogue set-ups to modify browser settings.

Generally, information regarding these modifications is hidden in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings of the download/installation processes. Furthermore, many users often skip these processes, thus inadvertently allowing the browser modifications mentioned.

By skipping these procedures, many users expose their computers to risk of computer infections and problems relating to privacy.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

We strongly recommend that you download and install software with care. Do not use third party installers or downloaders. Developers monetize this software using "bundling" (mentioned above). The best way to install or download software is to use official and trustworthy sources/websites.

Most intrusive advertisem*nts seem legitimate, however, some redirect users to untrustworthy websites, such as gambling, adult dating, p*rnography, and so on. They are often delivered by adware-type applications. If you continually encounter these redirects, it is possible that an adware app is installed.

In this case, check installed apps on your browser, and uninstall all unwanted extensions, plug-ins, and add-ons immediately. If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate them.

searchshp.com causing redirects to search.playsearchnow.com (GIF):

Website promoting searchshp.com:

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Quick menu:

• What is searchshp.com?
• STEP 1. Removesearchshp.com related files and folders from OSX.
• STEP 2. Removesearchshp.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 3. Removesearchshp.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Removesearchshp.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.

Video showing how to remove searchshp.com browser hijacker using Combo Cleaner:

searchshp.comredirect removal:

Removesearchshp.com-related potentially unwanted applications from your "Applications" folder:

Click the Finder icon.In the Finder window, select "Applications". In the applications folder, look for "MPlayerX", "NicePlayer", or other suspicious applications and drag them to the Trash. After removing the potentially unwanted application(s) that cause online ads, scan your Mac for any remaining unwanted components.

Remove browser hijacker-related files and folders

Click the Finder icon from the menu bar. Choose Go, and click Go to Folder...

Check for browser hijacker generated files in the /Library/LaunchAgents/ folder:

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: /Library/LaunchAgents/

In the "LaunchAgents" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by browser hijackers - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Browser hijacker commonly installs several files with the exact same string.

Check for browser hijacker generated files in the ~/Library/Application Support/ folder:

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: ~/Library/Application Support/

In the "Application Support" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious folders. For example, "MplayerX" or "NicePlayer", and move these folders to the Trash.

Check for browser hijacker generated files in the ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ folder:

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: ~/Library/LaunchAgents/

In the "LaunchAgents" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by browser hijackers - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Browser hijacker commonly installs several files with the exact same string.

Check for browser hijacker generated files in the /Library/LaunchDaemons/ folder:

In the "Go to Folder..." bar, type: /Library/LaunchDaemons/

In the "LaunchDaemons" folder, look for recently-added suspicious files. For example "com.aoudad.net-preferences.plist", "com.myppes.net-preferences.plist", "com.kuklorest.net-preferences.plist", "com.avickUpd.plist", etc., and move them to the Trash.

Scan your Mac with Combo Cleaner:

If you have followed all the steps correctly, your Mac should be clean of infections. To ensure your system is not infected, run a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus. Download it HERE. After downloading the file, double click combocleaner.dmg installer. In the opened window, drag and drop the Combo Cleaner icon on top of the Applications icon. Now open your launchpad and click on the Combo Cleaner icon. Wait until Combo Cleaner updates its virus definition database and click the "Start Combo Scan" button.

Combo Cleaner will scan your Mac for malware infections. If the antivirus scan displays "no threats found" - this means that you can continue with the removal guide; otherwise, it's recommended to remove any found infections before continuing.

After removing files and folders generated by the browser hijackers, continue to remove rogue extensions from your Internet browsers.

Remove browser hijackers from Internet browsers

Remove Safari browser hijackers:

Open the Safari browser, from the menu bar, select "Safari" and click "Preferences...".

In the preferences window, select "Extensions" and look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions. When located, click the "Uninstall" button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Safari browser - none are crucial for regular browser operation.

Change your homepage:

In the "Preferences" window, select the "General" tab. To set your homepage, type the preferred website URL (for example: www.google.com) in the Homepage field. You can also click the "Set to Current Page" button if you wish to set your homepage to the website you are currently visiting.

Change your default search engine:

In the "Preferences" window, select the "Search" tab. Here you will find a drop-down menu labeled "Search engine:" Simply select your preferred search engine from the drop-down list.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisem*nts - Reset Safari.

Remove Google Chrome browser hijackers:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Change your homepage

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable the malicious extension (if present), look for a browser hijacker URL below the "Open a specific or set of pages" option. If present, click on the three vertical dots icon and select "Remove".

Change your default search engine:

To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list look for a browser hijacker URL, when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Delete".

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisem*nts - Reset Google Chrome.

Remove malicious extensions from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) and select "Add-ons and themes". Click "Extensions", in the opened window locate all recently-installed suspicious extensions, click on the three dots and then click "Remove".

Change your homepage

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Settings", in the opened window disable malicious extension (if present), remove the browser hijacker URL and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change your default search engine:

In the URL address bar, type "about:config" and press Enter. Click "Accept the Risk and Continue".

In the search filter at the top, type: "extensionControlled". Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the button.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisem*nts - Reset Mozilla Firefox.