How to remove the Search Baron virus from a Mac

Search Baron is a type of malware that falls under the browser hijacker category. The malware alters the system preferences of Mac users, typically changing their default search engine to Bing or changing a browser’s default homepage to its associated domains. The browsers it commonly targets include Safari, Chrome, and Firefox.

The damage caused by Search Baron isn’t severe — technically, it’s not even strictly classified as a virus because it doesn’t replicate itself. It’s closer to adware or potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) than a true virus, as it starts as an extension, which then alters your search engine and system preferences.

However, Search Baron doesn’t just work as a browser hijacker. The true extent of its possible damage is in how it gains access to the browsing history, personal information, and other Mac user data. While changing search engines may be its most visible effect on Macs, its potential to invade your privacy is of much bigger concern — and the primary reason why it needs to be removed as soon as it’s detected.

A Mac typically gets infected with Search Baron after it’s been exposed to freeware. This happens when a user installs either an application or an extension containing the Search Baron browser hijacker on their Macs or browsers.

Once installed, the Search Baron hijacker alters the system preferences for the user’s browsers, redirecting all search queries via Bing or changing the browser homepage to its URL and associated domains. It may also display sponsored content, slow down the browser with its many redirects, and change default browser settings into a configuration that further exposes the user to other types of malware and attacks.

However, its most dangerous effect is its capability to keep track of a user’s browser behavior. This includes harvesting their personal information, keeping tabs on their online activity and website data.

Many of the changes that Search Baron makes to a browser’s settings are designed to trick users into installing even more adware-related files or running other potentially unwanted applications in an attempt to fix the problems and system issues it causes. However, these will most likely just expose the user to more third-party software that can further harm their Mac.

Once deployed, Search Baron typically makes changes to or alters the behavior of Macs by doing the following:

• Changing the search engine to Bing.
• Redirecting the homepage to visit its domains.
• Showing targeted ads for other freeware that also contain malicious programs.
• Altering the browser’s settings or adding more browser extensions.
• Changing the default settings on how the browser can interact with sites.
• Displaying fraudulent error messages like low memory and full hard drive alerts.

While the exact scope and severity of the symptoms may differ between specific Search Baron attacks, the primary sign — which is changes in search engine behavior — will always stay consistent. If the default settings on the browser’s search engine have been changed, it’s the most likely sign that Search Baron has infected a device.

Using an antivirus is the easiest way to deal with Search Baron — a scan would locate and remove the malicious files and apps associated with Search Baron. Without specific security software or other tools, removing Search Baron from a Mac can be an involved process. Here are a few approaches to how it can be done.

Getting rid of Search Baron malware from Mac system folders

This approach helps manually identify and remove suspicious files and applications via the “Go” menu bar.

1. Access the Mac’s “Go” tab from its “Finder.”
2. Under “Go,” click “Utilities.”
3. Open “Activity monitor,” and look for installed apps that have processes related to Search Baron.
4. Select the unwanted app, and then click “Force quit” from its toolbar.
5. Take note of all unwanted applications that have been force-quit, then go to the “Applications” folder.
6. Drag all the force-quit applications into the “Trash” folder.
7. Empty the “Trash” folder.

Any of Search Baron’s adware-related files can also be removed with the following steps:

1. From the “Go” menu, click “Go to folder.
2. Input the four locations into the box individually, clicking “Return” after entering each one:
   • ~/Library/LaunchAgents
   • Library/LaunchDaemons
   • /Library/Application Support
   • ~/Library/Application Support
3. Check each location for items that have “Search Baron” or something similar in their name.
4. Drag any of these items to the “Trash” folder.

Since it’s a browser hijacker, the default settings on browsers will have to be checked whether they have been affected by Search Baron or any of its associated malicious apps or malicious programs.

Removing Search Baron from a Safari browser

1. Open the Safari menu, then navigate to “Settings.”
2. Choose “Extensions.”
3. Look for browser extensions with suspicious names or ones that haven’t been added.
4. Select each one and click “Uninstall.”
5. From “Settings,” go to the “General” tab.
6. Replace the homepage with a chosen site.
7. Go back to “Settings”, then choose the “Search” tab.
8. Replace your Safari browser’s default search engine from the dropdown list.

Removing Search Baron from a Chrome browser

1. Enter “chrome://extensions” into the Chrome browser’s address bar, then press “Return.”
2. Look for browser extensions with suspicious names or ones that haven’t been added.
3. Click the “Remove” option next to these unwanted extensions.
4. Enter “chrome://settings” into the Chrome browser’s address bar, then press “Return.”
5. Under “Search engine,” choose a genuine search engine to use.
6. Navigate to “On startup,” and modify the Chrome browser behavior to make sure any Search Baron domains aren’t selected.

Removing Search Baron from a Firefox browser

1. Enter “about:addons” into the Firefox search bar.
2. Look for browser extensions with suspicious names or ones that haven’t been added.
3. Click the three-dot icon next to the malicious browser extension and select “Remove.”
4. Enter “about:preferences” into the Firefox search bar.
5. Under “Home,” set the desired homepage.
6. Under “Search,” choose a genuine search engine to use.

Since it’s more annoying than destructive compared to other malware or adware attacks, you may be tempted to not feel a sense of urgency to remove the Search Baron malware from your Mac. However, leaving it on your browsers can expose you to more severe risks.

Foremost among these risks is the theft of personal and financial data by a hacker or other bad actors. Search Baron’s ability to listen in on browsing behavior can help it build a robust personal profile of a person’s online habits, which can be sold to other individuals looking to exploit data for their ends.

Search Baron is far from being the only browser hijacker that attackers can use to affect a Mac. To prevent it and other malware from infecting your device, here are three security approaches that you can adopt:

Practice safe browsing habits

Even the best private browser won’t do much protection if you deliberately expose yourself to risks online. Avoid downloading suspicious files, installing programs without the proper credentials, or downloading applications like freeware without running them through antivirus software.

Install regular software updates

Browsers and Macs always roll out security updates to stay ahead of the ever-evolving methods attackers use to distribute malware and adware like Search Baron. Always keeping software up to date can be enough to prevent browser hijackers from easily infecting systems.

Use trusted security software

An antivirus is still one of the gold standards to deal with malware like Search Baron because it identifies and removes it and its associated threats from a Mac in real time. Aside from the general security features that they offer, these tools can update themselves automatically to keep pace with the newest threats.

Search Baron is just one of the many ways that attackers can exploit security weaknesses and take control of browsing habits and personal data. However, they can also be repelled by following best practices for online browsing. Using software like NordVPN can also help keep your Mac safe online and offline.

Even being aware of the possibility of Search Baron infection can be enough to help avoid the more obvious vectors of infection. Combined with comprehensive security software and better browsing habits, you can safely go online without the fear of your browsers being hijacked.