ConnectionIndexer - How to remove

ConnectionIndexer is a malicious app that collects data about the victim and changes web browser settings. As a result, it injects ads into webpages and changes the default search engine to Yahoo, Bing, or another, lesser-known one. While ConnectionIndexer is only adware, it can be hard to get rid of – sometimes, it returns after being deleted.

About ConnectionIndexer:

Classification	Adware.
How ConnectionIndexer affects the infected Mac	Shows excessive ads, collects data about each victim, may cause technical issues like slow internet, apps and sites that don’t open.
How adware gets installed	Bundled with fake software updates, downloaded by trojans.
How to remove ConnectionIndexer	Delete malicious files manually or with anti-malware apps (Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, and others), restore system settings.

What is ConnectionIndexer

Adware and spyware

ConnectionIndexer is adware. If you got it on your Mac, it manipulates the settings of your web browsers to force them to open certain affiliated websites. You see the ads that they show and the ad-publishers make money.

ConnectionIndexer’s biggest danger is the ads that it shows and the sites that it promotes. These ads are likely to be low-quality and even malicious. Aggressive and loud pop-ups and redirects that lead to scam sites – that sort of thing can lead to more infections, to personal information being exposed, and even to more harmful scams.

In addition, ConnectionIndexer could work as spyware. It has the ability to read your data on the sites that you visit, which includes search queries, ads clicked, and potentially even passwords.

The network settings may have been changed by ConnectionIndexer, too. This would make your computer send traffic to the server that ConnectionIndexer set, which slows down the internet a little.

Worst of all, ConnectionIndexer might download other adware and malware in secret. It appears to be AdLoad, after all, and AdLoad trojans, besides advertising and spying, are known for downloading additional adware that you might also need to remove.

Negative side effects

You might experience a few side effects thanks to ConnectionIndexer:

• Slow internet and some websites not opening.
• Online apps breaking, crashing, refusing to work.
• Being unable to sign in to your online accounts.
• Slow Mac, beachballing.
• Redirects and excessive ads in the browser, download links not working properly.
• Pop-ups covering the screen and hijacking the mouse cursor.

ConnectionIndexer is similar to SectionIndexer, DivisionFormat, OperativeDesktop, FormatConnection, QueueAlgorithm, InitiatorSignal, and others – you can probably see the pattern in their names: vaguely IT-related nouns concatenated into a word. These adware infections are really common for Macs.

They, including ConnectionIndexer, spread in fake FlashPlayer updates, other fake updates, and in infected freeware installers. If you’ve recently downloaded and installed something from an unofficial site (though you might have not suspected it at the time), that might have been how ConnectionIndexer got on your Mac.

How to remove ConnectionIndexer

Revert settings

Luckily, it’s possible to get rid of this adware.

You can delete the ConnectionIndexer app (drag it to Trash) and browser extension (instructions below), as well as the configuration files it created (System Preferences -> Profiles) and its login items (System Preferences -> Users & Groups -> Login Items).

It’s also important to look at your proxy settings (System Preferences -> Network -> Advanced -> Proxies) and to deselect any proxies that might have been selected by ConnectionIndexer.

However, these settings won’t stick until you remove the files used by ConnectionIndexer.

Delete malicious files

To begin with, reboot your Mac into safe mode. You can do it by holding the Shift button during the boot time (Support.apple.com).

To find malicious files that are related to ConnectionIndexer and other malware, you can use an anti-malware scanner, such as Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, or other apps. They can recognize ConnectionIndexer, sometimes.

If you want to review your files manually, open Finder -> Go -> Go to Folder and type in these folder names: /Library/LaunchDaemons, /Library/Application Support, ~/Library/LaunchAgents, ~/Library/Application Support. Check the dates of the files (the newer, the more suspicious, provided that the ConnectionIndexer infection is recent). Delete them or ask the help of an IT professional.

To get out of safe mode, just reboot normally.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Restore browser settings

How to remove ConnectionIndexer from Safari:Top

Remove malicious extensions

• Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences.
  
• Select Extensions and uninstall ConnectionIndexer and other suspicious extensions.
  
• If your homepage was changed, click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences and choose General tab. Enter preferable URL to the homepage field.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings(older versions) If you are still experiencing any issues related to ConnectionIndexer, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Reset Safari…
  
• Select which options you want to reset (usually all of them come preselected) and click on the Reset button.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

TopHow to remove ConnectionIndexer from Google Chrome on Mac:

• Open Chrome browser.
• Enter in the url field “chrome://extensions” address and hit Enter.
• Find ConnectionIndexer on the extensions list and click on the recycle bin icon next to it.
• Click on 'Chrome' button at the top left corner. Select 'Preferences' on a drop-down menu box.
• Find 'Search' options on Settings tab. If your search engine is changed, click 'Manage Search Engines' and set your preferred search engine.
• On the same page find 'Show home button' checkbox and change your homepage.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to ConnectionIndexer, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• On the 'Preferences' menu window, scroll down to the bottom and find 'Reset settings' button. Click it.
• Confirm your selection and click 'Reset' on the following window.

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program. Top

How To remove ConnectionIndexer from Firefox on Mac OS:

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla window and select the “Add-ons” icon (Or press cmd+Shift+A on your keyboard).
• Go through Extensions list, remove everything ConnectionIndexer related and items you do not recognise. If you do not know the extension and it is not made by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft, Oracle or Adobe then you probably do not need it.
• Enter “about:preferences” in URL bar and hit enter.
• Open Search settings tab.
• If your search engine is changed, click 'Default Search Engines' and set your preferred search engine.
• If your homepage was changed, click on the Firefox menu in the top right corner, select Preferences-> General. Enter a preferable URL to the home page field.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to ConnectionIndexer, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla Firefox window. Click on the Help button.
• Choose Troubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
• Click on the Refresh Firefox button.
• Click on the Refresh Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.

If the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program to identify malicious entries.