SearchTopic Mac Malware - How to remove

SearchTopic (or SearchTopicDaemon) is adware that causes browser redirects and pop-up ads. It may also download more malware. SearchTopic can cause a bunch of system security warnings, but the problem is, it’s not always simple to remove SearchTopic. You might need to dedicate a bit of time to find and delete the malicious files.

In short about SearchTopic:

Type of threat	Adware, trojan.
How to remove SearchTopic	Delete SearchTopic’s files and settings, look for an remove malware (Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, etc.).
Problems and issues	More malware may be installed, malicious ads are shown by the browser, browser behavior changes.
How SearchTopic gets installed	Deceptive ads (fake software updates, fake cleaners and antivirus apps) download adware bundles, apps that are downloaded from unreliable sites bundle malware.

How to delete SearchTopic

Automatic removal

You might have seen a message saying that “SearchTopic will damage your computer” and that you should delete it. This message is displayed by macOS’ default antivirus. It should give you the option to delete SearchTopic, but it might not work or it might only work temporarily. The problem is deleting SearchTopic for good, as this adware reinstalls itself. It is quite persistent.

You can use an antivirus app, such as Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, and others to find the malicious files. But sometimes, antivirus apps aren’t able to detect the malware, especially when the malware is new. SearchTopic is not new but still, you might need to know how to delete SearchTopic manually.

Manual removal

You might need to start your Mac in safe mode to temporarily stop SearchTopic from running. Restart your Mac, then immediately hold the Shift button while it’s booting. “Safe Boot” should be displayed in the corner of your screen.

There are files on /Library/LaunchAgents, /Library/LaunchDaemons, ~/Library/LaunchAgents, and ~/Library/Application Support that belong to SearchTopic and that need to be deleted. These files are named after “SearchTopic”. One folder to be deleted might be named with just a string of random letters and numbers. Likely, all the files have the same date when they were last modified.

You can access the aforementioned folders by using the Go to Folder dialog. This dialog is in Finder, the Go menu section. Then just type (or paste) in those folder names. The reason those folders are hidden and are so convoluted to access is that they hold important files and settings. It’s for our, the users’, own protection so that we don’t accidentally delete something important. If, while trying to remove SearchTopic, you delete a legitimate file, one of your apps might lose some settings or data. So don’t rush to empty the Trash folder because you might need to restore a file.

You might be asked to type in your password when deleting the files.

After, open System Preferences -> Profiles. SearchTopic probably created a configuration profile (as macOS malware often does) to change how your browser works. Remove it – use the minus button at the bottom.

Is there a SearchTopic app in the Applications folder? Drag it to Trash. If there’s a SearchTopic browser extension installed on your browser, remove it and check your browser settings (instructions at the bottom of this post).

What is SearchTopic

Adware

SearchTopicDaemon is an adware infection that causes a bunch of issues. They range: some people only experience a bit of inconvenience, others can barely use their Mac anymore. Here are a few effects that the victims of SearchTopic might see:

• system warnings about SearchTopic needing to accept incoming network connections, being dangerous, etc.,
• the browser suddenly redirects to Yahoo (or another search engine),
• pop-up ads appear in the browser, new tabs and background browser windows open, and links lead to the wrong sites,
• unknown apps get installed on their own.

Likely, SearchTopic can also read your data on the websites that you open. Meaning, it could be used to steal your usernames, passwords, email contacts, payment information, and other very valuable data. When you are sure that you’ve deleted SearchTopic, you might want to change your passwords, or at least make sure that 2-step verification is on where possible.

SearchTopic appears to be part of AdLoad, which is a known family of adware. This would make it related to SkilledDeskSearch, DataQuest, and others. If you install one, they can download more junkware.

Don’t underestimate the malicious ads that SearchTopic shows. They include virus warnings, reminders to install urgent software updates, notes about you winning a new phone – all fake, all trying to scam you. 

Malware installation

SearchTopic spreads thanks to such deceptive ads, too. Fake Flash updates, shady Mac cleaners, and other suspicious items that appear in a new tab of your web browser after you visit an infected website. Online streaming, pirating sites tend to show malicious ads, but any old, abandoned, or small site can be infected or hijacked by malicious actors to redirect visitors to bad sites.

Victims of SearchTopic don’t remember installing malware. Maybe they were tricked by malicious ads and thought that they were installing a real software update. Maybe they installed a program that they thought was safe and didn’t realize that it bundled malware.

It is important, then, to check the Mac for other malware besides SearchTopic. If any is found, it should be removed, too.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Remove malicious browser extensions

How to remove SearchTopic Mac Malware from Safari:Top

Remove malicious extensions

• Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences.
  
• Select Extensions and uninstall SearchTopic Mac Malware 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 SearchTopic Mac Malware, 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 SearchTopic Mac Malware from Google Chrome on Mac:

• Open Chrome browser.
• Enter in the url field “chrome://extensions” address and hit Enter.
• Find SearchTopic Mac Malware 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 SearchTopic Mac Malware, 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 SearchTopic Mac Malware 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 SearchTopic Mac Malware 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 SearchTopic Mac Malware, 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.