Several Mac users have reported that whenever they search for something in their browser, the result is redirected through Nearbyme.io. This is the result of a browser hijacker that forwards your requests to nearme.io. In this article, we will show you how to check if your browser is affected by browser hijacker and how to remove Nearme.io from Safari and Google Chrome on your Mac. Find out how to remove Nearme.io hijacker from Mac in Safari and Chrome.
How to remove Nearme.io hijacker from Mac in Safari and Chrome
What is Nearme.io?
Nearme.io is an alternative search engine that seems innocent at first, but you can control your web browserremove default preferences, and then force your search queries to go through nearme.io which can be used to track your online activity.
This browser hijacking can be the result of clicking on a dubious advertisement or installing a questionable extension or program. The hijacker runs in the background and replaces all your browser preferences with nearme.io, so before you know it, your browser is already compromised.
When your browser is compromised by the nearme.io attack, you will start noticing the following signs:
- The default search is changed to Nearbyme.io.
- Every time you search for something, you are redirected through https://m.nearbyme.io.
- Nearme.io has replaced the default new tab screen.
- The home page is also changed to nearme.io.
Use Activity Monitor to detect suspicious apps
You can use Activity Monitor on your Mac to also check if a suspicious app is installed on your device.
Step 1: open Finder and click on the menu To go .
Step 2: From the list, select Utilities .
Step 3: Here, click activity tracker .
Step 4: Look for any apps that seem out of the ordinary and consume excessive CPU and GPU resources.
This will help you identify the app causing the nearme.io attack and then you can remove it using the method below.
Run Chrome Safety Check to detect malicious extensions
Chrome recently added a security check feature that can help you identify if there is a malicious extension installed on your browser causing the nearme.io attack.
Step 1: in Chrome, click the three points in the upper right corner.
Step 2: open Setting .
Step 3: select option Privacy and security in the left sidebar.
Step 4: in the option Security Check, click check now .
Wait for Chrome to run a security check, and if you spot an extension behaving suspiciously, go ahead and remove it as soon as possible.
How to remove Nearme.io from Safari or Chrome (Mac)
Once you have identified that your browser is hijacked, the next thing to do is to get rid of the malicious extension or application as soon as possible. We have listed five methods that you can use to remove Nearme.io hijacker from Safari and Google Chrome browser.
Method 1: Remove malicious extensions from Chrome
The most likely culprit behind these types of hijacking attacks is malicious extensions that take over your web browser. If you have recently downloaded an email in your Chrome browser, you should delete it as soon as possible. Below are the steps to remove extensions in Chrome.
Step 1: Open Chrome and click the three points in the upper right corner.
Step 2: go to Setting .
Step 3: Click on the option Left sidebar extension.
Step 3: Select the suspicious extension and then click Remove .
Step 4: A confirmation message will appear at the top right. Click on Put off .
Once the extension is removed, restart the browser and check if the problem is gone.
Method 2: Remove suspicious apps and extensions from Safari
Another culprit could be an app installed on your Mac that has hijacked your browser. Safari extensions also appear as separate apps, so we can use this method to remove suspicious and unwanted apps and extensions from Safari.
Step 1: opens Finder on your Mac.
Step 2: Visit the folder Applications .
Here you will find the list of all downloaded safari apps and extensions on your Mac.
Step 3: scroll and look for the unwanted app or Safari extension.
Step 4: Right click on the app and select the option move to trash .
Step 5: Now go back to your desktop screen and right click on the trash can .
Step 6: select empty trash to delete the contents of the Trash.
Once removed, restart your PC and check if nearme.io has been removed from your web browser.
Method 3- Delete startup programs
The programs and services that start automatically when you turn on your Mac are called startup programs or login items. Malicious apps that take over your browser and use nearme.io can also launch at startup, so you need to remove them from your login items list. Here are the steps to remove PUAs from login items.
Step 1: Click on the apple icon in the upper left corner of your screen.
Step 2: Go to System preferences…
Step 3: Click on the option Users and groups.
Step 4: select the tab Login Items.
Step 5: Now click on the suspicious application.
Step 6: click on the minus button to remove the app from the login items.
This will prevent the app from launching at startup, then you can go ahead and remove the app using the method above.
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Method 4- Reset Chrome to remove Nearbyme.io
The attack changes your pre-selected preferences such as home page, search engine, and home tab with nearme.io. So, you can reset Google Chrome to remove nearme.io and fix the changes on your Mac.
Step 1: Open Chrome and click the three points .
Step 2: Visit Setting .
Step 3: click on Reset Chrome in the left sidebar.
Step 4: select option Restore settings to their original defaults.
Step 5: Click on reset settings .
Close and restart Chrome. Cercame.io should return to default preferences.
if nothing works
If the above methods do not work and you still find the presence of any browser hijacker in Chrome or Safari, please reset all data in these browsers. Sync bookmarks and important passwords to the cloud, log out of your account, then wipe your data.
You can even uninstall and reinstall Google Chrome. This way you will have a freshly installed browser with no rogue plugins or extensions. And all original plugins installed from the Chrome Web Store will be reinstalled when you sign in to your account.
Ending
Nowadays, you have to be careful about the applications and extensions you install on your computer. Nearme.io is a widespread browser hijacker and we hope this guide was able to help you remove it from Chrome and Safari browsers on your Mac
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