This article explains how to remove Safe Finder adware from your Mac. Instructions apply to Chrome and Firefox browsers.

What to Know

  • Safe Finder claims to be a reliable search engine, but it’s adware and should be removed immediately.Chrome: Select Menu (three dots) > More tools > Extensions. Turn off Safe Finder extensions > Remove.Firefox: Select Menu > Add-ons > select Menu (three lines) for each add-on > Disable or Remove.

How to Remove Safe Finder From a Mac

Safe Finder is a type of Adware that may be installed as a browser extension. With the power to adjust browser settings, it can change your preferred homepage, search engine, and other options. It also displays pop-ups that can lead to more malware.

To get rid of it, you’ll need to follow the same steps you would follow to manage and remove any extension on your browser.

Remove Safe Finder from Chrome

  • Open Chrome.
  • Select Menu > More Tools > Extensions.
  • Select the toggle switch for each Safe Finder extension to disable them.
  • A blue switch icon indicates the extension is engaged. Gray means it is disabled.
  • Once disabled, select Remove on each extension.
  • Select Remove again when prompted to confirm the action.
  • When the new tab opens, you can select the reason you removed the extension, then select Submit.
  • Launch a new tab or window and confirm that Safe Finder is no longer the homepage and default search engine.

Remove Safe Finder from Firefox

  • Open Firefox.
  • Select Menu (three horizontal lines in the upper-right corner) and then Add-ons.
  • Select the Menu (three horizontal lines) for each Safe Finder add-on.
  • Select either Disable or Remove.

How Is Safe Finder Installed?

Malware can be installed on a device in a variety ways. It may be downloaded in the background from a website you visited, or it may have be downloaded as part of an email attachment. In most cases, there’s no need for the user to actually run the installer. Some malware programs have built-in scripts that trigger the installation once a user logs in or launches a specific application like a web browser.

If you use the Safari browser, you have nothing to worry about. Starting with version 12.1, Safari doesn’t allow the installation of an untrusted extension, so Safe Finder won’t be able to run. On older versions of Safari, you can remove Safe Finder as you would any other Safari extension.

Open Chrome.

Select Menu > More Tools > Extensions.

Select the toggle switch for each Safe Finder extension to disable them.

A blue switch icon indicates the extension is engaged. Gray means it is disabled.

Once disabled, select Remove on each extension.

Select Remove again when prompted to confirm the action.

When the new tab opens, you can select the reason you removed the extension, then select Submit.

Launch a new tab or window and confirm that Safe Finder is no longer the homepage and default search engine.

Open Firefox.

Select Menu (three horizontal lines in the upper-right corner) and then Add-ons.

Select the Menu (three horizontal lines) for each Safe Finder add-on.

Select either Disable or Remove.

Safe Finder does not target a specific browser and can affect Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Opera, and others.

Most of the time Safe Finder is added by users themselves, mistakenly assuming it is a trusted search engine powered by Yahoo. Some of the known URLs associated with this adware are:

  • search.safefinder.bizsearch.safefinder.infoisearch.safefinder.netsearch.safefinder.comsearch.safefinderformac.com

Should I Remove Safe Finder?

Yes. Safe Finder claims to be a reliable search engine powered by Yahoo, but it’s really adware and should be removed from your Mac as soon as possible. Failing to remove it can open the gates to more malware on your device, such as a trojan virus, spyware, and other malicious software.

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