11 Plus Exams Forum

Since last night, each time I try to click on something, I am redirected to other sites, the most frequent one being 'hightsearch'. The same thing happens when I open a new tab. I also keep getting messages about getting rid of viruses. I have no idea how to deal with this.

I'm not familiar with Macs, but is it possible you have a virus? It does sound suspicious... I use a PC and keep it clean by using Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software to detect and remove all potential problems. They have a free version you can download and that's the one I use. It started off as a free, trial version of the paid-for package, but after 2 weeks, when the trial expired, I just clicked on 'end trial' and it left me with a free version. The main difference between the paid-for and free version is that the former runs in the background all the time, while the free one runs only when I run the application myself. They have a version for Macs. too: https://www.malwarebytes.com/antimalware/mac/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Good luck!

DS1 and DS2 are away till later. I will ask them when they get back, but as they are both at some kind of Explorer camp they will need a shower and a sleep before I get any sense out of them. You shouldn't have a virus on a Mac - have you emptied the cache, or whatever the correct term is?

It's a browser virus that you have unintentionally downloaded with something else, and it is known to affect Macs. I have had similar on PCs and the instructions you can Google seem to work. My guess it that you shouldn't click on anything popping up telling you that you gave a virus as that will be ransomware.

I had a problem with a similar 'hijacker' on a laptop (not a mac); I can't remember how I managed to stop it popping up as my homepage tbh, but searching on 'hightsearch mac' turned up several discussions / solutions, including this one:

http://www.2-spyware.com/remove-hightsearch-com.html

I am a Mac user and had a similar problem a few months ago. You need to go into system preferences and look through for an files that should not be there. I am pretty sure you will find that as other posters hVe said your browser has been hijacked. In the end I had to take my computer to a professional because I wasn't sure of what was and wasn't OK to delete.

Thanks, everyone. DD said she knew what to do. We went into 'Settings' and then 'Extensions'. She told me to get rid of something that was there - book something or other. So far so good.

KS10 wrote:Thanks, everyone. DD said she knew what to do. We went into 'Settings' and then 'Extensions'. She told me to get rid of something that was there - book something or other. So far so good.

It's possible it's a little more deeply buried than that. If you run Malwarebytes free version it should tell you (assuming there is a Malwarebytes for Mac?). When I've had anything like this it takes quite a lot to get rid of it, but that is on a PC so maybe it's different?

Yes, there is Malwarebytes for Macs and I would also recommend running it. I use it alongside McAfee antivirus on my PC and it often finds malware that McAfee did not pick up on.

PurpleDuck wrote:Yes, there is Malwarebytes for Macs and I would also recommend running it. I use it alongside McAfee antivirus on my PC and it often finds malware that McAfee did not pick up on.

Me too