For many people, their preferred internet browser has become a very personal and, hopefully, private space. It’s where emails are written, bank accounts are checked, and work is performed. So, when malware comes along to invade that personal and private space, it feels like a violation. That’s why browser hijackers like Search Baron need to be eliminated quickly and decisively.
What is Search Baron?
Search Baron is an example of a browser hijacker. As the name suggests, a browser hijacker takes over the functions of your browser. It does this by changing browser settings to gain complete control over site visits and searches.
Victims may write a browser hijacker like Search Baron off as a mere nuisance, but it is vastly more than that. It can steal your personal data and browsing data by redirecting you to sites with malware and search engines that are crawling with ads.
Search Baron malware has a noteworthy feature, though. Instead of sending you to your preferred search engine, you’re briefly redirected through the Search Baron website and then sent back to the search engine you were on before. Why? Because then, via search engines like Bing, they can monetize your search.
Browser hijackers like Search Baron can also change your homepage and browser security settings. The greatest threat, however, is that this can lead to other kinds of malware entering your device.
Is Search Baron a virus?
The words “virus” and “malware” are often used so interchangeably that people mistakenly believe that they are one and the same. But viruses and malware are distinct terms.
A virus is designed to infect a machine or a network and then focus on finding another machine or network to jump to. Hence the term “virus” — it’s contagious and highly spreadable.
Malware, on the other hand, is a broad category of different computer threats. A virus is one form of malware, but there are other forms, too, including browser hijackers. The Search Baron virus is technically malware, not a virus.
A browser hijacker isn’t explicitly designed to infect other computers. Its job is to transfer itself to a victim’s computer browser, remain there, and make as much money off the person as possible before it can be detected and removed.
Nevertheless, a browser hijacker can eventually lead to other forms of malware, including viruses.
How to recognize the Search Baron browser hijacker
If you know how to look for malware on your Mac, then it’s easy to detect the Search Baron browser hijacker. Look through the following list and see if your device is exhibiting any of these symptoms:
- Your normally zippy Mac is slowing down considerably. It may even crash, requiring a reboot.
- Your web browser is slow to the point that it’s virtually unusable. It’s using most of your Mac’s CPU and memory.
- Your search queries are briefly being redirected to an unknown website called Search Baron before being redirected back.
- Your homepage has been changed to an unknown website.
- Your regular browser visits (not search queries) are being redirected to suspicious websites.
- Your browser security settings have been changed or disabled.
If you recognize any of the above, you may be infected. Read on to find out how to get rid of Search Baron from your device.
How to get rid of Search Baron on Mac
Browser hijackers like Search Baron are not only an extreme nuisance but also a threat. That’s why you need to react fast to remove it from your Mac by using CleanMyMac, powered by Moonlock Engine.
CleanMyMac is an industry-leading, lightweight, and powerful malware detection platform that everyone should have on their Mac.
Start by signing up for your free trial and installing the app. Then go through each of the following easy steps to remove Search Baron:
- Once you’ve opened up CleanMyMac, you’ll see 6 options in the left sidebar. The one you’re looking for is Protection. This is the malware removal tool.
- Before clicking the Scan button, some configurations need to be made. Select Configure Scan first, which will bring you into the scan settings. Select all options.
- Click the Scan button. This will set off the malware-detection process, where your Mac will be thoroughly scanned for any threats, including browser hijackers like Search Baron.
- If anything is found by CleanMyMac, you’ll see it on the user interface. Select all the files, then select Remove.
- An optional suggestion that we highly recommend: Use the Cleanup feature to detect and delete all unneeded files — including any that may be connected to the malware that has just been found.
Manual options for Search Baron removal on Mac
If, for any reason, you choose not to use CleanMyMac, there are other ways to find Search Baron on a Mac.
Here are a few ways to find Search Baron on your Mac:
- Look at Activity Monitor: See if there are any suspicious apps or scripts running. If you don’t recognize any of the processes found in Activity Monitor, run a web search to see if they are legitimate processes.
- Check the Applications folder: Malware often depends on an app to do its work. Check your Applications folder and see if you notice anything suspicious or unrecognizable.
- Check the Login items: Go to System Preferences > General > Login Items & Extensions. This area shows you every program that starts up when you log in to your Mac. It also shows you background processes and extensions. Check them all.
Finally, of course, you need to thoroughly check your browser. In the next section, we’ll cover how to do this with Chrome, Safari, and Firefox.
How to remove Search Baron malware from your web browser
If you would rather remove a browser hijacker from your web browser manually, it’s entirely possible. Just keep in mind that it takes a bit longer, and you may not get every single malware file.
Get rid of Search Baron on Chrome
Let’s start by explaining how to get rid of Search Baron on Chrome.
Check the following settings in Chrome:
- Settings > Extensions > Manage Extensions. Remove any extensions you don’t recognize.
- Settings > On Startup. Under “Open a specific page or set of pages,” delete all the ones you don’t recognize.
- Settings > Search Engine. Change the default browser back to your preferred one.
- Settings > More Tools > Clear Browsing Data. Remove all cookies, cache, and anything else connected to the malware.
- Settings > Reset Settings. The “Reset Settings” option will change all the above-mentioned settings back to their original state.
Search Baron removal on Safari
To remove Search Baron on Safari, use the following steps.
Check the following settings in Safari:
- Safari > Settings > Extensions. Remove any unauthorized extensions.
- Settings > General. Configure your homepage.
- Settings > Search. Change the default browser back to your preferred one.
- Safari > Clear History. Select All History and delete everything.
Steps to remove Search Baron from Firefox
Finally, let’s look at how to remove Search Baron from Firefox.
Check the following settings in Firefox:
- Tools > Add-Ons & Themes. Remove anything suspicious.
- Settings > Home. Tweak your homepage.
- Settings > Search. Change the default browser back to your preferred browser.
- Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies & Site Data. Click Clear Data to delete everything.
How does Search Baron affect your Mac?
Search Baron is not only a threat to your browser. It’s also a threat to your Mac. Here’s what it can do?
- It can install user configuration profiles to make changes and lock you out from changing them.
- Because it will consume excess battery power and CPU, it can damage the inner workings of your Mac due to overheating and battery damage.
- It can disrupt your Wi-Fi network, causing it to constantly crash.
- Your Mac’s DNS settings can be changed to malicious ones.
- It can open the door to introduce worse malware to your machine.
Why does Search Baron keep appearing?
If Search Baron malware keeps appearing on your Mac, it’s likely because you haven’t deleted all the files or haven’t removed the root cause properly. Here are a few steps to try:
- Check your Applications folder. Is there a suspicious app in the Applications folder? If so, delete it. If the problems started when you installed a legitimate app, get rid of that one too.
- Check Activity Monitor for suspicious running processes. As indicated above, malicious processes may be running in the background.
- Recheck your browser settings. Did you remove everything previously mentioned in this article? Maybe you missed something.
- Disable browser syncing. If you use the same browser across multiple devices, the malware may be getting put back on your Mac from another device. Disable browser syncing and try again.
- It’s changed system files. The worst case scenario is that it’s modified the system files at ~/Library/LaunchAgents, ~/Library/Application Support, or /etc/hosts. Fixing this will require someone with expert knowledge.
How did Search Baron get onto my Mac?
By understanding how browser hijackers get onto Macs, you can reduce the risk of it happening to you. Here are the usual methods that they employ to get in:
- Infected links sent by email, including attachments, and SMS (this is the most common method)
- Bundled with legitimate software (known as a trojan)
- Concealed behind deceptive ads (called adware)
- Inside third-party software and apps
How to keep your Mac safe from browser hijackers like Search Baron
Being infected with a browser hijacker once is bad enough. If it happens to you, you’ll want to take steps to avoid it happening again in the future.
Never install apps or software from unknown developers
Third-party software can be great and can provide extra functionality to your Mac. A lot of it can also be crawling with malware. If the software is free, the risk increases. Try to restrict your app downloads to the Mac App Store and trusted third parties like Moonlock. These apps are tested, scanned, and continually monitored for threats.
Never click on links from strangers
Malware-infected links are the most popular method for hackers to spread browser hijackers around. Tricking the intended victim into clicking a malicious link is the classic “low effort, high reward” method. If you ever receive a link from a stranger, don’t click it.
Install all browser and OS updates
It can be annoying and inconvenient to interrupt your workflow or web browsing for security updates, but they’re essential. Malware is often designed to exploit security vulnerabilities in browsers and operating systems. Make it a habit to regularly check for updates and install them as soon as possible.
Browser hijackers may seem like the less harmful younger sibling of malware, but they can steal your private browsing and private data and sell it to bad actors. You could also be tricked into buying malware-infected software after being told, ironically, that your device is infected with a virus.
If you suspect that a browser hijacker — or any form of malware — is affecting your device, follow the recommendations in this article to limit the damage. Remove Search Baron from your Mac before the damage is done.
This is an independent publication, and it has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. Mac and macOS are trademarks of Apple Inc.
