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  • Active
  • Severity: Medium
  • Browser Hijackers
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Feb 2019

How to remove Search.memeinc.net

A step-by-step removal guide for affected devices. Follow the verified procedure below — most readers complete it in under 10 minutes.

Alice Woods · Likes to teach users about virus prevention

Search.memeinc.net is a browser hijacker which appears on Mac devices only

Search.memeinc.net browser hijacker

Search.memeinc.net is a browser-hijacking application which is created to infect Mac computers.[1] Additionally, this PUP hijacks web browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari. All the hijacking activity is caused by a rogue browser extension “Meimeinc” which installs on the browser unknowingly. Continuously, https://search.memeinc.net is set as the default search engine and users start receiving search results from it. For further information, Search.memeinc.net virus might install other rogue content which is detected as adware.spigot. If you have spotted this browser-hijacking program on your computer system, you should start looking for elimination techniques, otherwise, the potentially unwanted application might start performing rogue activities such as redirecting to questionable-looking websites and even producing ads.

Name Search.memeinc.net
Category Browser hijacker
Extension Memeinc
OS  This suspicious app targets Mac computers
Browsers The PUP hijacks Chrome, Firefox, Safari 
Search engine https://search.memeinc.net
Distribution Bundles, third-party pages
Detection tool FortectIntego software 

Search.memeinc.net is a rogue program which can come like out of nowhere. However, it does not come out of anywhere as the user usually installs it by accident. Once this happens, the “Meimeinc” plug-in is injected into the web browser and starts performing changes such as modifying the default search engine, main page, and even the new tab zone.

If you are infected with Search.memeinc.net, you will definitely recognize the https://search.memeinc.net search engine. The worst part is that you will not be able to bring your web browser back to its previous position. Furthermore, you will be forced to use the new search engine and receive search results from Yahoo.com (which is totally useless) until you get rid of the browser-hijacking application.

Furthermore, Memeinc might cause other unwanted activities. For example, browser-hijacking applications are capable of redirecting the user to developer-sponsored content or other unknown websites. However, some of these pages might appear to be infected with malware[2] which you can download and install on your computer within a click on a suspicious link or ad.

You need to remove Search.memeinc.net virus if you want to reverse all changes that were performed by the browser hijacker. You can choose to eliminate the potentially unwanted program by terminating all rogue extensions, plug-ins, and add-ons from your Google Chrome, Safari, or Mozilla Firefox web browsers.

However, note that completing the Search.memeinc.net removal manually might be a difficult process to carry out for simple computer users. If you lack skills and orientation in this field, you should select a reliable tool such as FortectIntego to detect all browser-hijacker related content. After that, use automatical software to get rid of the potentially unwanted program permanently.

Search.memeinc.net potentially unwanted program

Browser-hijacking apps are planted in bundles or unsafe hyperlinks

There are many ways how browser-hijacking applications might be spread, and various locations where they might be met. However, according to LosVirus.es experts, potentially unwanted programs are very likely to be met in:

  • bundled freeware or shareware;[3]
  • infected hyperlinks;
  • third-party sponsored advertisements.

We recommend every user taking care of his/her own online and computer safety. Remember, all third-party sources lack required protection, that is why we suggest using only original downloaders/installers and visiting only well-known web pages. For installation purposes, choose the Custom/Advanced mode on your web browser.

For browsing safety, stay away from questionable-looking websites and avoid clicking on suspicious hyperlinks or stepping on advertisements. Additionally, you can browse for professional antivirus program solutions and download the tool to your computer system. For proper working, make sure that the antivirus software[4] is always updated.

Get rid of Search.memeinc.net redirects and web browser changes

If you have been facing symptoms such as browser changes in the homepage, search engine, and new tab section, redirecting to developer-sponsored content, frequent advertising, and so on, you are very likely to have a browser hijacking app on your system! Detect and remove Search.memeinc.net virus before it starts annoying you even more.

Instead of deciding to use the browser-hijacking application, you should perform the Search.memeinc.net removal with specific anti-malware software or by using our step-by-step guide. Here you will find all technique for removing the Memeinc extension from Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, or any other infected web browser on your Mac.

Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

Reset Internet Explorer

Remove dangerous add-ons:

  1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
  2. Pick Manage Add-ons.
  3. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Change your homepage if it was altered:

  1. Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
  2. Select Internet Options.
  3. In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
  4. Click Apply and then select OK.Reset IE homepage

Delete temporary files:

  1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
  2. Under Browsing history, click Delete...
  3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.Clear temporary files from Internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer:

  1. Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
  2. Select Reset.
  3. In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.Reset Internet Explorer

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

  1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
  2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
  3. Click Remove.Remove extensions from Edge

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.Reset MS Edge

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2

Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
  2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.

Reset Google Chrome:

If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2

Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
  2. Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.Remove extensions from Safari

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari

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