DataQuest Malware - How to remove

DataQuest malware is a malicious app that has absolutely nothing to do with the legitimate DataQuest apps by  Dataquest Labs, Magzter Inc., and others. The DataQuest malware is totally separate. It is detected as malicious by many antivirus programs (VirusTotal link) and it causes some seriously disruptive effects on the infected Mac: crashes apps, slows down the internet, and may install a malicious browser extension.

DataQuest malware is short:

Type of threat	Adware, browser hijacker, trojan.
How DataQuest malware gets installed	Downloaded under the pretense of it being a useful app, advertised on illegal or infected sites.
Infection symptoms	Pop-ups and pop-up ads, browser redirects, crashing apps, slow internet.
Removing DataQuest malware	Scan your Mac with anti-malware apps (Combo Cleaner, etc.), delete malicious Profiles, files, apps, and browser extensions, make sure to use 2-step verification to protect your online accounts.

How DataQuest malware spreads

The legitimate apps whose names DataQuest malware copied can be downloaded from their homepages and the App Store. DataQuest malware, on the other hand, infiltrates Macs secretly.

DataQuest malware can be found bundled in adware packages that are offered online. These adware bundles are sometimes uploaded on sites that show fake warnings to update your software. They’re opened by malicious ads and redirects from infected sites. They appear in people’s browsers unexpectedly and are designed to trick them into thinking that this is a real software update. In reality, these sites just download a malicious archive or package, installing which infects your Mac with adware.

In general, such malicious ads and redirects can be found on pirating sites, such as free video streaming sites for movies and TV shows. DataQuest malware is often disguised as a fake Flash Player installer or update. Since Flash Player is a media player, it makes sense that it would be advertised on video streaming sites. And as DataQuest malware is, well, malware, it has no hope of honestly advertising on legitimate and legal sites – promoting malware is against their rules. So, DataQuest malware’s makers partner with illegal sites instead.

Once it’s downloaded, DataQuest malware may show fake pop-ups that hijack your mouse to try and make you click buttons that give DataQuest malware permissions it needs to hijack your Mac.

Hijacking symptoms

DataQuest malware starts up every time you start your Mac (unless you run your Mac in safe mode). Trying to delete it doesn’t quite work – it only lasts until you log off your Mac, with the malware coming back next time you log on.

DataQuest malware causes a few issues on the infected Mac:

• bad internet speed,
• unstable apps,
• pop-up ads,
• default search settings changed in your browser.

DataQuest malware is an AdLoad infection – a trojan that can download more malware. So, the symptoms can be hard to predict. You might get adware on your Mac, or spyware, or a scareware application. DataQuest malware being a trojan refers to its deceptive installation process – it being disguised as a useful app. But the harm it does ranges from hijacking your browser to, at worst, stealing private data, like passwords.

Because of that, it’s advisable to change your passwords once you have cleaned your Mac of DataQuest malware and all other malware.

How to remove DataQuest malware

You can use an anti-malware app, like Combo Cleaner, to scan your Mac for malware and see where the suspicious files are. At the same time, you can manually remove the malicious files. It’s just that you might want to make a restore point first, so that, if you accidentally delete an important file, it’s easy to fix the situation.

DataQuest malware creates a malicious Profile. You can find Profiles in System Preferences (if there are no Profiles, the option does not appear in System Preferences). You can turn off a Profile by opening them in System Preferences, selecting the malicious profile, and pressing the minus button at the bottom.

In addition, you can look for files related to DataQuest malware on these folders:

• ~/Library/Application Support
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents
• ~/Library/LaunchDaemons

An easy way to navigate to these folders is by using the Go to Folder dialog that you can find in the Go menu in Finder. Type in or paste in the names of each folder and look at the files. Look for something named “DataQuest”. It’s possible that malicious files are hiding under a different name. You can look up the names of suspicious files online to find out more. Look for names like SearchSkilledData, MultiDetail, or SmartWebSearch.

Finally, you can remove DataQuest malware from your Applications by dragging it to Trash. If DataQuest malware has hijacked your browser, check the guide below to fix your browser settings.

Scan your Mac with an anti-malware app again and, if it’s clean, change your passwords or make sure that 2-step verification is on.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Manually remove browser extensions

How to remove DataQuest Malware from Safari:Top

Remove malicious extensions

• Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences.
  
• Select Extensions and uninstall DataQuest Malware and other suspicious extensions.
  
• If your homepage was changed, click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences and choose General tab. Enter preferable URL to the homepage field.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings(older versions) If you are still experiencing any issues related to DataQuest Malware, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Reset Safari…
  
• Select which options you want to reset (usually all of them come preselected) and click on the Reset button.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

TopHow to remove DataQuest Malware from Google Chrome on Mac:

• Open Chrome browser.
• Enter in the url field “chrome://extensions” address and hit Enter.
• Find DataQuest Malware on the extensions list and click on the recycle bin icon next to it.
• Click on 'Chrome' button at the top left corner. Select 'Preferences' on a drop-down menu box.
• Find 'Search' options on Settings tab. If your search engine is changed, click 'Manage Search Engines' and set your preferred search engine.
• On the same page find 'Show home button' checkbox and change your homepage.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to DataQuest Malware, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• On the 'Preferences' menu window, scroll down to the bottom and find 'Reset settings' button. Click it.
• Confirm your selection and click 'Reset' on the following window.

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program. Top

How To remove DataQuest Malware from Firefox on Mac OS:

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla window and select the “Add-ons” icon (Or press cmd+Shift+A on your keyboard).
• Go through Extensions list, remove everything DataQuest Malware related and items you do not recognise. If you do not know the extension and it is not made by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft, Oracle or Adobe then you probably do not need it.
• Enter “about:preferences” in URL bar and hit enter.
• Open Search settings tab.
• If your search engine is changed, click 'Default Search Engines' and set your preferred search engine.
• If your homepage was changed, click on the Firefox menu in the top right corner, select Preferences-> General. Enter a preferable URL to the home page field.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to DataQuest Malware, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla Firefox window. Click on the Help button.
• Choose Troubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
• Click on the Refresh Firefox button.
• Click on the Refresh Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.

If the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program to identify malicious entries.