IndexerInput Adware - How to remove

IndexerInput is a malicious app. It causes web browsers to open unwanted sites, show pop-up ads, and redirect search queries to Yahoo.com or another site. It has no useful features. It spreads in fake updates and installers of legitimate programs, lying to people in order to trick them to install malware.

About IndexerInput:

Threat type	Adware, browser hijacker, trojan.
How IndexerInput affects the Mac	It causes the browsers to show ads and open unwanted sites, it logs browsing data.
How malware is installed	Promoted by malicious ads online, disguised as a trusted program, installed without your knowledge.
How to remove IndexerInput	Delete IndexerInput and other malicious apps manually or with an antivirus program, such as Combo Cleaner and others, restore browser and system settings to remove the changes made by malware.

What is IndexerInput?

Detected as malware

IndexerInput is a MacOS app that’s flagged as Malicious, AdLoad, Adware, and AdAgent by various antivirus programs as seen on this Virustotal.com page. Adware means that IndexerInput is a malicious app that’s focused on showing advertisements on the victim’s computer or forcing the victim to visit affiliated sites.

Browser hijacker

If IndexerInput has been installed on your Mac, your web browser may behave unusually. It may be forced to change your default search engine, the home page and the new tab page settings. Also, a browser extension may be installed that can open new tabs and read your browsing history.

Validplatform.com, Any Search Manager, or another site becomes the default search engine. They often redirect to Yahoo.com, but only after they log your search data.

How was it installed?

Spread in infected installers

Despite the fact that Flash Player is being discontinued and Mac users are being advised to uninstall this software, there are a plethora of fake Flash Player ads online. These fake updates are used by malicious actors to distribute malicious software.

Other legitimate apps may be abused to distribute malware, as well.

Sometimes, these infected installers include legitimate software that is packaged with malware. Other times, it’s just malware. “Search manager” is often the name used for the malware.

Advertised online

Such deceptive advertisements appear on unreliable websites and are shown by other malware:

• If you already have an adware infection on your Mac, it could take you to malicious sites and/or show you dangerous advertisements.
• If you visited a website that shows dangerous ads or a website that’s infected with malicious redirects, you could be forced to see fake update prompts and other malicious ads.
• If you are on a safe website, you could still happen upon a malicious advertisement.

Most of the malicious ads meant for spreading malware are very convincing. Be careful and just don’t trust browser pop-ups, no matter how realistic they look.

How to remove IndexerInput

IndexerInput appears as an app in the Dock that starts together with your web browser (usually Safari). This app can be deleted, but it may return on its own after a while. It may change its name to some random word concatenation, like PromoteQueue, UtilityData, DivisionInitiator, etc.

The steps to removing IndexerInput and other adware permanently are these:

• Fix System Preferences. Undo the changes made by malicious apps.
• Find and delete malicious apps and files.

Before starting, you may want to boot your Mac into  safe mode. Hold the Shift key immediately after you press the button to turn on your Mac. This might take a bit of time, but it makes sure that apps like IndexerInput won’t run unnecessarily and makes it easier for you to remove them.

Change system settings

If you have an administrator or someone who set up your Mac for you, then you should ask for their advice on how to deal with IndexerInput.

Open System Preferences (you can find the icon in the Dock or in the Apple menu):

• Find the Profiles icon. If it’s there, click on it. Remove all the configuration profiles that you did not add or that appear suspicious.
• Find Users & Groups. Open Login Items. Remove all unwanted items.
• Open Network. Go to Advanced -> Proxies. If you did not configure a proxy but one is nevertheless configured, deselect it and save.

Remove malware

To remove the files that are related to IndexerInput, scan your Mac with an anti-malware app, such as Combo Cleaner and others.

Delete the IndexerInput app from the Applications folder in Finder. You can also look for files related to IndexerInput on your Mac – in Finder, open the Go -> Computer menu and search for “IndexerInput”.

Check your web browsers for unwanted extensions and suspiciuos settings as described below.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Restore browser settings

How to remove IndexerInput Adware from Safari:Top

Remove malicious extensions

• Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences.
  
• Select Extensions and uninstall IndexerInput Adware 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 IndexerInput Adware, 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 IndexerInput Adware from Google Chrome on Mac:

• Open Chrome browser.
• Enter in the url field “chrome://extensions” address and hit Enter.
• Find IndexerInput Adware 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 IndexerInput Adware, 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 IndexerInput Adware 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 IndexerInput Adware 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 IndexerInput Adware, 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.