Bing redirect virus on Mac: removal instruction

If you’ve noticed that the browser you use on your Mac has suddenly started redirecting to Bing whenever you try and use Google or Yahoo to search the web, your Mac has fallen prey to the Bing redirect virus. 

Mac users are just as vulnerable to adware attacks as Windows users. In fact, browser hijackers and adware are on the rise again, despite the ever-improving security protocols. Adware, such as Bing redirect, frequently targets Mac users. So, here’s your guide on how to get rid of Bing on your Mac.

What is Bing

Bing redirect is commonly perceived as a virus; however, it doesn’t replicate itself and copy itself from computer to computer over a network or using shared storage. So, it isn’t a virus per se. Instead, it is a form of malware known as a potentially unwanted program, or PUP. Even more precisely, it is a browser hijacker since it changes the main browser settings — homepage and default search engine. And it does so for all the browsers installed on your Mac. 

Once Bing redirect sneaks onto your Mac, it displays intrusive adverts and collects data, such as your IP address, web searches, and sites visited. That’s all done to earn money for the hackers who created it. Luckily, Bing virus removal isn’t too complicated. But first, let’s find out how your Mac got infected.

How did Bing get automatically onto your Mac?

What makes Bing so nasty is that it sneaks unnoticed. Actually, it gets automatically if you install freeware on your Mac. It is known as bundling. Not all free software is malicious, though, but downloading apps via torrents or those that come with their own installers and overriding Gatekeeper is one of the main channels of distribution of browser hijackers and adware. 

Another way in which Bing spreads is by clicking on fake links on the web. Usually, these are malicious websites, and when you visit one, you will see a pop-up telling you that your software is out of date. Mostly, it is about Flash Player, and the pop-up urges you to update it by clicking the link on it. Instead of an update, you will download malware.

If you’re not sure whether you’ve already downloaded Bing redirect, just open a web browser and type a search query. If it redirects to Bing, you have your answer. Now read on, and we’ll explain how to remove Bing from Chrome and other browsers.

How to get rid of Bing on Mac?

Luckily, many apps recognize the Bing virus. One of the latest antiviruses, CleanMyMac X, does that well. This app is notarized by Apple and detects many PUPs and keyloggers, adware extensions, Trojans, worms, etc. 

If all you are looking for is to delete the Bing redirect virus, you may go with a free trial version of CleanMyMac X. Here’s how to remove the Bing redirect virus with CleanMyMac X:

1. Download the app — a link to a free download — and open it from your Applications folder.
2. Select Malware Removal from the sidebar.
3. Now, click Scan. If CleanMyMac X finds the Bing redirect virus, it should look like this:

   

4. Finally, click Remove, and your Mac will be safe again. 

As you can see, getting rid of the Bing redirect virus with CleanMyMac X is simple. Use its handy Malware Removal tool regularly to make sure that no nasty malware, such as spyware, worms, or other viruses, goes unnoticed on your Mac. 

How to get rid of Bing manually

There are several steps to manual Bing redirect virus removal.

Stop Bing from running

1. Open Activity Monitor from Applications > Utilities. Alternatively, search for it using Spotlight or ask Siri to open it. 

   

2. Look for any processes that look like they may be malware. If you’re not sure, google the name of suspicious processes.
3. If you find one, select it and click the Quit Process button (X) in the toolbar.

Get rid of suspicious applications

1. Go to your Applications folder.
2. Look for any applications you don’t remember installing.
3. If you find one, uninstall it.
   

The next step is to reset the homepage in browsers. As mentioned, Bing can affect all of the browsers installed on your Mac, so you will have to make your way through all of them even if you do not use them. We’ve prepared steps for the most popular browsers among Mac users — Safari, Chrome, and Firefox.

How to remove Bing from Safari

1. Go to the Safari menu > Settings > General.
2. Find the Homepage box and change what’s written there to your preferred one.
3. Now, go to Search and select your preferred search engine. 

How to get rid of Bing on Chrome

1. Type chrome://settings into the address bar.
2. Click On startup.
3. If the setting has been changed, change it back to your preferred homepage.
4. Now, navigate to the Search engine tab and select the search engine of your preference.

How to remove Bing from Firefox 

1. Click on the three horizontal lines.
2. Choose Settings > Home.
3. Set Homepage and new windows to your preferred homepage.
4. Now, click Search and set your preferred search engine. 

Check your Login Items

Sometimes, malware puts itself in your Login Items, so it starts up when your Mac boots.

1. From the main Apple menu, go to System Settings > General > Login Items.
2. Look for any suspicious login items.
3. If you find any, check the box next to them and click the “-” button. 

Remove Bing redirect from browser extensions

Many users are asking how to stop redirects caused by Bing. Once you’ve made your way through the steps outlined above, the last one is to cut down on your browser extensions. Even seemingly helpful extensions, like parcel trackers, could be covert vehicles for Bing. The process is also different for different browsers.

How to remove Bing redirect from Safari

1. Open Safari, then click on the Safari menu and select Settings.
2. Click on the Extensions tab.
3. Look for an extension that you haven’t installed or that seems suspicious.
4. Select it and click Uninstall.

How to remove Bing redirect from Chrome extensions

1. Open Chrome.
2. Type chrome://extensions into the address bar.
3. Look for an extension that you haven’t installed or that seems suspicious.
4. Click Remove next to the extension.

How to remove Bing redirect from Firefox

1. Open Firefox and click on the three horizontal lines on the right of the toolbar.
2. Choose Add-ons and themes.
3. Select Extensions and look for an extension that you haven’t installed and that seems suspicious.
4. Click the ellipsis next to it and select Remove.

How to stay safe from Bing redirection

Now that you know how to get rid of Bing on Mac, you may wonder how to avoid another infection in the future. It’s all about common sense, and the tips we provide below will as well keep you safe from any other malicious app:

1. Never click on a link in a message or email unless you are absolutely confident where it will lead you. 
2. Close any pop-ups telling you that your Mac is infected or you need to update Flash Player. Especially if it tells you that you must download an app to continue. Of course, do not ignore messages from trusted antivirus apps. 
3. Never ignore system messages asking you whether you are sure that you want to install the app downloaded from a source other than Mac App Store. Double-check the app online before overriding Gatekeeper.
4. Download apps from trusted developers and App Store. 
5. Invest in a trusted antivirus app and run regular scans.
6. Keep your macOS and apps up to date to make sure that you have all of the latest security patches installed.
7. From time to time, check your Applications folder to make sure that no app you weren’t going to install ended up on your Mac. 

Tip

If you see an app that should not be on your Mac, you may want to delete it completely. To do it, it’s worth trying a dedicated app uninstaller like the one in CleanMyMac X. It removes every single file and folder associated with the app you want to get rid of, making sure that it does not compromise your privacy. 

So, what is Bing redirect essentially? For some, it might be just a nuisance, but what if it steals your credit card details? That is why you should remove it as soon as you become aware of it. 

Fortunately, you now know how to get rid of Bing redirect and learned that removing it isn’t very difficult if you follow the steps above carefully. Once you’ve removed it, it’s worth scanning your Mac with an antivirus tool or CleanMyMac X’s Malware Removal tool. 

Frequently asked questions

How to find out if your Mac is infected by Bing redirect?

Bing redirect is a browser hijacker, which means it takes over your browser, whether it’s Chrome, Safari, or Firefox, and changes the homepage and default search engine. If your Mac’s infected with Bing redirect, you will likely see pop-ups, banners, and other intrusive ads in your browser.

How is Bing redirect related to the Bing search engine?

Bing is a legitimate search engine, and it isn’t malicious at all. The creators of Bing redirect used the Bing brand name to trick users into downloading this PUP.

How does Bing redirect get into your Mac?

Bing redirect finds its way on your Mac following the easiest pattern: it disguises itself as a third-party app. If you have installed some apps recently, Bing redirect could have been bundled with them. Next time you install an app, pay attention to installation steps to deselect the installation of third-party apps that can be malicious.

Why does my search engine keeps changing to Bing?

Most likely, you have unknowingly installed the Bing virus as part of a software bundle. The best way to fix it is to use a dedicated antivirus.

How to stop Bing from opening on startup

Open your Login Items on Mac and disable all non-essential items. As a nuclear option, fully delete and reinstall your browser that is affected by Bing.

How to change Bing to Google

You can reset your default search engine in Chrome > Settings > Search engine. Or follow the steps we outlined for Safari and Firefox. That doesn’t delete parts of the virus that are still present in your system.