The Bing Redirect Virus is a very commonly encountered browser annoyance that belongs to the Browser Hijacker category. It is a small piece of software similar to a browser extension, which makes changes in the user’s browser.
The most notable of those changes is the one made to the homepage and the search engine of the affected browser, which get replaced by Bing.
Bing is a legitimate online search engine, and it has no relation to any type of malware or unwanted software. However, if you have had your browser’s default search engine and/or homepage changed to Bing without your permission, you most likely have landed a hijacker known as Bing Redirect Virus.
Mac computers, just like ones that operate on Windows, can both get this hijacker installed in their browsers. In this article, we will be focusing on the Bing Redirect Virus Mac users may face.
How did the Bing Redirect Get On my Mac?
When faced with the Bing Redirect Virus, Mac (and Windows) users should know what brought it there in order to prevent future installations of similar software.
Usually, browser hijackers get added to the installers of different programs, where they are presented as bonus components. In most cases, there is an optional clause that allows the user to opt-out of the installation of the added software.
However, most people overlook such options and use the Default installation settings, which normally install both the main program and the bonus components.
Could the Bing Redirect Harmful for my Mac?
The Bing site itself is not harmful – it is one of the biggest online search providers, and it won’t compromise your system’s safety. The hijacker that has introduced Bing to your browser, however, may be potentially unsafe.
Though not being an actual virus despite its name, and though it will probably not harm your system or do anything bad to your files, the Bing Redirect Virus may do other unpleasant things, such as redirect you to sketchy sites, place obscure ads on your screen, and try to lure you into downloading stuff you don’t need.
Hijackers may also try to collect information from your browser about what sites you tend to visit, what videos you watch online, what you like on social media, etc.
Normally, such data is used for marketing purposes, but you could never really be sure who ends up obtaining it in the end, and what their real goals might be.
Removing the Bing Redirect Virus
It may take some time and effort to remove the Bing Redirect Virus. Mac, as well as Windows systems, need to be carefully examined so that all data related to the hijacker gets detected and removed.
One way to do this is by following the manual instructions from the guide on our site. If you aren’t sold on the manual approach, we also offer a professional removal tool included in the guide, that can get the hijacker uninstalled for you automatically. If you are interested, here is how you can remove the Bing Redirect Virus (Mac).
How to Protect Yourself in the future.
Aside from avoiding questionable sites, not opening spam messages, or staying away from suspicious web ads and click baits, one other precaution tip to keep you safe from hijackers is to always monitor the setup settings in the installers of new programs.
As already mentioned, software-bundling is a very common method used to spread these hijackers, which is why you must always take a careful look at the bonus components in every program installer, and opt-out of the ones you don’t want or need. Oftentimes, the options for the bonus content are only available under the Advanced setup menu, so always use it if the installer has such a menu.
