What Is Search Marquis and How Do I Remove It?

There’s a common misconception that Apple products are immune to nasty things floating around the interwebs, like the Search Marquis virus. The Search Marquis virus is what’s known as a browser hijacker. That means it reprograms your browser’s default settings and homepage to searchmarquis.com, which then compromises all of your searches and spams you with sponsored content results.

You can remove it manually if you want, but the best choice is to use an antivirus program to make sure all of the remnants are gone. Once it’s gone, a good antivirus will keep you protected and hopefully free from reinfection. If you’re ready to remove this problem, we’ve got all the information you need.

What is the Search Marquis virus?

The Search Marquis computer virus is a browser hijacker that redirects all your search traffic to sponsored content or spammy sites. This compromises your searches by exposing you to potentially malicious results that can infect your computer further. It can also slow down your computer, but it’s much more likely you’ll be redirected to Search Marquis’ results.

Obviously, the biggest sign you’ve been infected is the fact that your homepage redirects to searchmarquis.com. Other signs you’re infected could be seeing the name Search Marquis in various files on your computer or in your browser. Since the function of this particular malware is to redirect you to sites where hackers can inundate you with spam, scams, and phishing attempts, as well as expose you to malware, the biggest sign of infection is the browser redirect.

We suggest removing this with antivirus software, as that will make sure to grab any remnants of the virus. Not only will this ensure that it’s completely gone, but it’ll also provide you with the peace of mind of knowing you haven’t deleted any essential functions on your machine.

It’s possible to remove Search Marquis manually, but make sure you know what every file and application is before deleting them, so you don’t permanently disable your Mac.

How to remove Search Marquis virus with an antivirus

The best way to remove the Search Marquis virus from your Mac is with an antivirus program. This not only makes the process much easier but also ensures that all remnants are gone. The steps are pretty simple too:

1. Download and install a reputable antivirus that has great reviews with Mac.
2. Open your antivirus.
3. Run an initial full disk scan.
4. Quarantine and remove all infected files.
5. Scan external hardware like USB drives and external hard drives.
6. Run another full disk scan — repeat until you have no infections.
7. Shut down your computer and disconnect from the power source for at least 60 seconds.
8. Restart your computer.
9. Run another full disk scan.
10. Make sure real-time protection is active on your antivirus while using your computer from now on.

You may look at the steps and wonder why you have to run so many scans, but that’s just to make sure every remnant of the virus is off of your computer and not hiding anywhere.

Another questionable action may be having to turn your computer off, disconnecting it from the power source, then waiting 60 seconds. Computers have small residual power stores. Making sure to fully reboot by disconnecting from the power will ensure you get a complete shutdown.

You’ll also want to rescan after restarting your computer just to double-check that everything’s gone. The real-time protection will ensure anything that tries to infect your machine from now on will be identified immediately before it can do damage.

Best antivirus for removing Search Marquis

While you may think all antivirus software is created equal, that isn’t true. Any Mac user will tell you that oftentimes a program is glitchy or lacks features that are advertised because they’re mostly made for Windows. This is because of Apple’s strict security rules that help make Macs more secure overall.

You’ll want to make sure you have an antivirus program either made specifically for Mac or one that’s noted to work well with Mac. Below are our picks of the best antivirus programs for Mac:

• CleanMyMac X: CleanMyMac X was built for Macs so you don’t need to worry if it’ll be compatible. It also has performance enhancement tools that help keep your Mac running smoothly. We liked how easy it was to use.
  
  Get CleanMyMac X | Read CleanMyMac X Review

• AVG: AVG is a freemium service, meaning the base software is free, but you’ll need a subscription for more features. The free version takes care of viruses and malware, so you can get it in a pinch even if you’re on a budget. We liked that malware, like spyware and ransomware, was blocked with the free version, while the paid features blocked unsafe emails.
  
  Get AVG | Read AVG Review

• Avast: Avast, like AVG, is a freemium service with Mac-forward protection. You can upgrade to a paid plan for performance enhancement tools and other features, like a virtual private network (VPN). We liked the high scores Avast received in its antivirus testing.
  
  Get Avast | Read Avast Review

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How to remove Search Marquis virus manually

While we definitely recommend using malware removal software to get rid of the Search Marquis virus, you can clean your machine manually with our step-by-step guide. You’ll just need to make sure you get all of the remnants of the virus and check any external sources like a USB or external hard drive where it may be hiding. You don’t want to do all this work just to reinfect your computer by using an accessory.

1. Delete suspicious applications

If you find an application on your MacBook that you didn’t install, or have a problem after installing a new application, it’s best to delete it and find a more reputable alternative.

1. Open Finder.
2. Select Applications from the left menu.
3. Drag any unrecognized or suspicious apps into the trash bin.
4. Empty the trash bin.
5. Restart your computer.

2. Remove unknown login items

Login items launch when you turn on your Mac. Removing unknown items could remove the virus’ access to your system.

1. First click on the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your home screen.
2. Select the System Settings menu.
3. In the search bar type in Login items.
4. Choose the Login items menu.
5. Toggle off any suspicious or unrecognized items.
6. Restart your computer for changes to take effect.

3. Get rid of files that have installed Search Marquis

These are files on your system that may have Search Marquis embedded in them. You should be careful deleting items at this level. If you aren’t sure, it’s best to use an antivirus program instead of manually removing them.

1. Click Shift+Command+G at the same time.
2. Type the following commands in one by one, completing action 3 after each time:

~/Library/LaunchAgents

/Library/LaunchDaemons

/Library/Application Support

~/Library/Application Support

1. Search for Search Marquis in each of the folders.
2. Make sure all deleted items are only infected files, as deleting other files could disable your machine permanently.

Remove Search Marquis from your browser

If you want to reset the settings in your browsers, you don’t need any advanced knowledge to get back to your original homepage. Since Search Marquis usually infects two specific web browsers, we listed how to restore the proper homepage on start-up.

You can also uninstall any suspicious browser extensions following these steps by just navigating to that section. Removing Search Marquis will improve your browsing experience and keep your device safe.

How to remove Search Marquis from Safari

1. Open your Safari browser.
2. Click on the Safari menu.
3. Go to Settings.
4. Click on Privacy.
5. Click on the Manage Website Data… button.
6. Click Remove All to clear history.
7. Close Safari.
8. Open Safari to make sure add-ons are gone and changes are correct.

How to remove Search Marquis from Google Chrome

1. Open Google Chrome.
2. Go to Chrome Settings.
3. Click the three lines in the upper-left corner by the word Settings.
4. Click Search Engine from the drop-down menu.
5. Select Manage search engines and site search.
6. Choose a default search engine.
7. Remove other search engines you are unfamiliar with or do not use.

How to protect your Mac from Search Marquis

The best way to protect your Mac from Search Marquis and a host of other viruses and malware is to use security software and practices that protect your expensive device. Most products allow you to bundle or stack them together so you get protection from a variety of angles. Here are our suggestions:

• Use an antivirus program with real-time protection.
• Use a VPN for public Wi-Fi networks and general online security.
• Install tracker and ad blockers on your browsers.
• Learn more about phishing and scam emails and how to recognize them.
• Don’t click links or open attachments from unknown sources.
• Double-check the email address/phone number of the sender before opening a link or attachment even if it looks legit.
• Don’t disable your security software to allow a site to load — it’s blocked for a reason.
• Only disable your tracker and ad blockers if necessary.
• Only download programs and apps from trusted sites or sources.
• Don’t let anyone claiming to be a support agent to remote access your device.
• Only use support numbers from the company’s website — pop-ups and banners are likely scams, even if they look scary and legit.
• When in doubt, do an internet search to see if something is legit (i.e., I received a pop-up ad saying my Mac is infected, is that a scam?).

Search Marquis FAQs

Bottom line

If you find your Mac is infected, you don’t need to panic. Search Marquis is easy to remove, but you’ll want to make sure you remove it completely so it doesn’t return. Next, you’ll want to start using protective software like a VPN, antivirus, and tracker and ad blockers to keep yourself from getting infected again.

We suggest using an antivirus product to remove this and any other viruses. The best antivirus for Mac is one that was built either for Mac or has great reviews working with the Mac operating system. Making sure the product you use includes real-time protection will hopefully keep you safe in the future.

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Author Details

Mary James

About the Author

Mary is a seasoned cybersecurity writer with over seven years of experience. With a B.S. in Liberal Arts from Clarion University and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Point Park University, she educates audiences on scams, antivirus software, and more. Her passion lies in educating audiences on helpful ways to protect their data.