[scorpwarp23]

Where did you download the Skype installer from?

It is malware quite likely and can be undone. If you could share the link of where you downloaded the Skype dmg I can try and give you a fix.

[neilpeel]

It appears I stupidly downloaded it from here:

http://skype.download-for-mac.com/

I wasn't really paying attention at the time.

Would be great if you could help, thanks!

[wildthing84]

So here goes:

1. Open Finder.

2. Go to Applications

3. You'll see an app called "Reset Search" Alternatively there may be a folder called "InstallMac". Drag it to Trash and empty Trash

4. Open Chrome. Go to Settings

5. Click the button called "manage search engines" and make Google the default. Then click the cross to remove "search the web"

6. In Chrome Settings under "Appearance" click "Change" and then set "Use the new tab page." Also in the "On Startup" section ensure you delete the searchbenny page. and then set to "open a new tab".

7. In Safari open Preferences and head to "General Settings". Change your default engine (IMHO bing is better than Google). In newer Safari versions you can do this in the "Search" tab. Also remove all garbage from the "Manage Websites" section.

8. Set the homepage to "http://www.apple.com/startpage/" Alternatively open "Top Sites" in a new tab and use that by selecting "Use Current page"

9. Open "Activity Monitor" - Quit the "InstallerT" process.

10. You're set. Just some malware. No permanent damage. All it did was change your search defaults.

Had to post using a different account cause HN says I was submitting too fast.

[neilpeel]

WOW! It worked, thank you so much, pleased it wasn't anything too harmful. Thanks a lot for spending the time to help on this.

[bella22]

Thanks a lot, I followed all the steps but there is no "InstallerT" process in my activity monitor... is there an other name for it?

[cr3ative]

There's an honest-enough looking uninstall procedure on the site itself:

http://download-for-mac.com/uninstall.php?name=Skype#how_to_...

[brudgers]

What search engine led you to that site?

[smeyer]

I just googled "download skype for mac" without the quotes and an ad for the mentioned site was the first result. Another non-skype site's ad was second, and the first real result was the expected download page on skype's website. I could see a lot of people falling for that.

[brudgers]

If true, Google collected revenue from the advertiser on "Mac" and "Skype" from a company obviously preying on people's level of sophistication. In 2000, claiming naivety would at least be plausible. Today it ain't.

[neilpeel]

Chrome.