By Adela D. Louie, Last updated: May 8, 2020
The Safari browser is a preinstalled application that you have on your Mac. However, there are some Mac users that would prefer using the browser that they are used to and would just want to uninstall Safari from their Mac. This way, they would be able to install the application that they want to.
However, this process is not as easy as it sounds and that one wrong move can actually harm your Mac PC. That is why in this article, we are going to show you on how you can remove Safari browser from your Mac in the easiest way updated in 2020. Besides, two regular ways to uninstall Safari on Mac are provided in the following parts as well. You can choose one of the most suitable ways to uninstall.
Safari Cleaner free download - Duplicate Cleaner, Wise Registry Cleaner, Wise Disk Cleaner, and many more programs. Go to Safari Menu bar and select Preferences. Hit the Extensions tab on the Preferences screen. Review the list of extensions in the left-hand part of the screen, select one that looks suspicious and click Uninstall to eradicate it from Safari. Now click on the General tab and enter the preferred Safari homepage.


Part 1: Brief Introduction to Uninstalling Safari
Safari is considered to be one of the applications that are installed, by default, on every Mac. This is because the Safari browser is considered to be the most compatible browser for every Apple product whether it on an iPhone, iPad, or on your Mac. The Safari browser is actually the one that will work perfectly on your Mac and it is faster to use as well. That is why this browser is really recommended for all Apple users.
However, there are still some people who would actually prefer using the browser that they are using before. So as a result, these users would just want to uninstall the Safari browser from their Mac. This task is actually not that hard as long as you have the right knowledge in doing so. So here, we are going to show you on how you can actually uninstall the Safari browser on your Mac in the easiest and in a faster way possible.
But before we proceed with the actual process, you have to keep in mind that as the Safari browser that you have on your Mac is considered to be one of the most basic applications that you have, you have to know the difference between removing a certain application from your Mac from totally deleting them from your system.
When you try to remove an application from your Mac and you just merely putting them on your Trash, then you are not actually deleting them completely. This is because there are still some files that you would need to deal with because these are files that are actually affiliated with the application that you are putting in your Trash and thus it still eats some of your storage space.
We are also going to show another tool that you can use if you would want to speed up the performance of your Mac and as well as if you would want to free up some of your storage space.
So, for you to completely uninstall your Safari browser from your Mac, here are the things that you would need to do.
Part 2: Steps on How to Uninstall Safari
The best and easiest way for you to uninstall Safari browser in 2020, is to uninstall via third-party software. FoneDog Mac Cleaner tool is recommended here.
The FoneDog Mac Cleaner will be able to speed up your Mac with just a simple click. It can also scan your mac in the fastest and easiest way possible and the same goes with cleaning all of your junk files.
Now if you would want to start to uninstall Safari browser on your Mac, here is a step by step guide that you can follow.
Step 1: Download and install FoneDog Mac Cleaner
Download and install FoneDog Mac Cleaner from our official website.
Step 2: Launch the FoneDog Mac Cleaner on your Mac
Safari Mac Cleaner
By default, you will be able to see on your screen the system status of your Mac.
Step 3: Choose the module “ToolKit”
You will be able to see there Uninstaller, Maintenance, Privacy, NTFS, Filemanager, Hide, Unarchiver, and WiFi.
Step 4: Choose 'Uninstaller'
Click on the “Scan” button, the applications on your Mac are discovered. The scanning process may take some time depending on how large the files contain.
Step 5: Remove Safari
Once that the scanning process is done, now, choose Safari including its unnecessary for you, then go ahead and click on the “Clean” button.
Step 6: Make a confirm
Once that you clicked on the Clean button, double confirm your choice. The FoneDog Mac Cleaner will then start to remove all the items that you have selected.
Part 3: Uninstalling Safari Browser From Mac Using Terminal
Safari Mac Cleaner Virus
Terminal application on Mac will help you in controlling your system using some appropriate commands. And in using Terminal on your Mac, you will be able to have some advantages such as it is a quicker process is uninstalling some applications on your Mac. Though there are some commands that you would need to follow. So for you to uninstall your Safari browser on your Mac using Terminal, here is what you need to do.
Go ahead and quit the Safari browser on your Mac.
- And then, go ahead and launch Terminal.
- After that, key in the following command: cd/Applications/
- After that, also key in the following: sudo rm-R Safari.app
- And then, go ahead and enter your password.
- Once done, go ahead and enter again these following command: cd/private/var/db/receipts/
- Then, enter these commands: Is-al
- Then take a note on the Safari BOM.
- Once that you know its BOM, go ahead and remove them one by one. An example of which is by entering this command: sudo pkgutil-forget com.apple.pkg.Safari
After doing all these steps that we have given you, then there is a high chance that you will be able to remove your Safari browser from your Mac. However, there is a risk in doing this. Removing Safari browser on your Mac completely will actually cause something in your Mac’s system to break so you have to be extra careful.
Part 4: Uninstalling Safari Browser On Mac Manually
Having your Safari browser uninstalled manually is actually a simpler way. The only thing that you need to do are the simple steps below.
Go ahead and launch the “Applications” folder on your Mac.
- After that, go ahead and drag your Safari browser to your Trash bin.
- And then once done, go ahead and simply press the Control button and then
- click on the Trash icon.
- After that, go ahead and click on “Empty Trash”.
Once that you are done with the process, you will then be able to completely remove the Safari browser from your Mac. However, you have to keep in mind that doing this may affect the performance of your Mac.
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Part 5: Conclusion
Safari is known to be every Apple’s default browser as it works perfectly for the brand. And Safari browser is one of those applications that you have on your Mac that is already installed because it is one of the default application of your Mac. However, there are still some other users who would prefer using the browser that they are used to. That is why these people would actually want to uninstall their Safari browser and install the browser that they are using before.
Installing the Safari browser is actually not a difficult thing to do. As you can see, we have already shown you on how you can uninstall it from Mac. However, there are certain risks that you would need to face if you are going to uninstall the application. You, Mac, might run differently or it may act up so we recommend that you think twice if you would still want to uninstall it from your Mac.
And another thing is that, when you optimize the data that you have on your Mac, it is one way that you can also free up some of your storage space and make your Mac run faster. That is why removing all unnecessary files that you have would be a great option.
With that, we have given you the FoneDog Mac Cleaner. This tool will definitely help you in removing all the junks and other files that you no longer need. It can remove all of your junk files and it will help you speed up the performance of your Mac. It is also very easy to use and safe for your Mac.
Read the article to learn the main attack vectors used by malware to infect Safari and follow the instructions to remove viruses from this browser.
August 2019 update
Although there is a version of Safari browser built for Windows operating system, it is native to and primarily associated with Apple’s Mac OS X, macOS and iOS. It’s therefore not hard to comprehend the size and scope of user community enjoying this Internet navigation client’s features and benefits. Whereas Windows aficionados are more accustomed to malicious software attacking their machines, Macs are also getting increasingly targeted over the course of the last several years. Since macOS proper is generally known to accommodate a robust security model which isn’t easy to dodge, the cybercrime actors out there tend to take advantage of the platform’s individual components that are more of a low hanging fruit. Safari is by far the most frequently exploited environment in these malware attacks.
Mac notes app insert picturesupernalcrown. The infections tailored to compromise this web browser are fairly versatile. Some of them are unique and cannot be encountered elsewhere. For instance, the fake FBI locker hoax, which was at large in 2013, would specifically go after Safari, while the Windows based counterpart of this virus tended to affect the entire computer.
There is a category of infections, mostly adware, that are cross-browser, so they hit Safari, Chrome and Firefox alike. These threats typically infiltrate Mac boxes furtively by accompanying other downloads and installs. This software wrapping model is extremely widespread for serving browser malware. The user might think they got lucky to find some free app that features a desired functionality, but the freeware might carry an unwanted payload that isn’t likely to be noticed along the way. Some examples of such universal bugs are BrowserSafeguard with RocketTab, Search Protect by Conduit, Deal Finder, Trovi, Offers4U, DealFinder, and Rvzr-a.akamaihd.net popup virus, to name a few.
Annoying ads displayed by RocketTab adware in Safari
Some infections are Mac-specific. These include apps representing the controversial Genieo network as well as tons of ad-injecting extensions such as MacCost, MacitNow, MacSpend, MacSter, MacGlobalDeals, InstallMac and many others. What they all have in common is being manifested as Safari toolbars, extensions or plugins. All websites visited in the affected browser will contain multiple advertisements that do not belong there. The ads are isolated to the machine, so the exact same sites won’t be inflated with the annoying sponsored data when visited from a non-infected box.
One of the threats dominating the Safari malware ecosystem in 2019 is the Bing redirect virus. It reroutes the victims’ Internet traffic, including web searches, to bing.com without authorization. The affected Mac users wonder what the goal of this malicious activity might be, considering that the landing page is an entirely valid, reputable service. The truth is that the hijacked browsing session involves a series of additional hosts resolved along the way, that is, before it hits Bing. These interim sites are only visible for fractions of a second in the Safari status bar at the bottom of the browser window – no wonder most victims don’t notice the real flow of their web navigation. Obviously, this is a multi-pronged traffic monetization scheme with a delusive flavor of legitimacy added by the trustworthy destination site.
Searches in Safari being redirected to Bing without approval Through the lensmr. macs page.
The most efficient method to stay away from Safari malware is to be cautious what you download and install, because bundling with third party apps is the main loophole used by virus makers to infect this browser. In the meanwhile, if you did catch one of these bugs, use the steps below to resolve the mishap.
Techniques to remove malware from Safari
There are several vectors applicable to eradicate malicious code that ended up in your browser. Since both search hijackers and ad-inserting bugs tend to be embodied as malicious extensions or plugins, the first workaround is to uninstall these apps. While this approach is often efficient, sometimes it won’t work – it all depends on severity of a particular threat. In the worst case scenario, resetting Safari works flawlessly, but this procedure will erase all personalized browsing data. So try the former technique first, and if it doesn’t help, proceed to the latter (steps to be provided below).
Method 1: Manual removal of malicious components from Safari
- Go to Safari Menu bar and select Preferences
- Hit the Extensions tab on the Preferences screen. Review the list of extensions in the left-hand part of the screen, select one that looks suspicious and click Uninstall to eradicate it from Safari
- Now click on the General tab and enter the preferred Safari homepage. Similarly, go to the Search tab and set the default search engine there
- Restart Safari and browse around a bit to check if the problem has been fixed. If the symptoms aren’t occurring anymore, you’re good to go. In the event the issue persists, move on to the next troubleshooting vector.
Method 2: Reset Safari to its defaults
- Go to Safari menu and select Preferences again on the drop-down list
- Go to Advanced tab and enable the option that says Show Develop menu in menu bar
- Now you will see the extra Develop menu in your Safari menu bar. Click it and select Empty Caches as shown below
- Do some test browsing to see if things are okay now and whether the malware is gone. If the issue is still there, you may need to additionally clear your browsing history in Safari. In Safari menu bar, select History and click Clear History
- The browser will display a dialog so that you can select the required period you would like to clear history for. Select all history on the list and click the Clear History button
- In case Safari is still acting up due to malware interference, there is one more thing you can try. Once again, go to Preferences from the Safari menu bar and select the Privacy tab this time. Click Manage Website Data
- When Safari generates a full list of sites that have stored your browsing data, go ahead and click Remove All
- Confirm by hitting the Done button
Verify whether the virus has been completely removed from Safari
Computer threats like the Safari malware virus can be stealthier than you can imagine, skillfully obfuscating their components inside a compromised computer to evade removal. Therefore, by running an additional security scan you will dot the i’s and cross the t’s in terms of the cleanup.
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