SearchTopic

SearchTopic is a Mac malware, that has characteristics of adware and a browser hijacker. SearchTopic is designed to modify the browser settings and promote fake search engines and bogus advertising campaigns. SearchTopic also is capable of collecting the user's browser data.

Malware such as SearchTopic often gets downloaded and installed on Mac systems without the user's knowledge or consent, which is why it also is classified as Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs). Research has revealed that SearchTopic has been distributed bundled within a fake Adobe Flash Player installer.

Once installed on a user's Mac, SearchTopic will begin to display intrusive advertisements in the form of banners, pop-ups, surveys, and coupons, slowing down the user's system's performance and promoting shady websites that can lead to further malware infections.
As previously mentioned, SearchTopic also behaves like a browser hijacker, changing the default search engine, homepage and new tabs to a fake search engine. The search engine that SearchTopic redirects through is fake because it can't generate any unique results on its own, so it redirects to legitimate search engines instead. This is done to keep track of the user data such as search queries, IP addresses, visited pages and geolocations.

Not only that, but browser hijackers such as SearchTopic, ProduceStyle, and Querics Search often are capable of collecting more data that can be later sold to third parties, potentially ending up in the hands of cybercriminals. This can lead to issues with online privacy and browsing safety.