How to remove SimpleGuideSearch from Mac OS X

Easy ways to delete SimpleGuideSearch

SimpleGuideSearch belongs to those apps to which you cannot trust to. If you find this app on your device and are not able to perform its removal, you are on the right page. Through this page, you will come know the easy and effective guide for its removal as well the tips for its further intrusion.

What is SimpleGuideSearch?

SimpleGuideSearch is an adware type app that serves various intrusive ads campaigns. Although, this app has a browser hijacker’s functions as well, i.e., it promotes a fake search engine by changing the settings of installed browsers and preventing users’ access to them. Researchers say, this app is distributed through a fake, deceptive Adobe Flash Player installer.

When installed, the SimpleGuideSearch starts displaying various ads that if clicked, may open untrustworthy, potentially malicious pages. Some of the ads might run malicious scripts to cause some unwanted apps or even malware downloads. In addition, the ads  that it displays, including the coupons, banners, surveys, in-text ads and pop-ups are typically overlay with third party graphical content that diminishes the web browsing session significantly as they have the feature to limit the web browsing speed and websites’ visibility.

As it said earlier, the SimpleGuideSearch shares the traits of browser hijacker apps as well. Such apps promote fake search engines by modifying the settings of installed browsers and assigns the hackers belonging sites to the homepage, new tab page and default search engine options. This app promotes Safe finder through akamaidhd.net through this manner. This site does bear the potential to show its own search results. It displays the results generated by search.yahoo.com. Thus, the searching tool from the browser hijacker is useless and reluctant.

However, the users are not able to stop the redirects and all their attempts are reset automatically due to the infection. In other word, to restore the settings to the default, the users must require removing the SimpleGuideSearch from the device. Its removal is necessary for yet another reason, i.e., its ability to track users’ browsing session and collect the data related to their web browsing activities. The list of the collected data includes IP addresses, Search queries, Viewed pages, URLs visited, and ISP, and so on. Such data could be shared to potent crooks who misuse them to generate illicit revenue that can cost on privacy and can cause identity exposure. To prevent such issues, immediately remove SimpleGuideSearch from the device.

A quick glance of SimpleGuideSearch

Type: Adware, Mac virus

Symptoms: intrusive ads, diminished browser speed, visibility of pages are not clear, browser extensions, add-ons, plug-ins and changed homepage and new tab page on browser

Distribution: bundled software, infectious hyperlinks, fake software update

Damages: Other PUPs or even malware infiltration, data tracking (possibly privacy issues), diminished system performance

Removal: To remove SimpleGuideSearch, use some reliable antivirus tool or use step-by-step guideline provided at the end of the article

How SimpleGuideSearch works?

The SimpleGuideSearch does all its activities by running on the background. This means, it certainly conducts various system settings changes to gain complete PC persistence or to activate with each OS reboot and run all the time and perform its full functioning and operation. Such activities include changing the window registry settings, adding various browser extensions, plug-ins and add-ons, altering the browsers’ settings such as homepage and new tab page options and injecting various tracking technologies. During performing such activities, it requires high amount of energy requirements that it gains from the CPU and GPU resources that can have the negative impact over the system performances. In worst cases, these might cause permanent system crash.

How did the SimpleGuideSearch infiltrate in?

As mentioned in the introduction, this app is distributed through a deceptive Adobe Flash Player installer. However this is not the only way and various deceptive methods could be possible that leads its intrusion inside the device. In most cases, users download and/or install PUAs through certain deceptive advertisements that they intentionally (or accidentally) click, or when developers distribute those apps by using a deceptive marketing method called “bundling”. It is common that developers distribute PUAs by including them in download and/or installation setups as additional offers that can be declined through their “Custom”, “Advanced”, “Manual” and other similar settings. Users rush the download and skip most of the installation steps allow such additionally attached apps to bypass security wall and infiltrate in with the regular software download.

How to prevent malware infection?

You need to be careful when surfing internet, especially when downloading and installing any software. Always use official websites and direct links for any software download and avoid any untrustworthy downloading channels such as p2p networks, free file hosting sites and third party downloaders that are most commonly used to get monetized through bundling. Also, pay attention during installation moment –analyze each step using Custom/Advanced option and manually opt out all additionally attached apps and decline all offers. Further, do not click on any ads provided on any third party sites. Moreover, try to use only official developers’ tools/functions for any software updates. Better if, you use some reputable antivirus tool that checks for  the updates required for the installed apps and OS time to time.

Remove SimpleGuideSearch

Manual malware removal guide is provided below in step by step manner. Follow it so that you will not find any trouble during removal process. You can use some reputable antivirus tool to automatically remove SimpleGuideSearch from the device.

Remove Files and Folders Related to SimpleGuideSearch

Open the “Menu” bar and click the “Finder” icon. Select “Go” and click on “Go to Folder…”

Step 1: Search the suspicious and doubtful malware generated files in /Library/LaunchAgents folder

Type /Library/LaunchAgents in the “Go to Folder” option

In the “Launch Agent” folder, search for all the files that you have recently downloaded and move them to “Trash”. Few of the examples of files created by browser-hijacker or adware are as follow, “myppes.download.plist”, “mykotlerino.Itvbit.plist”, installmac.AppRemoval.plist”, and “kuklorest.update.plist” and so on.

Step 2: Detect and remove the files generated by the adware in “/Library/Application” Support folder

In the “Go to Folder..bar”, type “/Library/Application Support”

Search for any suspicious newly added folders in “Application Support” folder. If you detect any one of these like “NicePlayer” or “MPlayerX” then send them to “Trash” folder.

Step 3: Look for the files generated by malware in /Library/LaunchAgent Folder:

Go to Folder bar and type /Library/LaunchAgents

You are in the “LaunchAgents” folder. Here, you have to search for all the newly added files and move them to “Trash” if you find them suspicious. Some of the examples of suspicious files generated by malware are “myppes.download.plist”, “installmac.AppRemoved.plist”, “kuklorest.update.plist”, “mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist” and so on.

Step4: Go to /Library/LaunchDaemons Folder and search for the files created by malware

Type /Library/LaunchDaemons in the “Go To Folder” option

In the newly opened “LaunchDaemons” folder, search for any recently added suspicious files and move them to “Trash”. Examples of some of the suspicious files are “com.kuklorest.net-preferences.plist”, “com.avickUpd.plist”, “com.myppes.net-preference.plist”, “com.aoudad.net-preferences.plist” and so on.

Step 5: Use Combo Cleaner Anti-Malware and Scan your Mac PC

The malware infections could be removed from the Mac PC if you execute all the steps mentioned above in the correct way. However, it is always advised to be sure that your PC is not infected. It is suggested to scan the work-station with “Combo Cleaner Anti-virus”.

Once the file gets downloaded, double click on combocleaner.dmg installer in the newly opened window. Next is to open the “Launchpad” and press on “Combo Cleaner” icon. It is advised to wait until “Combo Cleaner” updates the latest definition for malware detection. Click on “Start Combo Scan” button.

A depth scan of your Mac PC will be executed in order to detect malware. If the Anti-virus scan report says “no threat found” then you can continue with guide further. On the other hand, it is recommended to delete the detected malware infection before continuing.

Now the files and folders created by the adware is removed, you have to remove the rogue extensions from the browsers.

Remove SimpleGuideSearch from Internet Browsers

Delete Doubtful and Malicious Extension from Safari

Go to “Menu Bar” and open “Safari” browser. Select “Safari” and then “Preferences”

In the opened “preferences” window, select “Extensions” that you have recently installed. All such extensions should be detected and click the “Uninstall” button next to it. If you are doubtful then you can remove all the extensions from “Safari” browser as none of them are important for smooth functionality of the browser.

In case if you continue facing unwanted webpage redirections or aggressive advertisements bombarding, you can reset the “Safari” browser.

“Reset Safari”

Open the Safari menu and choose “preferences…” from the drop-down menu.

Go to the “Extension” tab and set the extension slider to “Off” position. This disables all the installed extensions in the Safari browser

Next step is to check the homepage. Go to “Preferences…” option and choose “General” tab. Change the homepage to your preferred URL.

Also check the default search-engine provider settings. Go to “Preferences…” window and select the “Search” tab and select the search-engine provider that you want such as “Google”.

Next is to clear the Safari browser Cache- Go to “Preferences…” window and select “Advanced” tab and click on “Show develop menu in the menu bar.“

Go to “Develop” menu and select “Empty Caches”.

Remove website data and browsing history. Go to “Safari” menu and select “Clear History and Website Data”. Choose “all history” and then click on “Clear History”.

Remove Unwanted and Malicious Plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox

Delete SimpleGuideSearch add-ons from Mozilla Firefox

Open the Firefox Mozilla browser. Click on the “Open Menu” present in the top right corner of the screen. From the newly opened menu, choose “Add-ons”.

Go to “Extension” option and detect all the latest installed add-ons. Select each of the suspicious add-ons and click on “Remove” button next to them.

In case if you want to “reset” the Mozilla Firefox browser then follow the steps that has been mentioned below.

Reset Mozilla Firefox Settings

Open the Firefox Mozilla browser and click on “Firefox” button situated at the top left corner of the screen.

In the new menu, go to “Help” sub-menu and choose “Troubleshooting Information”

In the “Troubleshooting Information” page, click on “Reset Firefox” button.

Confirm that you want to reset the Mozilla Firefox settings to default by pressing on “Reset Firefox” option

The browser will get restarted and the settings changes to factory default

Delete Unwanted and Malicious Extensions from Google Chrome

Open the chrome browser and click on “Chrome menu”. From the drop down option, choose “More Tools” and then “Extensions”.

In the “Extensions” option, search for all the recently installed add-ons and extensions. Select them and choose “Trash” button. Any third-party extension is not important for the smooth functionality of the browser.

Reset Google Chrome Settings

Open the browser and click on three line bar at the top right side corner of the window.

Go to the bottom of the newly opened window and select “Show advanced settings”.

In the newly opened window, scroll down to the bottom and choose “Reset browser settings”

Click on the “Reset” button on the opened “Reset browser settings” window

Restart the browser and the changes you get will be applied

The above mentioned manual process should be executed as it is mentioned. It is a cumbersome process and requires a lot of technical expertise. And hence it is advised for technical experts only. To be sure that your PC is free from malware, it is better that you scan the work-station with a powerful anti-malware tool. The automatic malware removal application is preferred because it doesn’t requires any additional technical skills and expertise.

Download the application and execute it on the PC to begin the depth scanning. Once the scanning gets completed, it shows the list of all the files related to SimpleGuideSearch. You can select such harmful files and folders and remove them immediately.