How to remove searchmaster from Mac

Delete searchmaster from the system

searchmaster is a browser hijacker application that promotes a fake search engine named searchmaster.net – a fake search engine. Indeed, its landscapes catch most users’ eye. It seems as a refreshing alternative to Google or Yahoo. You should remember, this app does not support any security plug-ins – this feature leads users landing on compromised websites. Thus, you must not keeping the tool that it promotes to the main homepage, new tab page and default search engines option as it may misuse your browsing data for advertising and marketing purposes. Also, it might collect information related to web browsing, though it disclaims about it.

Continue reading the article and know more about the browser hijacker -how do it operate and impact over the system and browser operational, what makes its infiltration it, and how to prevent its intrusion. At last, you will be guided how to remove searchmaster mac.

More about searchmaster

searchmaster targets any popular browsers, including Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. Following to successful infiltration, it assigns the default homepage, new tab pages and default search engine options and set these options to searchmaster.net. Upon that, the users are automatically redirected to the promotional website all the time when they open their browsing tab and enter any queries on the URL bar. These redirects diminish the browsing experience significantly.

The users are not able to return to the previous browser settings since the searchmaster stealthily installs a number of helper objects especially for the task to reassign the changes made on the browsers settings or even block users’ access them. Data tracking is another downside of the hijacking application. This feature allow it to track users’ browsing session and collect the data related to their web  browsing activities. The collected data include:

• IP addresses,
• URLs visited,
• Pages viewed,
• Search queries
• And even personal details

The collected data could be sold to potent cybercriminals who misuse them to generate illicit revenue. Thus, the data tracking app can result into serious privacy issue or even identity theft. Thus, it is highly recommend you to remove searchmaster mac as soon as possible.

Threat Summary

Name: searchmaster

Threat type: Mac virus, Mac malware

Symptoms: Your Mac becomes slower than normal. You see unwanted pop-ups, and fake redirection to dubious websites

Distribution methods: deceptive pop-ups, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers, torrent file downloads

Damage: Internet browser tracking (potentially privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites, loss of private information

Malware removal: To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your Mac with reputable antivirus tool or follow manual instruction provided below the post

Researches reveal that there are many similar potentially unwanted apps. These present some useful features, for example, improving browsing experience by adding weather forecasts, currency exchange rates etc. However, their only purpose is to generate revenue for their developers, and not to add any value to the users’ browsing session. They only cause redirects to the promoted URL address and help the owners to include sponsored links with search results.

The searching tools they typically present are illegitimate, fake, and worthless -they display search results with the help of some legit web searching tools. For example, when you search any query on your browser when the system is compromised with searchmaster, you will find that your query will first get redirected to searchmaster.net and then the final results will be shown on search.yahoo.com -a legit web searching tool from Yahoo browser.

How did searchmaster install in?

Developers could use various deceptive methods to distribute the unwanted app. The most common method that they mostly employ is a deceptive bundling method. They promote such apps by hiding them as additional components behind Custom/Advanced or other similar download/install setups of some regular software. By rushing the download and skipping most of the installation steps, users end up to the secret intrusion of unwanted apps. Additionally, intrusive ads could be used to trigger you the PUP on your Mac. Upon being click, they run certain scripts and download/install PUPs without users’ consent.

Tips to prevent the secret intrusion apps from any pre-packed software are as follows:

• Do not rush the download and install software
• Select Custom/Advanced settings and closely analyze each step
• Decline offers to download/install additional applications and cancel the included apps

Additionally, you should use only official websites and direct links for any software. Third party downloaders/installers, p2p networks and free file hosting sites and other untrustworthy downloading channels are often used to for dubious software bundling. As intrusive ads can cause the PUPs download, you must not keep this possibility in mind, When encounter any ads, closely inspect the system and make ensure that these are not caused due to some unwanted apps and/or browser extensions/plug-ins installed on the browsers and system. If you found any suspicious applications, immediately run a full system scan with some reputable antivirus tool that detects and deletes the malware and make the system safe and secure.

Remove searchmaster

Manual malware removal guide might be a lengthy and a complicated process that require advanced computer skill. Instead, you should use some reputable antivirus tool to remove searchmaster mac easily and effectively.

Remove Files and Folders Related to searchmaster

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 searchmaster 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 searchmaster 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 searchmaster. You can select such harmful files and folders and remove them immediately.