How to remove Gsearch from Mac PC

Easy steps to delete Gsearch

Developers present Gsearch as genuine and useful search provider that claims to improve user’s web browsing experience by providing best searching results. This perilous threat is silent intruder and it is able to infect any Mac based computer very easily. This virus will silently alter your computer security and hijack your main browser. It is able to contaminate all famous and most used browsers such as Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Safari and many others. Further, it continually tracks internet browsing activity by collecting various system information.

More about Gsearch

Once gets added to your browser, Gsearch can modify various settings and change default homepage and search engine to g-search.pro. Moreover, set-ups silently install number of helper objects to automatically reassign the aforementioned settings. Therefore, returning browsers to their previous states become impossible and users are forced to hijacker’s websites then they open new browser tab or type any query into URL bar. Due to this, web browsing experience significantly diminishes. Another problem with this malicious applications is information tracking.

They can record users browsing related data including IP addresses, pages viewed, URLs visited, search queries and other similar information. After that, all gathered data are shared with third parties who misused those details in order to generate revenue. Thus, information tracking can result in serious privacy issues or even identity exposure. So, you are highly advised to uninstall all suspicious applications and browser extensions immediately from rather computer or browser.

Distribution methods:

This perilous threat commonly intrude into your machine through bundled with free third party programs, spam emails, porn or torrent sites, peer to peer file sharing and suspicious websites. After intruding into your device, it will disable your antivirus and firewall security programs to avoid its removal and detection. These nasty viruses also modify your registry settings to get started automatically on your PC. This dubious malware will poison your search engine results and show lots of sponsored results. Further, it can also create loopholes on your system for other threats and malware. So, it is highly advised to remove Gsearch virus soon from the work-station.

Remove Gsearch

Manual malware removal threat might be lengthy and complicated so that it requires advanced computer skills. If you have much knowledge about such removal process then you can go through it otherwise you can use reliable anti-malware removal tool such as Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS that has the ability to remove Gsearch and all installed browser hijackers as soon as possible from the system.

Threat Analysis

Name: Gsearch

Threat Type: Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Mac virus, Mac malware

Supposed Functionality: This app supposed to enhance web browsing experience by providing best searching results.

Targeted browsers: Google chrome, Opera, Mozilla Firefox, Edge, IE and many more.

Affected Browser Settings: Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine

Symptoms: Your Mac becomes slower than as usual, changes your homepage and search engine, show lots of annoying ads, redirect your searches.

Distribution methods: Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake Flash Player installers.

Damage: Internet browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites.

Removal: To remove possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software.

Remove Files and Folders Related to Gsearch

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