Remove Search.accessiblelist.com browser hijacker from Mac

Easy steps to delete Search.accessiblelist.com

Search.accessiblelist.com is a fake search engine that is promoted by browser hijacker by rogue downloading/installation setups to change the settings of installed browsers. The name of the browser hijacker that promotes this searching tool is SkilledSearchAdvise. It not only promotes the aforementioned address but also adds Managed by your organization features to the Chrome browsers. Users mostly install it without an intention along with some other software. Moreover, such an app can track users browsing session.

Typically, browser hijackers promote fake search engines by modifying certain settings such as address of default search engine, new tab and homepage. Therefore, users who have their browser hijacked are forced to visit certain address when they open new tab. This search engines are fake because they do not provide any unique results. Search.accessiblelist.com redirects users to google.com. In order to remove this address from the browser settings, users need to uninstall a browser hijacker that promotes it.

Apart from this, apps like Search.accessiblelist.com are often designed to collect information related to users browsing habits that includes IP addresses, search queries, geo-locations, address of visited websites and other browsing related information. Moreover, developer share gathered data with third parties who misuse it to generate income as much as possible. Therefore, people who have their browser hijacked by such an app may encounter lots of problems related to browsing safety, online privacy and so on.

Intrusion methods of Search.accessiblelist.com:

Unwanted downloads/installations can be caused by clicking on any intrusive advertisements. Such adverts run malicious scripts to cause PUPs download. Furthermore, it is common that unwanted apps are also distributed via download or installation setups of other programs by including them as additional offers. This distribution technique is known as bundling. Quite often PUPs developers hide their apps behind custom/advanced options or other settings that are available in certain download or installation setups that are used to distribute potentially unwanted apps. Typically, people do not check such setups and leave them unchanged and also skip most of the installation steps and often allow unwanted apps in their device. Therefore, caution is important to achieve computer safety.

How to avoid installation of unwanted applications?

To prevent unwanted downloads/installations, it is advised not to download any programs via third party installers, peer to peer networks (eMule, torrent clients), questionable pages etc. It should be downloaded only from official and trustworthy pages and via direct download links. Further, during installation moment, analyze each step using custom/advanced option and opt out all additionally attached apps and decline all offers. Adverts that appear on dubious pages should not be clicked as well. Those ads are often designed to open other pages of this kind or even cause unwanted installations. Moreover, use some reputable antivirus tool that provides adequate protection.

Remove Search.accessiblelist.com

Manual malware removal threat might be lengthy and complicated as it requires advanced computer skills to perform virus removal process. So, we suggest you to use some reliable antivirus removal tool that has the ability to remove Search.accessiblelist.com and all infiltrated browser hijackers completely from the Mac operating system.

Threat specification

Name: Search.accessiblelist.com

Type: Browser hijacker, Mac virus, Mac malware

Promoting App: SkilledSearchAdvise (and some other apps)

Description: Aims to promote third party products, services and websites and make quick revenue for the operators.

Symptoms: modifies default browser and system settings, appearance of intrusive ads, redirect to unknown web pages and so on.

Distribution methods: bundles of free software programs, spam emails, harmful links, suspicious websites, misleading ads and popup and many more.

Removal: Both manual as well as automatic guide have been described below under this article.

Remove Files and Folders Related to Search.accessiblelist.com

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 Search.accessiblelist.com 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 Search.accessiblelist.com 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 Search.accessiblelist.com. You can select such harmful files and folders and remove them immediately.