How to remove aura search from Mac

Easy methods to delete aura search from Mac OS X

“aura search” web application or “aura search” website is considered as browser hijacker by cyber security researchers. They explained that this nasty application is not safe for your online privacy & System security. It adds unwanted extensions or add-ons to your browser that allows the attackers to trace your online habits and steals your crucial & confidential information as well. They can share these collected details to other cybercriminals or third parties to generate some revenue from them. For more details, you can read this article carefully. Let’s starts the discussion.

What is aura search? Is “aura search” a genuine search engine?

“aura search” promotes bogus search engine “aura search” by changing the default search engine, homepage and new tab URLs of your browser with this fake website domain. This nasty search engine shows always bogus results on your browser and attempts to redirect your browser’s search on shady/ hacked/third parties’ websites constantly. These dubious websites usually shows misleading contents and lots of unwanted advertisements on its platforms. In order to click on any hyperlinks on these scam websites, it redirects your search on unknown sites or installs potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) in your computer. If your System has detected this malware, then you should try to remove aura search from Mac immediately.

aura search is very dangerous Mac virus creation of malware programmers who wants to earn some illegal online profit and cheat with innocent users. They never do any mercy with you. It shows bogus security alert messages and notifications in your computer, and asks you to download/install third parties’ security application in your computer to improve System performance. You should never believe on them at any cases. Once it installed, it spreads self-made malware in your computer and starts corrupting major genuine functions of your computer immediately. So, it is important to remove aura search from Mac as soon as possible.

Threat analysis

Name: aura search

Type: Mac Adware, Mac Virus, PUP, PUA, Browser hijacker, Mac Malware

Browser infected: Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, etc

System infected: Mac OS X based devices

Description: This dubious adware application does several unwanted modifications in your browser’s settings as well as in your System’s settings. It blocks you from revert the changes.

Distribution methods: Bundles of freeware or shareware, malicious ads or popup messages, suspicious hyperlinks, fake software updates or security alert messages and many other tricks.

Motives of crooks: Aims to collect your personal information as well as steal your money from your wallet or e-wallet

Removal Solution: To remove aura search or similar infection, we recommended you to scan your computer with powerful antivirus software.

What aura search browser hijacker does?

This cunning malware corrupts legitimate functions of your main browser and as result of it, you notice constant browser redirection on unknown sites. It affects your online experience lots by spreads lots of ads or popup messages in the form of fake software updates or security alert messages, free or paid online game ads, sport ads, actress or adult related ads and many other types of advertisements on your browser. In order to click on such malicious ads, cybercriminals can keep record of your some information such as IP address, URLs search, user name & password of your various accounts, banking information and more details as well. However, it can bombard your computer with harmful malware like Trojan, ransomware, worm or other malware that can make your System useless.

How your System gets infected from aura search Mac virus?

This dubious malware is generally get enters into your machine via malicious ads or popup messages which are displayed on your browser by hacked websites. Scammers or malware programmers use the name & LOGO of some trustworthy companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Wallmart and other popular companies in its malicious advertisement campaigns for making believe in your mind that ads belongs to some trustworthy companies. These unwanted ads can trigger harmful malware in your machine without any notice and can damage your computer deeply. So, you should be alert while surfing online and double-check ads appears on screen before click.

Precautionary measures:

• Keep your operating System up-to-date
• Remove all the faculty software
• Keep up-to-date all the legitimate software
• Scan the PC with powerful antivirus in regular time intervals
• Hover your mouse over any hyperlinks before click and please check if the hyperlinks are belongs to some trustworthy sites or sources.

Remove Files and Folders Related to aura search

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