How to remove CapitalSearchCharacter from Mac

Complete tips to delete CapitalSearchCharacter

CapitalSearchCharacter is an adware-type application with browser hijacker quality. After the successful installation, it delivers various intrusive ads and alters web browsers’ settings to promote an address of a fake search engine. Additionally, adware and browser hijackers can spy on users’ browsing session and collect their browsing based data.

Because of various deceptive distribution techniques that lead its stealthy installation, CapitalSearchCharacter is classified as potentially unwanted application. The app has been observed being distributed via fake Adobe Flash Player updates. It is noteworthy that fraudulent updaters/ installers proliferate in not only PUAs but also dangerous Trojan, Ransomware, or cryptocurrency miners as well.

Adware type apps are known of displaying various intrusive ads. CapitalSearchCharacter is known to be distributing any kinds of ads including banners, pop-ups, surveys, coupons and others similar. These ads seriously diminish the web browsing experience by overlaying the webpage content and slowing down the browsing speed. Furthermore, these third party graphical contents endanger the device and user safety.

These intrusive ads could be sale-oriented, untrustworthy, rogue, and deceptive/ scam, compromised and even malicious websites. Some of these ads might be designed to trigger people downloading/ installing rogue software products. If so, they run certain malicious scripts once being clicked to cause the stealthy download/ installation.

As already mentioned, CapitalSearchCharacter also poses browser hijacker’s characteristic. This PUA-type operates by modifying web browsers’ settings to redirect users to certain specific address.  This URL also appears as the browsers’ homepage, new tab pages and search engine options. Usually, the promoted URLs are fraudulent web searchers.

Most of fake web search engines can’t generate their own search results and so they tend to redirect to legit web search engines like of Google, Bing or Yahoo (i.e., Google.com, Bing.com and Search.Yahoo.com). Some of the illegitimate web searchers can generate search results but these are often inaccurate and contain various dubious links and ads to affiliated or sponsored sites.

This is not the simple case where the changed browsers’ settings can easily be restored. The hijacker virus reassigns any changes that the users attempt to return to the previous browser settings option. Thus, browsers’ settings restoration to the default is possible only after removing the software which is responsible for such changes.

What’s more, CapitalSearchCharacter likely has the dangerous data tracking capability. Most PUAs record browsing based data like URLs visited, web-pages viewed, search queries typed, and etc and collect information extracted from it such as IP addresses, geo-locations, personally identifiable details and etc. The gathered data can be then shared with and/or sold to third parties.

To summarize, the presence of the potentially unwanted app on system can result in system infections, severe privacy issues, financial loss and even identity theft. Thus, it is crucial you step to CapitalSearchCharacter removal right away. Choose some reputable antivirus tool so that you can ensure that no traces of the PUA left behind the system after finishing the removal process.

How did CapitalSearchCharacter enter my system?

PUAs are often distributed via the download/ installation setups of other products. This false marketing method of packing one app with unwanted and malicious additions is bundling. Rushed the download/ installation increase the risk of inadvertent installation of bundled content into the system. Intrusive ads can cause PUAs infiltration as well by running certain malicious scripts, once clicked on.

How to prevent PUAs installation?

It is recommended to research products well before their download/ install and/or purchase. Additionally, all downloads should have to be done using official websites and direct links. Dubious downloading channels such as unofficial and freeware websites, p2p networks, and other third-party downloaders- commonly offer dubious and/or bundled content.

When downloading/ installing, it is advised to read all terms, explore possible option, use Custom/Advanced settings and opt out all additionally attached apps, tools, functions and so on. Intrusive ads can appear legitimate. However, they often open various unreliable pages. These ads usually appear on various questionable sites.  Do never click on such ads.

Remove Files and Folders Related to CapitalSearchCharacter

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