How to remove CleanSearch Adware Mac

Easy methods to delete CleanSearch Adware in Mac computer

CleanSearch is rough application considered as browser hijacker and adware both. This rough application is designed to modify your browser’s settings in order to promote some fake search engines, deliver malicious advertisements campaigns, monitor your online activities and collect your browsing-related data or other sensitive data. In sort, this rough application can’t be trusted. It targets mostly the MacOS based computer and attempts to affect browsing performance in Mac device. Initially, it attempts to block all security tools installed in your Mac computer by running malicious advertisements campaigns.

CleanSearch adware delivers malicious advertisements in the form of banners, coupons, notifications, fake security alert, fake software update alert, and other advertisements. It is not easy task for you to close all these advertisements one-by-one in computer. These advertisements are designed to redirect you to other shady/scam websites or can cause unwanted software or malicious software downloads/installation. It is not safe to click any hyperlinks/buttons or advertisements displayed by this rough application. This rough application also has browser hijacking capability.

CleanSearch browser hijacker attempts to modifying your browser’s settings such as homepage, new tab URLs and search engine of your browser with addresses of some fake search engines. It also blocks you from revert these changes. This fake search engine shows bogus results or loads misleading content. It is not safe to search the web with this bogus search engine. It also attempts to install some fake BHOs, extensions, add-ons, plug-ins, or toolbars in your browser. These fake BHOs or extensions are also considered as browser hijacker.

CleanSearch rough application is designed to monitor your online habits and collect your browsing-related data or other sensitive information. They can collect your some information such as IP address, URLs search, login ID & password of your various accounts, banking information and more details. These collected data can be misused for malicious purposes like to make fraudulent purchases or transactions. They can also share these collected data to other attackers or third-party to generate some revenue from them. So, you should try to find and remove CleanSearch related files in your computer as soon possible to prevent system from damages.

How did you get CleanSearch Adware in Mac?

This rough application is mostly distributed through fake Adobe Flash Player Installer/Updater that is promoted on malicious websites. PUAs, adware or malware can also be distributed through unofficial /unsafe websites, fake software downloaders, installers or updaters, or other third-party sources. PUAs can also be distributed through other software package as additional offers. If you ignore all terms & conditions given in software package setup, and choose ‘Recommended/Quick/Express’ settings, then you install all additional programs included in software package into computer and this way, all malicious additions or unnecessary programs can also be installed.

How to protect your system against PUAs, adware or malware?

It is strongly recommended not to download, install or purchase any applications from unsafe/unofficial websites, fake software downloaders/installers/updaters or other third-party sources. All software should be downloaded from official and verified sources, or via direct links, and choose always ‘Custom/Advanced/Manual’ installation if you want to avoid all malicious additions included in software package setup. Also, you should run regular system scan for malware or viruses in computer with latest updated powerful antivirus software that could help you to find and remove all types of malware including latest threats or malware in computer.

Remove Files and Folders Related to CleanSearch

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