How To Remove Default Search Engine On Mac

Web browsing defaults make users’ Online experience very comfortable as they allow to align their web activities with personal choices. People usually set a default search engine, home page and new tab page that makes it so much easier for them to browse the net. However, the problem here is that Mac PCs often get hijacked by browser hijackers which make several unwanted modifications in default browser’ settings and replace the default homepage, search engine and new tab addresses with their another perilous URLs. And therefore, victims are forced to use a customized search engine that looks like a real one but is indeed a bogus tool.

More About Default Search Engine:

The fake search tool often claims to enhance users’ Online experience by providing most relevant, authentic and genuine results. They even appear as a genuine search engine similar to Google, Yahoo and Bing. However, while using this bogus search tool, you only get inorganic results that have no relation with your queries. Your search results are mixed with commercial contents and other forms of advertisements that include sponsored links and redirect you to affiliated sites where you had never indented to visit. These fake search engines might even lead you to phishing, scamming or even malware-laden sites that are fully occupied with vicious contents. Due to visiting on such harmful web pages, you may end up with getting more notorious parasites in the work-station.

The real objective of the cyber criminals to replace your default search engine is to redirect your web traffic to third-party sites. By this way, they generate quick revenues with each redirection. However, using such malicious apps for Internet browsing may lead to several pernicious issues such as slow down of the Mac device, appearance of intrusive pop-ups ads, redirects to unsafe domains, data stealing etc. Such PUPs can also track users’ Online activities and collect important information regarding their interest needs and other preferences. These details are then utilized by the advertisers for generating and displaying attractive adverts in order to get as many clicks on them as possible and earn maximum profits.

These notorious parasites can also steal your personal and confidential information such as user IDs, passwords, credit card, debit card number, bank account and other financial details and expose them to hackers for evil purposes. Your sensitive data can be misused by the scammers for generating illicit revenues or for fraudulent transaction that will lead you to be a victim of cyber crime or Online scam. All these malevolent activities consume huge amount of memory resources and drag down the overall PC performance severely. Due to this, the Mac system begins responding slower than ever before and takes more than usual time to complete any task. And hence, looking at all these threats, the immediate removal of default search engine is highly required.

Intrusion of Fake Search Tool:

Such PUPs can be distributed via several deceptive methods such as freeware or shareware downloads, perilous hyperlinks or ads, infected removal drives, undesired network sharing and so on. However, the most common technique is software bundling. It is attached with third-party programs as an additional tool and manages to get into on the machine during the installation of main software. It generally takes place when you install the program via “Quick” or “Recommended” mode set. Aside from this, clicking on malicious ads or hyperlinks, sharing peer to peer network, visiting infectious sites etc. may also cause hijacker intrusion.

How To Prevent Such Penetration?

In order to prevent your device from being infected with these infections, you need to be very attentive while surfing the web. Download any software from reliable source only. Moreover, you should always choose the right configuration setting to install any downloaded program. “Custom” or “Advanced” wizard gives you complete control over the incoming downloads. You have to deselect the unwanted tools that give a concerning look and pick only the main program. Also, use a reliable anti-malware program and keep updating it from time to time. Moreover, avoid tapping of suspicious ads or links, landing on harmful web domains, sharing files through unsecured network etc. to keep the machine harmless and secured. But at the moment, just take a quick action and remove default search engine from your Mac PC by going through the simple removal steps given below.

Remove Files and Folders Related to Default Search Engine

Open the “Menu” bar and click the “Finder” icon. Select “Go” and click on “Go to Folder…”

Step 1: Search the suspicious and doubtful Default Search Engine 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 Default Search Engine 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 Default Search Engine 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 Default Search Engine

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-Default Search Engine and Scan your Mac PC

The Default Search Engine 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 Default Search Engine detection. Click on “Start Combo Scan” button.

A depth scan of your Mac PC will be executed in order to detect Default Search Engine. 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 Default Search Engine 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 Default Search Engine 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 Default Search Engine 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 Default Search Engine, it is better that you scan the work-station with a powerful anti-Default Search Engine tool. The automatic Default Search Engine 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 Default Search Engine. You can select such harmful files and folders and remove them immediately.