How to remove personalsearch Adware Mac

Find and delete personalsearch browser hijacker in Mac computer

Threat Summary

In this post, we are going to discuss on how to find and remove personalsearch adware in Mac computer. Also, you can read about actually what this rough application is, what it does, how did you get this infection in Mac computer, and then you can go with our instructions to get rid of it.

If you are not aware, personalsearch is categorized as both adware and browser hijacker. As browser hijacker, it modifies browser’s settings and collects your browsing data, and as adware, it runs malicious advertisements campaigns designed to redirect you to questionable/untrustworthy websites.

personalsearch as browser hijacker – make changes in browser’s settings

As a rule, browser hijacker program is capable of hijacking your main browser including Google Chrome, Safari, Mozilla Firefox and other browsers. It promotes addresses of some fake search engines by modifying the default homepage, new tab URLs and search engine of your browser.

These fake search engines display results generated by some popular search engine like Google, Yahoo or Bing. It doesn’t shows unique results that’s why it is called as fake search engine. In other words, this fake search engine always shows bogus results or loads misleading contents.

Attackers behind this redirect virus is to tricks you into visiting scam/questionable websites, and installing PUAs, adware or malware in your computer. Once installed or they gain access to your computer, they will start modifying browser’s settings and/or System’s settings without your knowledge.

personalsearch as adware – delivers malicious advertisements

This dubious application fills its platform with lots of unwanted ads or popups in the form of fake software update, fake security alert, banners, coupons and other types of advertisements. These advertisements can also be appeared on your desktop even when browser is closed. It means when you to connect your Mac computer to internet, then it starts delivering malicious advertisements.

Some malicious advertisements are designed to redirect you to other rough domain that runs malicious advertisements campaigns while some suspicious ads run certain scripts to install PUAs, browser hijacker or malware in your computer.

The main motive of attackers behind this malware is to monitor your online activities and collect your sensitive information. They install some fake browser helper objects (BHOs) like unwanted extensions, plug-ins, add-ons or toolbars in your browser that are designed to trace your online habits.

They can keep record of 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 shared with other attackers or third parties to generate some revenue from them. So, it is important to find and remove personalsearch related infections in Mac computer to prevent System from further attacks.

How did you get personalsearch adware in Mac computer?

In some cases, potentially unwanted applications (PUAs), adware or malware like VideoBoxApp are downloaded/installed from other software package as additional offers. This false marketing method of packaging regular or genuine software with PUAs, adware or malware is known as ‘Software Bundling Method’ – is the mostly used mechanism by cybercriminals.

These malicious additions or unnecessary programs can easily be seen in ‘Custom/Advanced/Manual’ settings in software installation setup, and can easily be removed by unticking their checkboxes in these settings.

But in case if you ignore terms & conditions, and skip ‘Custom/Advanced/Manual’ settings and other necessary settings in software installation setup, then you also install all additional programs including features, tools, extensions or plug-ins, and other additional programs that are included in software package into computer.

PUAs, browser hijacker or malware can also be downloaded/installed from malicious advertisements that are designed to run certain scripts. So, you should be alert while surfing online and avoid downloading/installing or updating any application from unofficial/unknown sources, and stop clicking any links/ads displayed by rough websites on browser.

Mac Computer is infected with personalsearch adware: What next?

Any applications must not be downloaded/installed or updated from unofficial/unknown sources, peer-to-peer file sharing network, fake software updaters, installers and downloaders, and other third parties’ sources.

You should always try to download and install any applications from official websites or via direct links, and choose ‘Custom/Advanced/Manual’ installation if you want to avoid browser hijacker, adware or malware.

Also, you should be alert while surfing online and avoid clicking suspicious ads or hyperlinks. Hover your mouse cursor over any hyperlinks or ads and check if it is belongs to some trustworthy sources, and if yes, you can click otherwise you should avoid clicking.

If System is already infected with PUAs or malware, then you can follow our manual or automatic method of malware removal to get rid of it. Manual methods offer you can find malware or viruses associated with personalsearch in each System location, and then you can delete them.

On other hand, automatic method offers you can find all threats including latest malware with some powerful antivirus software with just single-click, and then you can delete all detected threats with one-click. After System scan is completed, please check if the problem is resolved, and if not, then you can re-scan your Mac computer for malware or viruses with antivirus software to get rid of it.

Also, you should regular check the updates for antivirus software, Operating System and other software installed in your device. Updating Operating System and all other software installed in Mac computer can fix any problems associated with such software and improve performances.

Remove Files and Folders Related to personalsearch

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