How To Remove Search.handlersection.com From Mac OS

Tips To Delete Search.handlersection.com

Search.handlersection.com is another precarious web domain that has been classified as a browser hijacker program. It has been developed by well experienced cyber criminals with their sole motive to hijack and take full control over the installed Internet browser and redirect users to third-party websites to generate Online profits. This browser hijacking tool easily penetrates within the Mac computers when users download freeware applications from unsafe sites or through other deceptive ways. Soon after the successful intrusion, it makes unwanted changes in default browser’s settings and grabs full control over the entire browser.

Depth Analysis of Search.handlersection.com:

Search.handlersection.com sets itself as the new home page, search engine and new tab addresses without users’ consent and also inserts multiple browser helper objects (BHOs) on the browser to prevent the settings from being restored. It monitors your Online activities and collects important data regarding your interests and needs which is then utilized by the advertisers for the advertisement campaign. And therefore, after getting infected with this notorious PUP, you are bombarded with endless annoying ads and pop-ups all over the day that makes your Online sessions very complex. These ads work on pay-per-click mechanism and earn revenues for the creators upon being clicked. This perilous hijacker even manipulates your search results and displays inorganic outcomes that are mixed with commercial contents and other forms of advertisements.

Ads delivered by Search.handlersection.com look very attractive but still, you should avoid interacting with them. They might include spiteful links and once you click on them, you are redirected to sites that are filled with malicious contents. It can also steal your personal and confidential information such as user IDs, passwords, credit card, bank account and other financial details and extort them to hackers for evil purposes. Your sensitive data can be misused for generating illicit revenues or for fraudulent transactions. This nasty PUP might lead you to sites where several fake security alerts are displayed claiming that some issues have been detected in your machine. You might be also recommended to install a recommended software but we highly advise to not do so. Search.handlersection.com operators just try to deceive users into installing PUP or paying for useless service.

PUPs Infiltrate On PCs During Stealth Installations:

Such kind of hijacker threats use deceptive techniques such bundling to get into the targeted computer. It is attached with third-party applications as an “optional download” and manages to settle down on the computer along with the main program when you install the app via Quick or Recommended settings. Besides, using corrupt CDs/DVDs, sharing peer to peer network, clicking on malicious ads or hyperlinks etc. are also prime reasons behind its infiltration.

Tips To Prevent Malware Intrusion:

To prevent this, you need to very careful while surfing the web and avoid getting in touch with these malevolent sources to keep the machine harmless and secured. Choose only reliable source to download a program and always select “Advanced” or “Custom” mode set to install the application as here you can take full control over the incoming contents. You need to untick all the tools that look suspicious and choose only the main software.

Threat Summary

Name: Search.handlersection.com

Type: Mac Virus, Browser hijacker, Potentially unwanted program, Push notification virus

Functionality: Aims to redirect users to affiliated websites, promote sponsored products, services and programs and make Online revenues for the developers, Also steal users’ personal and confidential information and share them with hackers for evil purposes.

Symptoms: Altered Internet browsers settings like homepage, default Internet search engine, identity theft, new tab settings. Users are enforced to visit hijacker’s website and search the Internet using their search engines, slowness of infected system’s performance.

Distribution methods: Free software installers (bundling), Deceptive emails, malicious pop-ups ads, fake flash player installers.

Damage: Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites.

Removal: To get rid of this infection and other malware threats, our security researchers recommend scanning your computer with a powerful anti-malware tool.

Other Harmful Properties of Search.handlersection.com:

Search.handlersection.com alters the default boot settings by making vicious entries in it which allows the threat to get automatically activated every time the device is rebooted. It has ability to deactivate all the running security tools and open backdoors for more notorious parasites. It may easily bring other Online infections such as rootkits, worms, spyware, Trojans and even destructive ransomware in your PC and turn the device into a malware-hub. This hazardous PUP downgrades the overall computer performance severely as it consumes huge amount of memory resources and increases the usage of CPU. It ruins important system files and prevents many installed drivers as well as applications from working in an appropriate manner. And so, looking at all these hazards, you are strongly recommended to remove Search.handlersection.com from the machine without wasting any time.

Remove Files and Folders Related to Search.handlersection.com

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 Search.handlersection.com 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 Search.handlersection.com 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 Search.handlersection.com. You can select such harmful files and folders and remove them immediately.