How to remove SmartSearchQuest from Mac

Complete tips to delete SmartSearchQuest

SmartSearchQuest is a potentially unwanted app that has two purposes –to display various intrusive advertisements and to hijack the installed web browsers/ promote fake search engine. It hijacks a browser by changing its settings. This app is considered as PUA because it is downloaded/ installed inadvertently.

The SmartSearchQuest adware generates advertisements for example pop-ups, banners, surveys, in-text and so on that are designed to promote various untrustworthy pages. These pages can be used to trick people into providing their personal info, downloading PUAs and for other purposes.

 This app also promotes a fake search engine, like a browser hijacker, by making alterations to their browsers’ settings such as homepage, new tab pages and search engine options and setting the promoted URL in the place of them.

Because of such alterations, the uses are forced to visit that URL address all the time when they open their browsing tab and enter any query on the URL search bar. The fake search engine cannot be trusted – as it can be used as a tool to promote various shady websites.

The users are not able to return to the previous browser’s settings option till the SmartSearchQuest app presents inside. It bears the potential to reassign any changes made to the browsers’ settings and/or restrict/ deny completely to access to the settings.

The PUA, like other adware and browser hijacker, also has the dangerous data tracking potential. It can track the web browsing session and collect the data include IP addresses, Search queries, Viewed pages, URLs visited, ISPs, Geo-locations and etc.

These data could be shared with and/or sold to third parties/ potent crooks. These people can misuse the data in illicit activities that can cause privacy issues, identity theft, monetary loss and etc. To prevent such issues, immediately remove SmartSearchQuest from the system.

How did SmartSearchQuest enter my system?

This app is often distributed though a fake Adobe Flash Player installer. Usually, fake installers are promoted through deceptive websites, claiming that a computer is infected and installed software is outdated and so on. It is important to mention that fake installers can be malicious.

The apps like this can also be distributed through certain advertisements and downloaders/ installers for other programs. In the second case, users download/ install unwanted apps when they do not change to ‘’Advanced”/ “Custom” or similar settings available in the downloaders/ installers.

How to prevent PUAs installation?

It is recommended to use only official websites and direct links for any download and avoid dubious downloading channels such as p2p networks, free file hosting sites and third party downloaders/ installers –that are commonly used to offer dubious and/or bundled content.

During downloading/ installation, it is recommended to use Custom/Advanced settings and manually opt out all additionally attached apps and any offers. Intrusive ads appear on any shady pages should not be clicked as well.

These ads open appear on various questionable pages such as gambling, adult dating and pornography and similar. Once clicked on, they always open the pages of same kind or sometimes run certain scripts to cause unwanted download/ installation.

Remove Files and Folders Related to SmartSearchQuest

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