How to remove VirtualInfoSearch Adware Mac

Easy methods to delete VirtualInfoSearch Adware in Mac computer

VirtualInfoSearch is rough application considered as adware. This rough application operates by delivering malicious advertisements campaigns in the form of banners, coupons, notifications, fake security alert, fake software update alert, online games, actress or porn related contents, and other types of advertisements. It doesn’t matter whether your browser is opened or closed. These advertisements can also be appeared on your desktop even when your browser is closed. Clicking these advertisements may lead to severe privacy issues, malware or viruses infections in computer, or even identity theft.

In sort, ads by VirtualInfoSearch might be malicious and can infect your computer deeply by installing PUAs, adware or malware in your computer. This dubious is also considered as browser hijacker attempts to hijack your main browser including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari and browsers. It makes several unwanted modifications in your browser’s settings without your knowledge in order to promote fake search engines, fake BHOs (Browser Helper Objects), extensions, add-ons, plug-ins or toolbars. These fake BHOs or extension offers cybercriminals to monitor your online activities and collect your browsing-related data or other sensitive information.

As mentioned, VirtualInfoSearch modifies the default homepage, new tab URLs and search engine of your browser with addresses of some fake search engines. These search engines deliver sponsored results or loads third-party contents to generate some income. However, it doesn’t show unique results means it delivers results generated by other search engines that’s why it is called fake search engine. It is not safe to search the web with fake search engine. The purpose of this fake search engine is to tricks you into visiting malicious/scam websites, or downloading/installing PUAs or malware in computer.

Browser hijackers also have data tracking capability. They can collect your some information such as IP address, URLs search, browser history, search queries, username & password of your various accounts, banking information and more details. These collected data can be shared with other third-party or cybercriminals to generate some income. These collected data can be misused for illegal purposes like to make fraudulent purchases or transactions. In sort, this rough application is unsafe at all. So, it is important to find and remove VirtualInfoSearch related files in computer as soon as possible.

How did you get VirtualInfoSearch in Mac computer?

Software Bundling Method is the mostly used mechanism by cybercriminals to spread PUAs, adware or malware in your computer. These rough applications can be included in other software package as additional offers. If you choose ‘Recommended/Quick/Express’ settings instead of choosing ‘Custom/Advanced/Manual’ settings in software installation setup, then you install all additional programs included in software package into computer and this way, all malicious additions can also be installed. PUAs can also be distributed through malicious advertisements that are designed to run certain scripts.

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

It is strongly recommended not to download, install or purchase any applications from unsafe/untrustworthy websites, fake software updaters, downloaders and installers and third-party sources. You should always try to download any applications 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. Also, you should have some powerful antivirus software installed in your computer with latest updates that could help you to find and remove all threats including latest malware in computer.

Remove Files and Folders Related to VirtualInfoSearch

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