Remove AccessibleGuideSearch from Mac OS

Effective guide to delete AccessibleGuideSearch

AccessibleGuideSearch is dubious applications designed to functions as both adware and browser hijackers. It modifies your web browser settings and collects data related to user’s web browsing activity. Additionally, this type of apps are called potentially unwanted applications because most of the times user download and install them without paying enough attention. Further, this app is also distributed via fake installer which are supposedly used to install Adobe Flash Player.

Once infiltrated, it will start bombarding lots of annoying advertisements into forms of pop-up ads, commercial ads, offers, banners, discounts and other similar ads. Upon clicked, those ads can cause to get install other unwanted programs that can cause lots of infections. Apart from this, AccessibleGuideSearch is also designed to promote address of some fake search engine by modifying certain browser settings such as homepage, default search engine and new tab URL. Due to this, users are insist to visit certain address when they open new browser tab/window.

As we mentioned earlier in the paragraph, this type of apps are designed to track users browsing related data that includes IP addresses, pages viewed, entered search queries, geo-locations and other similar details. These details are later forwarded to potent cyber offender who misuse those data in term of generating revenue which might be too risky for user’s privacy, browsing safety and even other critical problems. So, we highly recommend you to remove AccessibleGuideSearch and all suspect applications immediately upon detection.

How did the infection occur?

AccessibleGuideSearch has its official websites, mostly users install it unknowingly. This is because developers behind this distribute it via software bundling. In the deceptive marketing method of bundling, stealth installation of unwanted apps take place with some regular software download. What developers do is hide the bundled apps under custom/Advanced option of downloading/installation process. Users agree with such offers when they install programs that that have attached PUAs in their setups without checking and changing those settings and leave them unchanged. Users carelessly rush and skip available installation procedures and often allow unwanted apps to be get downloaded and installed.

How to avoid installation of PUAs?

In order to prevent unwanted applications intrusion, users must need to be very careful while browsing internet and installing programs. While installing, carefully examine each step and use custom/advanced option and opt out additionally attached programs and decline all offers to download/install them. Use only official and verified sources for any programs and files download. Avoid using reliable software downloading sources as they can offer bundled or deceptive content. Further, intrusive adverts are designed to trick people into visiting the sites relating to gambling, adult-dating and so on. If you encounter any such sites, we highly recommend you to uninstall all malicious applications and browser extensions. To remove AccessibleGuideSearch from Mac OS, users are recommended to follow given below removal instructions.

Quick Glance

Name: AccessibleGuideSearch

Type: PUP, Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus

Short Description: A questionable application that hijacks Mac systems and popular browsers like Safari and Chrome installed on them. Performs browser modifications without your knowledge.

Symptoms: Browser slowdowns may occur due to increased number of online ads. The program may start every time you start the affected Mac.

Distribution Method: Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages, Corrupted websites, harmful links and many more.

Damage: display of unwanted ads, internet browser tracking, redirects to dubious websites and loss of private information.

Removal: Both manual as well as automatic guidelines have been discussed below under this post.

Remove Files and Folders Related to AccessibleGuideSearch

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