Remove Fire Search browser hijacker from Mac

Easy methods to delete Fire Search

Fire Search is a browser hijacker that it will change the homepage and search engine for your web browser to firesear.ch. This browser hijacker has been observed by being distributed through fake Adobe Flash Player updates. Additionally, this software adds the “Managed by your organization” feature to Google Chrome browsers. Due to its improper infiltration methods, such an app is also classified as PUA.

Besides its impracticality, Fire Search is likewise really unsafe for web browser utilization. It modifies your search engine to its specific – firesear.ch, and additionally transforms your background. Apart from visual adjustments done by browser hijacker, you can observe that some of your search queries are redirecting to the uncertain websites that is filled with web links and promotions. The possibility of redirecting rises if you attempt to start Google search page by force.

Browser hijackers take certain actions to ensure persistence. They can reset any changes make by users to their browsers. Alternatively, this software can restrict user to access to the browser settings outright. Due to these reasons, recovering an affected browser is impossible without removing the software that is affecting it. However, all these actions are lot more annoying than really damaging.

The largest hazard especially for individuals who have considerable amount of secret information in their browsers is embedded in data collecting capabilities. IP addresses, visited web pages, geo-location and other activities are easily collected by Fire Search hijacker. The gathered data is then monetized by being shared with third parties. In other words, appearance of data tracking software on systems can lead to severe privacy issues.

How did the infection occur?

Fire Search redirect is caused by a browser hijacker which is installed by the users, whether that is knowingly or not. Often, this type of program is offered through advertisements or bundled with other software, leaving the user confused where this software came from. This false marketing method of packing regular programs with unwanted ones is called bundling. In such cases, unwanted apps can be found included in downloader’s and installers as additional offers.

Users agree with unwanted offers when they complete downloads or installations of programs without checking and changing custom/advanced settings or without unticking checkboxes that downloader’s/installers often have. Although, most PUAs are distributed via deceptive advertisements by designing them to cause unwanted downloads or installations by executing certain harmful scripts. In most cases, users unintentionally install unwanted apps by clicking those ads.

How to prevent intruding unwanted apps?

It is very much important not to finish downloads and installations without checking and changing available settings or ticked checkboxes. Typically, installers that have such settings are bundled along with PUAs. Moreover, it is strongly advised not to use unreliable sources for downloading applications or files. Files and apps should only be downloaded by using official sites and via direct download links. It is not safe to click on adverts if they appear while visiting unreliable pages. Very often such ads are used to promote other similar pages of this kind or distribute unwanted apps. In order to keep devices safe and secure, users are recommended to remove Fire Search and all browser hijackers’ infections completely and safely from the system.

Quick Glance

Name: Fire Search

Type: Browser hijacker, unwanted application

IP address: 162.255.119.254

Symptoms: changed search engine, search queries redirection

Distribution methods: free software installers, deceptive pop-up ads, torrent file downloads, malicious ads, infected media drives and so on.

Damage: loss of private information, internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads.

Removal: To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your system with reliable antivirus removal tool such as Combo Cleaner.

Remove Files and Folders Related to Fire Search

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