Remove Flip-search.com browser hijacker from Mac PC
Easy guide to delete Flip-search.com
Flip-search.com is a dubious webpage that promote fake search engine, changing browser setting and gather browsing data as well as redirect users to malicious pages without any users concern. It looks like a genuine and useful search provider that false claim to enhance browsing experience by showing best and quick searching results. At the first appearance, this fake search engine seem as legit as other popular search engines like as Google, Yahoo, Bing and others.
But when users use this search engine to search any query, it redirects them to opti-page.com. Simply said, it displays result generated by some other questionable search engine that may be designed to include links to untrustworthy sites in its results. Due to these reasons, users are unable to reset the setting as previous states. It can only be possible when application that is designed to promote it is uninstalled from the computer or browser.
Moreover, such an apps are also designed to collect users browsing related data. In most cases, they mostly target data that includes IP addresses, pages viewed, geo-locations and other similar browsing related information. Sometimes, they can also steal personal and sensitive information. Developers behind this share all gathered details with the cyber offender who misuse those data in a way to generate revenue. Thus, it is highly advised to remove Flip-search.com as far as possible from the PC.
How did Flip-search.com distributed into the system?
Most PUAs like Flip-search.com mostly distributed into the computer with spam email campaign that contain malicious attachment like as word, exe, doc. Cyber offender often send thousands of spam email randomly of the targeted PC. This is a technique to trick users into opening spam malicious attachments. Such type of files looks so genuine and useful and seems sends a legitimate organization and Companies. In this way account holder may panic and turn careless as a result and lastly opening the attachments. So, users are highly advised don’t try to open any mails which received through irrelevant or unknown address. Check the spelling and grammatical mistakes.
How to avoid installation of PUAs?
In order to keep computer harmless and secured, users are highly advised to be very cautious when downloading/installing software and browsing internet. Third party installers, free file hosting sites peer to peer networks etc should not be used in order to download or install any software. It is recommended to use only official and trustworthy pages and via direct download links to download any programs/files.
While installing any apps, it is important to read terms and conditions carefully till the end and never skip custom/advanced options as well as other similar settings of the download/installation processes. Avoid clicking on ads displayed on deceptive pages as they often redirect people to harmful sites or cause unwanted downloads/installations.
Remove Flip-search.com
Flip-search.com is a very harmful infection that may also bring other dubious threats on the victimized system. It creates several copies of itself and spread into various locations. It is not easy to eliminate manually. So, we highly advice users to use Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to remove Flip-search.com automatically from the computer.
Threat summary
Name: Flip-search.com
Type: Browser hijacker, PUP, Redirect, Mac malware, Mac virus
Affected browser settings: homepage, default search engine and new tab URL setting
Description: It is a dubious webpage that is specific designed to promote third party contents as well as redirect users to other questionable webpage without any user’s permission.
Symptoms: seeing various kinds of annoying advertisements, redirect user to questionable site.
Distribution methods: It mostly distributed via the spam email attachments, freeware installation, updating system software and by using various other tricks.
Removal: Both manual as well as automatic removal guidelines have been discussed below under this post.
Special Offer (For Macintosh)
Flip-search.com can be creepy computer infection that may regain its presence again and again as it keeps its files hidden on computers. To accomplish a hassle free removal of this malware, we suggest you take a try with a powerful antimalware scanner to help you getting rid of this virus
Remove Files and Folders Related to Flip-search.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”.
Special Offer (For Macintosh)
Flip-search.com can be creepy computer infection that may regain its presence again and again as it keeps its files hidden on computers. To accomplish a hassle free removal of this malware, we suggest you take a try with a powerful antimalware scanner to help you getting rid of this 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 Flip-search.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 Flip-search.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.
Special Offer (For Macintosh)
Flip-search.com can be creepy computer infection that may regain its presence again and again as it keeps its files hidden on computers. To accomplish a hassle free removal of this malware, we suggest you take a try with a powerful antimalware scanner to help you getting rid of this virus
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 Flip-search.com. You can select such harmful files and folders and remove them immediately.
