Remove GeneralChannelSearch Hijacker From Mac OS

Easy Steps To Delete GeneralChannelSearch

GeneralChannelSearch is a browser hijacker which silently penetrates the Mac computers without users’ approval and then makes alterations to default browser’s settings to promote fake search engines. It replaces the home page, search engine and new tab addresses with its own nasty domain and acquires complete control over the entire browser. This potentially unwanted program displays a number of intrusive ads and pop-ups all over the day which interrupts your web sessions badly. It aims to promote third-party products, services and websites and make quick online revenues from rookie users.

Depth Analysis of GeneralChannelSearch:

During the presence of GeneralChannelSearch in your work-station, you constantly get eye-catching deals, offers, banners, coupons, discounts etc. that can easily gain your attention. These ads are based on pay-per-click mechanism and earn profits for the creators when clicked on. This nasty adware inserts multiple spying cookies on the compromised browser and records victims’ online actions such as pages they visit, links they click on, search queries they type and so on. It collects important information regarding their browsing preferences and interests that is very helpful for the production of eye-catching advertisements.

Furthermore, GeneralChannelSearch can also steal your personal and confidential information relating to credit card and banking details and share them with vicious criminals for evil motives. Scammers can misuse your sensitive data for generating illicit revenues that might lead to severe privacy issues, huge financial loss, identity theft and so on. This nasty hijacker forces victims to use a deceptive search engine that only produces inorganic results mixed with commercial contents and sponsored links right at the top. Ads delivered by this PUP often contain vicious links which when clicked, redirect people to several, phishing or even malware-laced sites that host ransomware, trojan, spyware etc.

GeneralChannelSearch modifies the registry settings by making spiteful entries in it which allows the PUP to get automatically activated with each PC startup and to remain persistent. It messes with vital system files that are essential for smooth computer functioning and prevents many running apps as well as drivers from working in an appropriate manner. Due to this infection, you may have to deal with multiple hazardous issues such as frequent system crash, hard drive failure, boot errors, application malfunctioning and so on. And therefore, and instant GeneralChannelSearch removal is strongly required.

Threat Specification

Name: GeneralChannelSearch

Type: Mac virus, Browser hijacker, Potentially unwanted program

Short Description: Makes alterations to default browser’s settings, Redirects Mac users to affiliated sites, displays intrusive ads and pop-ups, promotes sponsored products, services and programs and make online revenues for the creators.

Symptoms: Numerous intrusive adverts, home page, search engine, new tab settings, Fake pop-up messages, identity theft. Users are enforced to visit hijacker’s website and search the Internet using their search engines, slowness of infected system’s performance.

Distribution methods: Free software installers (bundling), Deceptive emails, malicious pop-ups ads, fake flash player installers.

Damage: Web browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), exhibition of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites.

Removal: To get rid of this infection and other malware threats, our security researchers recommend scanning your device with an effective anti-malware tool is recommended.

Ways To Spread GeneralChannelSearch:

There are several fraudulent methods through which these unwanted applications sneak into the targeted PCs. Nevertheless, the most common one is software bundling in which, regular software along with additional components are added to a single package and when people download and install the app, the complete package gets installed without their awareness. This often occurs when the installation process is performed using the “Quick” or “Recommended” mode sets as these options don’t reveal the contents added to the package.

To prevent this, you should always opt for the Advanced or Custom configuration settings where you can de-select all the tools that you don’t want to be installed. But at the moment, you must remove GeneralChannelSearch from the Mac system as early as possible.

Remove Files and Folders Related to GeneralChannelSearch

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