Remove GlobalQuestSearch Adware (Mac)

Guide To Delete GlobalQuestSearch From Mac

GlobalQuestSearch is technically a rogue application which appears to be a helpful option for Mac users. Its promoters use to proclaim so many benefits to targeted users and trick them into installing this app on their machine and seek its benefits. However, keeping such proclaims aside, the reality of GlobalQuestSearch is completely disappointing and is just an adware infection that is developed to throw tons of endless and irritating advertisements on screen which makes the PC usage disastrous in no time. Since such kinds of applications often get installed on targeted machines stealthily, the GlobalQuestSearch can also be referred as a PUP specific to Mac OS based computers. In this article, provided basic and advanced information about this adware, and how a user can eradicate this term out of their machine in unfortunate cases.

Threat Summary

Name: GlobalQuestSearch
Type: Adware, Browser hijacker, redirect virus
Symptoms: Eruption of various commercial pop ups or banners, redirects to numerous nasty or shady online contents, and many more
Description: GlobalQuestSearch is technically an adware infection developed to attack Mac OS based computers to show tons of irritating advertisements.
Removal: In order to remove GlobalQuestSearch from an infected machine, we suggest you to follow a set of instructions as included under this article.

Descriptive analysis about GlobalQuestSearch

According to what the security researchers have identified about GlobalQuestSearch, the term is nothing more than an adware. Also, it can be considered as a browser hijacker because it mostly impacts installed web browser application to alter their settings and promote nasty or shady online contents throughout the web sessions. In such instances, the GlobalQuestSearch modifies the default values for homepage, search engine, and new tab which even derived to secondary browsers as well, leaving no options for users to surf the web efficiently. Every time the victims try to surf the web sessions, they are enforced to see irritating adverts or redirect based issues on screen which also increases risks to their financial status and privacy.

Adware/browser hijackers are often created by cyber crime master minds with sole intention to display promotional contents. However, they never care of what possible values are being served to their visitors, rather than they just intend to keep promoting their partnered advertisers to earn profit. In such prospects, the victims are highly expected to get redirected to some sort of scamming or phishing pages most of the times. Even some of such pages may loaded with more hectic malware terms like trojans or ransomware, which if injected on a machine, may lead to more serious issues later on, if not treated in real time.

Speaking about the consequences, although GlobalQuestSearch like hijackers are mostly responsible to affect your regular online sessions, still, its impacts may lead to various internal impacts on computer that exploits vulnerabilities inside computer and turn the overall PC usage disastrous. Also, the malware in such cases can track and record user’s data or sensitive information to reveal them with cyber criminals. Therefore, the GlobalQuestSearch should not be taken in easy as its potential to cause serious consequences are is very high.

Intrusion and prevention tips

PUPs or adware like GlobalQuestSearch is never downloaded/installed on computers intentionally, however it all occurs through employed deceptive marketing tricks or techniques utilized by criminals. They make use of software bundling, email spam marketing, and other possible social engineering tricks to distribute their malicious codes on global network. Since such embedded objects are made to be disguised as helpful appearing options, it’s expected for a user to get tricked and download such objects on their machine. But as soon as the execution is done, the system and its browsers are impacted drastically. So, it’s better to be cautious while being online, specially while installing some freebies or other shareware apps.

If you got your machine infected by GlobalQuestSearch unfortunately, then you might be facing hurdles while using your Mac based computer. don’t be panic at all as this infectious object can be deleted if treated with some appropriate solution. In order to delete GlobalQuestSearch from an infected Mac, we suggest you check and follow here included guidelines.

Remove Files and Folders Related to GlobalQuestSearch

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