Remove WebFunctionSearch Adware (Mac)

Tips To Delete WebFunctionSearch Adware

WebFunctionSearch Adware is a notorious computer infection that has ability to sneak into any Mac systems without being noticed by the users and contribute tons of malicious activities in the background. This nasty adware also includes features of browser hijacker and promotes some fake search engines by making changes in default browser’s settings. Such types of potentially unwanted applications are also known for gathering browser-related information and serving advertisements based on users’ browsing preferences. As long as this intrusive PUP stays in your Mac device, it keeps performing evil deeds in the background and wreaking havoc onto the machine.

More About WebFunctionSearch Adware:

WebFunctionSearch Adware replaces your default browser’s settings such as homepage, search engine and new tab page with its own perilous URL and grabs full control over infected browser. It floods your system screen with thousands of annoying ads and pop-ups all over the day and makes it very difficult for you to surf the web efficiently like before. These ads are in forms of pop-ups, deals, offers, discounts, coupons, banners etc. They work on pay-per-click scheme and earn profits for the developers upon being clicked.

We highly advise to avoid interacting with ads by WebFunctionSearch Adware as they often include links of deceptive sites and when clicked, redirect people to scamming, phishing and even malware-laden web pages. Due to visiting on such harmful web portals, you may end up with installing PUPs or even more deadly viruses like Trojans or ransomware. Moreover, this perilous adware can track your online activities and collect information regarding your preferences which is then utilized by the advertisers for the advertisement campaign.

WebFunctionSearch Adware can steal your personal data relating to banking and other financial details and expose those stuffs to hackers for bad purposes. Your sensitive information can be misused of generating illicit profits that will cause you to suffer a big financial loss. This precarious malware downgrades the overall computer performance severely as it consumes enormous amount of memory resources and slows down the increases the usage of CPU. It might take you to domains where you are presented with fake security notifications and then forced to install rogue software. And hence, you must perform an instant WebFunctionSearch Adware removal from the computer.

Summarize Information

Name: WebFunctionSearch Adware

Type: Mac virus, Adware, Browser hijacker, Potentially unwanted program

Short Description: Redirects Mac users to pre-defined sites, promotes sponsored products, services and programs and make online revenues for the creators, Also steals users’ personal and confidential information and share them with hackers for evil purposes.

Symptoms: Modifications in default browser’s settings, default Internet search engine, Tons of intrusive adverts, Fake pop-up messages, identity theft, new tab settings. 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.

Penetration of WebFunctionSearch Adware:

It is been found that this nasty PUP is generally spread through a fake installer which is presented as an installer of the Adobe Flash Player. In addition, these types of unwanted programs are also distributed through software bundling and deceptive ads. It is included with other contents in a package and when people install the main software, it also manages to settle down on the machine without users’ knowledge. Sometimes ads are designed in a way that they execute certain scripts and trigger download and installations of adware or browser hijackers.

Tips To Avoid Adware Intrusion:

To prevent unwanted installations, you should avoid using Peer-to-peer networks, third-party downloaders, questionable websites to download software. Choose only official websites and direct links to download programs. Moreover, always select Advanced/Custom options to install software as these settings give you full control over the incoming downloads and allow you to opt out the components that you don’t want to have in your system. Moreover, choose only official tools and features to install out-dated software. But at the moment, you must remove WebFunctionSearch Adware from the machine as soon as possible.

Remove Files and Folders Related to WebFunctionSearch Adware

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