NetToolboxSearch is a part of potentially unwanted software whose motive is to earn money for its developer. It have various ways of earning by showing the ads forcibly to its victims. NetToolboxSearch can generate popups, show undesired advertisements, alter the victim’s internet browser settings, or redirect the victim’s web-browser to unwanted web pages. Aside from causing unwanted ads and web browser redirects, it also can slow down the MAC.
Unwanted ads
Another reason why you need to get rid of NetToolboxSearch is its online data-tracking activity. Adware may monetize its functionality by collecting privacy information from your browsing sessions. This user information, afterwards, can be easily transferred third party companies. This puts your sensitive info at a security risk.
Threat Summary
| Name | NetToolboxSearch, Net Toolbox Search 1.0 app |
| Type | adware, PUP (potentially unwanted program), popups, pop-up virus, popup ads |
| Symptoms |
|
| Removal | NetToolboxSearch removal guide |
How does Adware get on your MAC system
NetToolboxSearch like other adware mostly comes on the MAC with free programs. In most cases, it comes without the user’s knowledge. Therefore, many users aren’t even aware that their computer has been affected with PUPs and adware. Please follow the easy rules in order to protect your MAC OS from adware and PUPs: do not install any suspicious applications, read the user agreement and select only the Custom, Manual or Advanced install type, don’t rush to press the Next button. Also, always try to find a review of the program on the Internet. Be careful and attentive!
If your Mac has been infected with the NetToolboxSearch, you must have done any of the steps below. Once you’ve removed Net Toolbox Search from your MAC by following our few simple steps below, make sure not to commit the same mistakes again in the future.
How to Remove NetToolboxSearch app (Adware virus removal guide)
According to IT security researchers, NetToolboxSearch removal can be complete manually and/or automatically. These tools that are listed below will help you remove adware, malicious web-browser plugins, malware and PUPs . However, if you’re not willing to install other programs to delete NetToolboxSearch adware, then use instructions below to restore your MAC system settings to their previous states.
To remove NetToolboxSearch, perform the following steps:
- How to get rid of NetToolboxSearch adware without any software
- Automatic Removal of NetToolboxSearch adware
- How to stay safe online
- Finish words
How to get rid of NetToolboxSearch adware without any software
The most common adware can be uninstalled manually, without the use of antivirus or other removal utilities. The manual steps below will guide you through how to delete NetToolboxSearch step by step. Although each of the steps is easy and does not require special knowledge, but you are not sure that you can complete them, then use the free utilities, a list of which is given below.
Remove NetToolboxSearch associated software by using the Finder
First, go to the Finder and remove dubious apps, all applications you do not remember installing. It is important to pay the most attention to programs you installed just before NetToolboxSearch ads appeared on your web-browser. If you don’t know what a program does, look for the answer on the World Wide Web.
- Open the Finder.
- Click “Applications”.
- It will display a list of all software installed on the MAC OS.
- Scroll through the all list, and delete questionable and unknown apps. Pay maximum attention to the application you installed last.
- Drag the suspicious application from the Applications folder to the Trash.
- Empty Trash.
Remove NetToolboxSearch adware software from Google Chrome
Like other modern web-browsers, the Google Chrome has the ability to reset the settings to their default values and thereby restore the web browser’s settings like new tab page, start page and search engine that have been replaced by the NetToolboxSearch adware.
- First, run the Google Chrome and press the Menu icon (icon in the form of three dots).
- It will display the Chrome main menu. Choose More Tools, then click Extensions.
- You’ll see the list of installed extensions. If the list has the plugin labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following guide: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
- Now open the Chrome menu once again, click the “Settings” menu.
- Next, click “Advanced” link, which located at the bottom of the Settings page.
- On the bottom of the “Advanced settings” page, click the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
- The Google Chrome will show the reset settings prompt as shown on the screen above.
- Confirm the internet browser’s reset by clicking on the “Reset” button.
- To learn more, read the post How to reset Google Chrome settings to default.
Get rid of NetToolboxSearch from Mozilla Firefox
If the Mozilla Firefox settings such as search provider by default, start page and new tab page have been modified by the adware software, then resetting it to the default state can help. When using the reset feature, your personal information like passwords, bookmarks, browsing history and web form auto-fill data will be saved.
First, open the Firefox. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (
). It will show the drop-down menu. Next, press the Help button (
).
In the Help menu press the “Troubleshooting Information”. In the upper-right corner of the “Troubleshooting Information” page press on “Refresh Firefox” button like below.
Confirm your action, click the “Refresh Firefox”.
Delete NetToolboxSearch adware software from Safari
The Safari reset is great if your browser is hijacked or you have unwanted add-ons or toolbars on your web-browser, that installed by an malware.
Click Safari menu and choose “Preferences”.
It will open the Safari Preferences window. Next, click the “Extensions” tab. Look for unknown and suspicious extensions on left panel, select it, then click the “Uninstall” button. Most important to get rid of all unknown extensions from Safari.
Once complete, click “General” tab. Change the “Default Search Engine” to Google.
Find the “Homepage” and type into textfield “https://www.google.com”.
Automatic Removal of NetToolboxSearch adware
In order to completely delete NetToolboxSearch, you not only need to uninstall adware from your MAC OS, but also remove all its components in your machine including system folders. We recommend to download and run free removal tools to automatically free your MAC OS of NetToolboxSearch adware that causes tons of intrusive pop up ads.
Automatically remove NetToolboxSearch with MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM)
Manual NetToolboxSearch removal requires some computer skills. Some files that created by the adware can be not completely removed. We recommend that run the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) that are completely clean your MAC OS of adware software. Moreover, this free utility will allow you to delete hijacker, malicious software, potentially unwanted apps and toolbars that your machine can be infected too.
Installing the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware is simple. First you’ll need to download MalwareBytes Anti Malware on your machine by clicking on the link below.
20850 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: September 10, 2020
When the download is done, close all windows on your MAC system. Further, open the saved file. Follow the prompts.
The MalwareBytes AntiMalware will automatically start and you can see its main window as displayed on the image below.
Next, press the “Scan Now” button to search for NetToolboxSearch adware and other malware A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your MAC and the speed of your MAC OS. While the MalwareBytes Free application is scanning, you can see number of objects it has identified as threat.
When the system scan is finished, you’ll be shown the list of all detected items on your MAC. Review the report and then press “Remove Selected Items” button.
The MalwareBytes will remove NetToolboxSearch adware and other found malware.
How to stay safe online
It’s also critical to protect your internet browsers from malicious webpages and advertisements by using an adblocker program such as AdGuard. Security experts says that it’ll greatly reduce the risk of malicious software, and potentially save lots of money. Additionally, the AdGuard may also protect your privacy by blocking almost all trackers.
Installing the AdGuard is simple. First you will need to download AdGuard on your MAC OS from the following link.
3687 downloads
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: January 17, 2018
After the downloading process is complete, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen. Follow the prompts.
Each time, when you launch your machine, AdGuard will run automatically and stop intrusive pop-up ads, block harmful or misleading web pages.
Finish words
Once you have done the steps above, your MAC should be clean from NetToolboxSearch adware which redirects your browser to undesired ad web-pages and other malicious software. The Safari, Firefox and Google Chrome will no longer redirect you to various unwanted web-pages. Unfortunately, if the few simple steps does not help you, then you have caught a new adware, and then the best way – ask for help here.
