According to security researchers, SearchRange is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) that belongs to the category of Adware. Adware shows unwanted advertisements on your internet browser. Some of these advertisements are scams or fake advertisements designed to trick you. Even the harmless advertisements can become really irritating. Adware software can be installed unintentionally and without you knowing about it, when you open email attachments, install free programs.
Unwanted ads
Even worse, the SearchRange adware is able to gather a wide variety of marketing-type data about you to get profit. It can analyze your browsing, and gain access to your personal information and, subsequently, can sell it to third party companies. Thus, there are more than enough reasons to delete SearchRange from your MAC. Below we are discussing the ways which are very useful in removing adware. The guidance will also assist you to get rid of SearchRange ads from your internet browser for free.
How does SearchRange get on your Apple Mac
Most commonly, adware software is bundled within the install packages from file sharing web sites. So, install a free programs is a a good chance that you will find a bundled adware. If you don’t know how to avoid it, then use a simple trick. During the setup, select the Custom or Advanced installation mode. Next, click ‘Decline’ button and clear all checkboxes on offers that ask you to install additional applications. Moreover, please carefully read Term of use and User agreement before installing any applications or otherwise you can end up with another unwanted program on your Apple Mac.
Threat Summary
| Name | SearchRange, Search Range 1.0 app |
| Type | adware, PUP (potentially unwanted program), popup advertisements, pop-up virus, popups |
| Symptoms |
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| Removal | SearchRange removal guide |
How to remove SearchRange adware
When the adware gets installed on your MAC system without your knowledge, it is not easy to remove. Most often, there is no Uninstall program which simply delete the SearchRange adware from your MAC system. So, we recommend using well-proven free malware removal tool such as MalwareBytes AntiMalware. But the best solution to delete SearchRange will be to perform several manual steps, after that additionally run antimalware utilities.
To remove SearchRange, execute the following steps:
- Manual SearchRange removal
- Automatic Removal of SearchRange adware software
- How to stay safe online
- Finish words
Manual SearchRange removal
Most adware can be removed manually, without the use of antivirus or other removal tools. The manual steps below will show you how to remove the SearchRange adware step by step. Although each of the steps is simple and does not require special knowledge, but you are not sure that you can complete them, then use the free tools, a list of which is given below.
Delete SearchRange related programs through the Finder
Some of potentially unwanted apps, adware software and hijackers can be uninstalled using the ‘Move to Trash’ tool which is located in the Finder. So, if you are using any version of Mac OS and you have noticed an unwanted program, then first try to delete it through the Finder.
Open Finder and click “Applications” like the one below.
You will see a list of apps installed on your MAC. We recommend to pay maximum attention to the program you installed last. Most likely, it is the SearchRange adware. If you’re in doubt, you can always check the program by doing a search for her name in Google, Yahoo or Bing. After the program which you need to delete is found, simply right press on its name, and select “Move to Trash”.
Don’t forget, choose Finder, then “Empty Trash”.
Remove SearchRange adware from Chrome
In this step we are going to show you how to reset Google Chrome settings. PUPs like the adware software can make changes to your internet browser settings, add toolbars and undesired addons. By resetting Google Chrome settings you will get rid of SearchRange ads and reset unwanted changes caused by adware software. Essential information like bookmarks, browsing history, passwords, cookies, auto-fill data and personal dictionaries will not be removed.
- First start the Chrome and click Menu button (small button in the form of three dots).
- It will display the Google Chrome main menu. Select More Tools, then press Extensions.
- You’ll see the list of installed extensions. If the list has the extension labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following steps: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
- Now open the Google Chrome menu once again, click the “Settings” menu.
- You will see the Chrome’s settings page. Scroll down and click “Advanced” link.
- Scroll down again and press the “Reset” button.
- The Google Chrome will show the reset profile settings page as on the image above.
- Next click the “Reset” button.
- Once this process is done, your web-browser’s homepage, search engine and newtab page will be restored to their original defaults.
- To learn more, read the post How to reset Google Chrome settings to default.
Remove SearchRange adware from Mozilla Firefox
If the Mozilla Firefox internet browser is hijacked by SearchRange and you want to restore the Firefox settings back to their default state, then you should follow the step-by-step instructions below. Your saved bookmarks, form auto-fill information and passwords won’t be cleared or changed.
Start the Mozilla Firefox and click the menu button (it looks like three stacked lines) at the top right of the internet browser screen. Next, click the question-mark icon at the bottom of the drop-down menu. It will display the slide-out menu.
Select the “Troubleshooting information”. If you’re unable to access the Help menu, then type “about:support” in your address bar and press Enter. It bring up the “Troubleshooting Information” page as shown below.
Click the “Refresh Firefox” button at the top right of the Troubleshooting Information page. Select “Refresh Firefox” in the confirmation prompt. The Mozilla Firefox will begin a task to fix your problems that caused by the SearchRange adware. Once, it’s done, click the “Finish” button.
Get rid of SearchRange from Safari
If you find that Safari browser settings such as search engine, newtab page and startpage having been changed by the SearchRange adware, then you may return your settings, via the reset web-browser procedure.
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, choose it, then press the “Uninstall” button. Most important to remove all unknown addons 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 SearchRange adware software
If you’re unsure how to remove SearchRange easily, consider using automatic adware removal software which listed below. It will identify the adware and remove it from your MAC system for free.
Use MalwareBytes Free to remove SearchRange adware
You can get rid of SearchRange adware automatically with a help of MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM). We recommend this free malware removal tool because it can easily remove browser hijacker infection, adware software, PUPs and toolbars with all their components such as files, folders and registry entries.
- MalwareBytes Anti-Malware can be downloaded from the following link.
Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
20983 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: September 10, 2020
- Once downloading is done, close all programs and windows on your MAC OS. Open a file location. Run the downloaded file and follow the prompts.
- Click the “Scan” button to start scanning your MAC for the SearchRange adware. A system scan can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your MAC OS. While the MalwareBytes Free utility is checking, you can see count of objects it has identified as being infected by malicious software.
- After finished, MalwareBytes AntiMalware will open a list of all items found by the scan. You may delete items (move to Quarantine) by simply click “Remove Selected Items”.
How to stay safe online
Use an ad blocking tool such as AdGuard will protect you from malicious advertisements and content. Moreover, you can find that the AdGuard have an option to protect your privacy and stop phishing and spam web sites. Additionally, adblocker apps will help you to avoid unwanted pop-up advertisements and unverified links that also a good way to stay safe online.
Installing the AdGuard is simple. First you’ll need to download AdGuard on your MS Windows Desktop by clicking on the following link.
3771 downloads
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: January 17, 2018
When the downloading process is complete, run the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen. Follow the prompts.
Each time, when you start your MAC, AdGuard will run automatically and stop unwanted popup ads, block malicious and misleading web pages.
Finish words
Once you have complete the few simple steps outlined above, your MAC OS should be clean from SearchRange and other malicious software. The Safari, Google Chrome and Firefox will no longer display unwanted ads. Unfortunately, if the instructions does not help you, then you have caught a new adware, and then the best way – ask for help here.
