According to security researchers, ExpertLookupEngine is an adware program. Adware is something which designed in order to provide third-party ads to the user without asking his permission. Adware software takes control of internet browsers and redirects them to unwanted web-sites and online ads every time you browse the Net. Adware software can end up on your Apple Mac in various methods. In many cases is when you install free software and forget to uncheck the box for the bundled software installation.
Unwanted ads
The worst is, adware can collect user data, including:
- IP addresses;
- URLs visited;
- search queries/terms;
- clicks on links and advertisements;
- web browser version information.
By following step-by-step guide below it is easy to scan and remove adware from Safari, Chrome and Mozilla Firefox and your MAC. Learn how to remove ExpertLookupEngine and other unwanted apps, as well as how to run a full virus scan.
How does ExpertLookupEngine get on your computer
Adware such as ExpertLookupEngine gets onto Apple Mac by being attached to various free software. This means that you need to be very careful when installing applications downloaded from the World Wide Web. Be sure to read the Terms of Use and the Software license, select only the Manual, Advanced or Custom setup method, switch off all optional modules and software are offered to install.
Threat Summary
| Name | ExpertLookupEngine, Expert Lookup Engine 1.0 app |
| Type | adware software, PUP (potentially unwanted program), pop-ups, pop-up advertisements, popup virus |
| Symptoms |
|
| Removal | ExpertLookupEngine removal guide |
How to Remove ExpertLookupEngine adware (removal tutorial)
Even if you’ve the up-to-date classic antivirus for Apple Mac installed, and you’ve checked your MAC for malware and removed anything found, you need to do the tutorial below. The ExpertLookupEngine adware removal is not simple as installing another antivirus. Classic antivirus apps are not developed to run together and will conflict with each other, or possibly crash Mac OS. Instead we suggest complete the manual steps below after that run MalwareBytes Free, which is a free program dedicated to detect and remove adware. Use the utility to ensure the adware software is removed.
To remove ExpertLookupEngine, use the steps below:
- How to remove ExpertLookupEngine adware without any software
- Automatic Removal of ExpertLookupEngine
- How to stay safe online
- Finish words
How to remove ExpertLookupEngine adware without any software
First try to get rid of ExpertLookupEngine manually; to do this, follow the steps below. Of course, manual adware removal requires more time and may not be suitable for those who are poorly versed in system settings. In this case, we suggest that you scroll down to the section that describes how to remove ExpertLookupEngine using free utilities.
Delete ExpertLookupEngine associated software by using the Finder
First, go to the Finder and uninstall dubious programs, all applications you do not remember installing. It’s important to pay the most attention to apps you installed just before unwanted ads appeared on your web browser. If you do not know what a program does, look for the answer on the Web.
- Open the Finder.
- Click “Applications”.
- It will show a list of all apps installed on the machine.
- Scroll through the all list, and delete dubious and unknown programs. Pay maximum attention to the program you installed last.
- Drag the dubious program from the Applications folder to the Trash.
- Empty Trash.
Remove ExpertLookupEngine from Safari
If you find that Safari internet browser settings like home page, search provider by default and newtab page having been replaced by the ExpertLookupEngine 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, 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”.
Remove ExpertLookupEngine from Mozilla Firefox by resetting internet browser settings
If the Firefox internet browser program is hijacked by ExpertLookupEngine, then resetting its settings can help. The Reset feature is available on all modern version of Mozilla Firefox. A reset can fix many issues by restoring Mozilla Firefox settings like newtab page, home page and default search provider to their original state. However, your themes, bookmarks, history, passwords, and web form auto-fill information will not be deleted.
First, run the Mozilla Firefox. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (
). It will display the drop-down menu. Next, press the Help button (
).
In the Help menu click the “Troubleshooting Information”. In the upper-right corner of the “Troubleshooting Information” page click on “Refresh Firefox” button as shown in the figure below.
Confirm your action, click the “Refresh Firefox”.
Remove ExpertLookupEngine from Google Chrome
If your Google Chrome internet browser is hijacked by ExpertLookupEngine, it may be necessary to completely reset your internet browser program to its default settings.
- First, start the Google Chrome and click the Menu icon (icon in the form of three dots).
- It will display the Google Chrome main menu. Select More Tools, then click 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 guidance: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
- Now open the Google 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 Chrome will open the reset settings prompt as shown on the screen above.
- Confirm the web-browser’s reset by clicking on the “Reset” button.
- To learn more, read the post How to reset Chrome settings to default.
Automatic Removal of ExpertLookupEngine
Manual removal is not always as effective as you might think. Often, even the most experienced users can not completely remove ExpertLookupEngine adware. So, we suggest to check your MAC for any remaining malicious components with free adware software removal software below.
Automatically remove ExpertLookupEngine with MalwareBytes
We suggest using the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) that are fully clean your MAC OS of the adware software. This free tool is an advanced malware removal program created by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This program uses the world’s most popular anti malware technology. It is able to help you delete the ExpertLookupEngine ads from your web browsers, PUPs, malicious software, hijacker, toolbars, ransomware and other security threats from your MAC OS for free.
- Download MalwareBytes by clicking on the link below.
Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
20986 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: September 10, 2020
- When the download is finished, please close all applications and open windows on your Apple Mac. Run the downloaded file. Follow the prompts.
- The MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) will launch and open the main window.
- Further, click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan with this utility for the ExpertLookupEngine adware. This procedure may take some time, so please be patient.
- Once the checking is complete, a list of all threats detected is prepared.
- Review the results once the utility has complete the system scan. If you think an entry should not be quarantined, then uncheck it. Otherwise, simply press the “Remove Selected Items” button.
- Close the Anti Malware and continue with the next step.
How to stay safe online
We recommend to install an adblocker program that can stop misleading and other unwanted webpages. The ad-blocking tool such as AdGuard is a program that basically removes advertising from the Net and stops access to malicious webpages. Moreover, security experts says that using ad blocking software is necessary to stay safe when surfing the World Wide Web.
- Visit the page linked below to download AdGuard.
AdGuard for Mac download
3772 downloads
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: January 17, 2018
- When downloading is finished, launch the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
- After the installation is complete, click “Skip” to close the installation application and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial which will help you get to know AdGuard better.
- In most cases, the default settings are enough and you don’t need to change anything. Each time, when you start your machine, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop unwanted ads, block harmful and misleading web pages.
Finish words
Now your MAC should be free of the ExpertLookupEngine adware. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted popup advertisements and annoying malicious web sites) and MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) (to periodically scan your MAC system for new adwares and other malware).
If you are still having problems while trying to get rid of ExpertLookupEngine ads from the Safari, Google Chrome and Firefox, then ask for help here here.
