What is WebQuestSearch
According to security experts, WebQuestSearch is a PUP (potentially unwanted program) that belongs to the Adware group. Adware is something which designed in order to display third-party ads to the user without asking his permission. Adware takes control of web-browsers and reroutes them to unwanted web pages and online ads every time you browse the Internet. Adware can end up on your computer in various methods. In most cases is when you install free software and forget to uncheck the box for the third-party applications installation.
Unwanted ads
Even worse, adware can analyze the location and which Internet websites you visit, and then display ads to the types of content, goods or services featured there. Adware authors can collect and sell your browsing information and behavior to third parties.
How does WebQuestSearch get on your MAC OS
Usually, adware gets into your MAC system as part of a bundle with freeware, sharing files and other unsafe programs which you downloaded from the World Wide Web. The developers of adware software pays software developers for distributing adware within their software. So, bundled applications is often included as part of the setup file. In order to avoid the install of any adware: choose only Manual, Custom or Advanced installation mode and uncheck all third-party applications in which you are unsure.
Threat Summary
| Name | WebQuestSearch, WebQuest Search 1.0 app |
| Type | adware, PUP (potentially unwanted program), pop-ups, popup ads, pop-up virus |
| Symptoms |
|
| Removal | WebQuestSearch removal guide |
How to Remove WebQuestSearch (removal guide)
When the adware gets installed on your machine without your knowledge, it is not easy to remove. Most often, there is no Uninstall program which simply remove the WebQuestSearch adware from your MAC OS. So, we recommend using well-proven free specialized utility such as MalwareBytes Free. But the best method to remove adware software will be to perform several manual steps, after that additionally run antimalware tools.
To remove WebQuestSearch, complete the following steps:
- How to manually delete WebQuestSearch
- Automatic Removal of WebQuestSearch adware
- How to stay safe online
- Finish words
How to manually delete WebQuestSearch
The step-by-step tutorial will help you manually remove WebQuestSearch ads from the web-browser. If you are not good at computers, we recommend that you use the free tools listed below.
Remove WebQuestSearch associated software by using the Finder
First, you should try to identify and uninstall the application that causes the appearance of annoying advertisements or web browser redirect, using the ‘Applications’ list that located in the Finder.
Make sure you have closed all internet browsers and other software. Next, remove any unwanted and suspicious software from machine using the Finder.
Open Finder and click “Applications”.
Look around the entire list of programs installed on your Apple Mac. Most likely, one of them is the WebQuestSearch adware. Choose the questionable program or the program that name is not familiar to you and remove it.
Drag the suspicious program from the Applications folder to the Trash.
Most important, don’t forget, select Finder -> Empty Trash.
Get rid of WebQuestSearch from Firefox
If the Firefox browser is hijacked, 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 Firefox settings such as search engine by default, newtab page and homepage to their default values. Your saved bookmarks, form auto-fill information and passwords won’t be cleared or changed.
First, start the Mozilla Firefox and click 
button. It will show the drop-down menu on the right-part of the web browser. Further, click the Help button (
) such as the one below.
In the Help menu, select the “Troubleshooting Information” option. Another way to open the “Troubleshooting Information” screen – type “about:support” in the web browser adress bar and press Enter. It will show the “Troubleshooting Information” page as displayed below. In the upper-right corner of this screen, press the “Refresh Firefox” button.
It will show the confirmation dialog box. Further, press the “Refresh Firefox” button. The Mozilla Firefox will start a task to fix your problems that caused by the WebQuestSearch adware software. Once, it is complete, click the “Finish” button.
Remove WebQuestSearch from Safari
By resetting Safari web browser you revert back your internet browser settings to its default state. This is first when troubleshooting problems that might have been caused by WebQuestSearch adware.
Click Safari menu and choose “Preferences”.
It will open the Safari Preferences window. Next, click the “Extensions” tab. Look for unknown and suspicious add-ons on left panel, choose it, then press the “Uninstall” button. Most important to delete all unknown plugins 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 WebQuestSearch adware from Google Chrome
Reset Chrome settings will delete WebQuestSearch ads from internet browser and disable malicious extensions. It will also clear cached and temporary data (cookies, site data and content). Your saved bookmarks, form auto-fill information and passwords won’t be cleared or changed.
First run the Google Chrome. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal dots (
).
It will display the Chrome menu. Choose More Tools, then click Extensions. Carefully browse through the list of installed extensions. If the list has the add-on signed with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following guidance: Remove Google Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
Open the Chrome menu once again. Further, click the option called “Settings”.
The browser will show the settings screen. Another method to show the Chrome’s settings – type chrome://settings in the internet browser adress bar and press Enter
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the “Advanced” link. Now scroll down until the “Reset” section is visible, as displayed in the following example and click the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
The Google Chrome will display the confirmation prompt as on the image below.
You need to confirm your action, click the “Reset” button. The browser will start the task of cleaning. When it is finished, the browser’s settings including homepage, search provider and new tab back to the values that have been when the Chrome was first installed on your computer.
Automatic Removal of WebQuestSearch adware
Run malicious software removal tools to delete WebQuestSearch automatically. The free programs tools specially designed for hijackers, adware and other potentially unwanted applications removal. These utilities may remove most of adware software from Firefox, Safari and Google Chrome. Moreover, it may remove all components of adware from Windows registry and system drives.
Run MalwareBytes Anti Malware to remove WebQuestSearch
You can remove WebQuestSearch adware automatically with a help of MalwareBytes. We recommend this free malware removal tool because it can easily remove hijacker infection, adware, PUPs and toolbars with all their components such as files, folders and registry entries.
- MalwareBytes can be downloaded from the following link.
Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
20992 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: September 10, 2020
- When the download is finished, close all software and windows on your MAC system. Open a file location. Run the downloaded file and follow the prompts.
- Press the “Scan” button . MalwareBytes Anti Malware tool will begin scanning the whole machine to find out the WebQuestSearch adware. This process can take some time, so please be patient. During the scan MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) will look for threats present on your Apple Mac.
- Once MalwareBytes has completed scanning your Apple Mac, MalwareBytes Free will open a scan report. Review the scan results and then click “Remove Selected Items”.
How to stay safe online
Enabling an adblocker application like AdGuard is an effective way to alleviate the risks. Additionally, ad-blocking programs will also protect you from harmful ads and web pages, and, of course, stop redirection chain to misleading, scam and similar web-pages.
Visit the following page to download the latest version of AdGuard for Apple Mac.
3772 downloads
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: January 17, 2018
Once the downloading process is finished, launch the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen. Follow the prompts.
Each time, when you start your machine, AdGuard will run automatically and stop intrusive pop ups, block malicious and misleading web sites.
Finish words
Now your machine should be free of the WebQuestSearch adware. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted pop-ups and annoying harmful web-pages) and MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) (to periodically scan your computer for new adware softwares and other malware).
If you are still having problems while trying to get rid of WebQuestSearch ads from the Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Safari, then ask for help here here.
