How to uninstall SearchUp app/extension from Mac

What is SearchUp

SearchUp is a PUP (potentially unwanted program) that belongs to the Adware group . Adware is form of malicious software designed to insert adverts into your Internet browsing or even desktop experience. Adware can be designed to change your start page, search provider, search results, or even add toolbars to your web-browser. Adware run in the background when surf the Internet, and adware can slow down your MAC and affect its performance.

Does adware software steal your privacy data? Adware can collect your Net browsing activity by recording URLs visited, IP addresses, web browser version and type, cookie information, Internet Service Provider (ISP) and web-pages visited. Such kind of behavior can lead to serious security problems or confidential information theft. This is another reason why the SearchUp adware should be uninstalled ASAP.

If you are unfortunate have adware software, you can follow the steps below that will help you to remove SearchUp and thus get rid of unwanted ads from your internet browser.

How does SearchUp get on your MAC system

Adware spreads with a simple but quite effective way. It’s integrated into the install package of various free programs. Thus on the process of installation, it will be added onto your MAC system and/or web-browser. In order to avoid adware software, you just need to follow a few simple rules: carefully read the Terms of Use and the license, select only a Manual, Custom or Advanced installation type, which enables you to make sure that the application you want to install, thereby protect your machine from adware.

Threat Summary

Name	SearchUp, SearchUp 1.0 app
Type	adware, PUP (potentially unwanted program), pop up virus, popups, pop-up advertisements
Symptoms	you experience a large amount of of unexpected pop-up windows you keep getting redirected to dubious websites unexpected programs installed without your consent unwanted toolbars your web browser start page or search provider keeps changing or is not set to Google anymor speed test good but internet slow your MAC system starts performing very slowly
Removal	SearchUp removal guide

How to Remove SearchUp adware (removal steps)

Fortunately, it is not hard to uninstall adware software. In the following instructions, we will provide two ways to clean your computer of this adware. One is the manual removal method and the other is automatic removal way. You can choose the way that best fits you. Please follow the removal tutorial below to delete SearchUp right now!

To remove SearchUp, follow the steps below:

1. Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device
2. Check the list of installed software
3. Remove SearchUp related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove SearchUp from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. How to stay safe online
7. To sum up

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

SearchUp can install a configuration profile on the Mac system to block changes made to the browser settings. Therefore, you need to open system preferences, find and delete the profile installed by the adware software.

Click the System Preferences icon ( ) in the Dock, or choose Apple menu ( ) > System Preferences.

In System Preferences, click Profiles, then select a profile related to SearchUp.

Click the minus button ( – ) located at the bottom-left of the Profiles screen to remove the profile.
Note: if you do not see Profiles in the System Preferences, that means there are no profiles installed on your Mac, which is normal.

Check the list of installed software

Some of browser hijackers, PUPs and adware can be removed using the Move to Trash tool that is located in the Finder. So, if you are running any version of Mac and you have noticed an unwanted application, then first try to remove it through the Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

It will show a list of all software installed on your Apple Mac. Scroll through the all list, and delete any dubious and unknown software. Right click to questionable application and choose “Move to Trash”. Another method is drag the application from the Applications folder to the Trash.

Most important, scroll through the all list, and move to trash any unknown applications. Don’t forget, select Finder -> Empty Trash.

Remove SearchUp related files and folders

Now you need to try to find SearchUp related files and folders, and then delete them manually. You need to look for these files in certain directories. To quickly open them, we recommend using the “Go to Folder…” command.

Click on the Finder icon. From the menu bar, select Go and click “Go to Folder…”. As a result, a small window opens that allows you to quickly open a specific directory.

Check for SearchUp generated files in the /Library/LaunchAgents folder

In the “Go to Folder…” window, type the following text and press Go:
/Library/LaunchAgents

This will open the contents of the “/Library/LaunchAgents” folder. Look carefully at it and pay special attention to recently created files, as well as files that have a suspicious name. Move all suspicious files to the Trash. A few examples of files: macsearch.plist, com.machelper.plist, SearchUp.plist, installapp.plist and search.plist. Most often, adware, browser hijackers and PUPs create several files with similar names.

Check for SearchUp generated files in the /Library/Application Support folder

In the “Go to Folder…” window, type the following text and press Go:
/Library/Application Support

This will open the contents of the “Application Support” folder. Look carefully at its contents, pay special attention to recently added/changed folder. Move all suspicious folders to the Trash.

Check for SearchUp generated files in the “~/Library/LaunchAgents” folder

In the “Go to Folder…” window, type the following text and press Go:
~/Library/LaunchAgents

Proceed in the same way as with the “/Library/LaunchAgents” and “/Library/Application Support” folders. Look for suspicious and recently added files. Move all suspicious files to the Trash.

Check for SearchUp generated files in the /Library/LaunchDaemons folder

In the “Go to Folder…” window, type the following text and press Go:
/Library/LaunchDaemons

Carefully browse the entire list of files and pay special attention to recently created files, as well as files that have a suspicious name. Move all suspicious files to the Trash. A few examples of files to be deleted: com.search.plist, com.installapp.plist, com.macsearch.plist, com.machelper.plist and com.SearchUp.plist. In most cases, potentially unwanted programs, adware and browser hijackers create several files with similar names.

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

If you carefully followed the previous steps, then you should be able to remove SearchUp. Of course, very often browser hijackers, adware and potentially unwanted programs hides on a Mac device, disguising itself as legitimate apps and files. Therefore, in some cases, it is difficult for an inexperienced user to decide whether a particular file is part of potentially unwanted programs, browser hijackers and adware. Therefore, we suggest you to run MalwareBytes AntiMalware to scan the Mac device.

Visit the page linked below to download the latest version of MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) for Mac.

After downloading is complete, close all windows on your machine. Further, start the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes will automatically launch and you can see its main window as shown on the screen below.

Next, click the “Scan Now” button to start checking your Apple Mac for the SearchUp adware. Depending on your MAC system, the scan may take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. When a malware, adware or PUPs are detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly. Wait until the the checking is complete.

After the scan is finished, you may check all items detected on your machine. When you are ready, click the “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) will remove SearchUp adware and move the selected items to the program’s quarantine.

Remove SearchUp from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

Remove unwanted addons is a easy way to get rid of SearchUp adware software and revert back web browser’s settings that have been changed by adware.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
Click on ‘three dots menu’ button at the top right corner of the Google Chrome window. In the menu go to ‘More tools’, then ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to get rid of SearchUp adware by reset Chrome settings.	Click on ‘menu’ button and select ‘Add-ons’. Go to ‘Extensions’ tab. To uninstall an add-on, click on ‘Remove’ button next to it. If you are still experiencing issues with SearchUp removal, you need to reset Mozilla Firefox browser.
Safari
On the top menu select ‘Safari’, then ‘Preferences’. Select ‘Extensions’ tab. Select an extension you want to delete and click ‘Uninstall’ button next to it.

How to stay safe online

If you want to get rid of annoying advertisements, web browser redirects and pop-ups, then install an adblocker program like AdGuard. It can block unwanted advertisements and popups, stop websites from tracking your online activities when using the Mozilla Firefox, Safari and Google Chrome. So, if you like browse the Internet, but you do not like intrusive ads and want to protect your MAC system from harmful web-pages, then the AdGuard is your best choice.

Download AdGuard from the following link.

Once the downloading process is complete, run the downloaded file. The “Setup Wizard” window will show up on the computer screen.

Follow the prompts. AdGuard will then be installed. A window will show up asking you to confirm that you want to see a quick guidance. Click “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial that will assist you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you run your Apple Mac, AdGuard will start automatically and stop annoying pop ups, block harmful and misleading websites.

To sum up

After completing the step-by-step instructions shown above, your MAC OS should be free from the SearchUp adware and other malicious software. The Google Chrome, Safari and Firefox will no longer reroute you to various unwanted web sites and online ads. Unfortunately, if the guidance does not help you, then you have caught a new adware, and then the best way – ask for help here.