How to uninstall TechResultsSearch app/extension from Mac

What is TechResultsSearch

TechResultsSearch is an adware program. Adware is form of malware that can cause problems for your MAC. TechResultsSearch can generate numerous additional popup, banner, pop-under and in-text link advertisements flooding on your browser; gather your privacy data such as login details, online searches, etc; run in the background and drag down your MAC OS running speed; give more chances for other adware software, potentially unwanted software even malicious software to get on your machine.

Even worse, in some cases adware can function as a spyware. Spyware can seek out your confidential information stored on the MAC, collect this information and use it to steal your identity. If you are unfortunate have adware, you can follow the step-by-step guide below that will allow you to get rid of TechResultsSearch and thereby delete unwanted advertisements from your web browser.

How does TechResultsSearch get on your MAC system

Adware software commonly comes on the MAC with free software. In most cases, it comes without the user’s knowledge. Therefore, many users aren’t even aware that their MAC system has been infected with PUPs and adware software. Please follow the easy rules in order to protect your machine from adware software and PUPs: don’t install any suspicious software, read the user agreement and choose only the Custom, Manual or Advanced setup mode, don’t rush to press the Next button. Also, always try to find a review of the program on the World Wide Web. Be careful and attentive!

Threat Summary

Name	TechResultsSearch, TechResultsSearch 1.0 app
Type	adware, potentially unwanted program (PUP), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, MacOS.Agent-MT, ApplicUnwnt, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, Adware/Adload!OSX, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, OSX.Trojan.Gen and Adware.MAC.Generic
Distribution	Free software installers, torrent downloads, malicious pop up advertisements and fake updaters
Symptoms	You keep getting redirected to questionable webpages, pop-up advertisements won’t go away, there is an unwanted application in the ‘Applications’ section of the Finder, unexpected web browser addons or toolbars keep coming back, your Mac settings are being changed without your request, slow Internet or slow browsing.
Removal	TechResultsSearch removal guide

How to Remove TechResultsSearch adware (removal steps)

Without a doubt, TechResultsSearch is harmful to your MAC OS. So you need to quickly and completely remove this adware. To get rid of adware software, you can use the manual removal steps that are given below or free malware removal utility such as MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (it is free). We advise you use automatic removal method that will help you to uninstall TechResultsSearch easily and safely. Manual removal is best used only if you’re well versed in MAC or in the case where adware software is not uninstalled automatically. Some of the steps will require you to restart your MAC OS or close this web-site. So, read this guide carefully, then bookmark this page or open it on your smartphone for later reference.

To remove TechResultsSearch, perform the steps below:

1. Remove profiles created by TechResultsSearch
2. Delete TechResultsSearch related programs through the Finder
3. Remove TechResultsSearch related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove TechResultsSearch from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. How to stay safe online
7. Finish words

Remove profiles created by TechResultsSearch

TechResultsSearch 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.

Click Apple menu ( ) > System Preferences.

In System Preferences, select Profiles. if there is no Profiles in the list of preferences, that means there are no profiles installed on the Mac device. If there is Profiles in the list, then click on it, then select a profile related to TechResultsSearch.

To delete a malicious profile, click on the minus button ( – ) located at the bottom-left of the Profiles screen.

Delete TechResultsSearch related programs through the Finder

It is of primary importance to identify and remove browser hijackers, adware and PUPs through ‘Applications’ section of your Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications” like the one below.

You will see a list of software installed on your MAC OS. We recommend to pay maximum attention to the program you installed last. Most likely, it is the TechResultsSearch adware software. If you are in doubt, you can always check the program by doing a search for her name in Google, Yahoo or Bing.

Once the application which you need to delete is found, simply right click on its name, and select “Move to Trash”.

Don’t forget, choose Finder, then “Empty Trash”.

Remove TechResultsSearch related files and folders

Now you need to try to find TechResultsSearch 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.

TechResultsSearch creates several files, these files must be found and removed. Below is a list of files associated with this unwanted program.

• /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.TechResultsSearch.system.plist
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.TechResultsSearch.service.plist
• /Library/Application Support/.(RANDOM)/System/com.TechResultsSearch.system
• ~/Library/Application Support/.(RANDOM)/Services/com.TechResultsSearch.service.app

Some files created by TechResultsSearch are hidden from the user. To find and delete them, you need to enable “show hidden files”. To do this, use the shortcut CMD + SHIFT + . Press once to show hidden files and again to hide them. There is another way. Click Finder -> Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal. In Terminal, paste the following text: defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES

Press Enter. Hold the ‘Option/alt’ key, then right click on the Finder icon in the dock and click Relaunch.

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 TechResultsSearch 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, installapp.plist, com.google.defaultsearch.plist, , com.TechResultsSearch.service.plist, com.net-preferences.plist and search.plist. Most often, adware software, PUPs and browser hijackers create several files with similar names.

Check for TechResultsSearch 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. Check the contents of suspicious folders, if there is a file with a name similar to com.TechResultsSearch.system, then this folder must be deleted. Move all suspicious folders to the Trash.

Check for TechResultsSearch 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 TechResultsSearch 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.system.plist, com.TechResultsSearch.system.plist, com.installapp.system.plist, com.machelper.system.plist and com.macsearch.system.plist. In most cases, adware, browser hijackers and potentially unwanted programs create several files with similar names.

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

We advise using MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) to scan the Mac computer for adware, potentially unwanted programs and browser hijackers. This free utility is an advanced malware removal application designed by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This program uses the world’s most popular anti malware technology. It is able to help you delete web-browser toolbars and other security threats from your Mac computer for free.

1. Installing the MalwareBytes Free is simple. First you’ll need to download MalwareBytes Anti Malware on your Windows Desktop from the link below.
   
   

   Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
   20850 downloads
   Author: Malwarebytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: September 10, 2020
   
2. After the downloading process is done, please close all applications and open windows on your MAC system. Run the downloaded file. Follow the prompts.
3. The MalwareBytes Anti-Malware will run and display the main window.
4. Further, click the “Scan” button for scanning your MAC OS for the TechResultsSearch adware. A scan may take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your MAC and the speed of your MAC system. While the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware tool is scanning, you may see how many objects it has identified as being affected by malicious software.
5. When MalwareBytes Free is done scanning your computer, MalwareBytes Free will show a scan report.
6. Make sure to check mark the threats that are unsafe and then press the “Remove Selected Items” button.
7. Close the AntiMalware and continue with the next step.

Remove TechResultsSearch from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

Remove unwanted extensions is a easy solution to delete TechResultsSearch adware software and return web browser’s settings which have been changed by adware software.

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 remove TechResultsSearch adware by reset Google 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 TechResultsSearch adware 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

Use an ad-blocker tool like AdGuard will protect you from malicious advertisements and content. Moreover, you may find that the AdGuard have an option to protect your privacy and stop phishing and spam webpages. Additionally, ad-blocker apps will allow you to avoid undesired pop ups and unverified links that also a good way to stay safe online.

1. Download AdGuard on your MAC from the link below.
   
   

   AdGuard for Mac download
   3687 downloads
   Author: © Adguard
   Category: Security tools
   Update: January 17, 2018
   
2. After the download is complete, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
3. When the install is complete, click “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial that will allow you get to know AdGuard better.
4. In most cases, the default settings are enough and you do not need to change anything. Each time, when you launch your machine, AdGuard will start automatically and stop intrusive advertisements, block malicious and misleading web-pages.

Finish words

After completing the steps shown above, your machine should be clean from the TechResultsSearch adware and other malware. The Safari, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox will no longer redirect you to unwanted web-pages and malicious web sites. Unfortunately, if the step-by-step guidance does not help you, then you have caught a new adware, and then the best way – ask for help here.