How to uninstall GlobalSearchSystem app/extension from Mac

What is GlobalSearchSystem

GlobalSearchSystem is supposed to be an app that will improve the browsing experience, but according to security professionals, this application is adware. Adware is something which designed in order to display third-party ads to the user without asking his permission. Adware software takes control of internet browsers and redirects them to unwanted web pages and online ads every time you browse the Net. Adware software can end up on your machine in various ways. Most commonly is when you download free software and forget to uncheck the box for the additional apps installation.

Even worse, adware can also be spyware. Spyware can sometimes seek out your confidential information stored on the machine, gather this information and use it to steal your identity. The guidance below explaining steps to remove GlobalSearchSystem. Feel free to use it for removal of the adware that may attack Safari, Firefox and Google Chrome and other popular web browsers. The steps will allow you get rid of adware software and thereby clean your web browser from any unwanted advertisements.

How does GlobalSearchSystem get on your MAC

Adware usually spreads together with certain free programs that you download off of the Web. So, think back, have you ever download and run any freeware. In order to avoid infection, in the Setup wizard, you should be be proactive and carefully read the ‘Terms of use’, the ‘license agreement’ and other setup screens, as well as to always select the ‘Manual’ or ‘Advanced’ installation mode, when installing anything downloaded from the Net.

Threat Summary

Name	GlobalSearchSystem, GlobalSearchSystem 1.0 app
Type	adware, PUP (potentially unwanted program), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	Osx.Adware.Cimpli, ApplicUnwnt, Adware/Adload!OSX, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, OSX.Trojan.Gen, MacOS.Agent-MT, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload and Adware.MAC.Generic
Distribution	Freeware installers, fake software updaters, shady popup advertisements and torrent downloads
Symptoms	You keep getting redirected to unfamiliar web sites, pop-up advertisements won’t go away, there is an unwanted program in the ‘Applications’ section of the Finder, unexpected icons on your desktop, unexpected changes in your web browser such as using a new default search engine, slow Internet or slow browsing.
Removal	GlobalSearchSystem removal guide

How to remove GlobalSearchSystem

As with deleting adware software, malware or potentially unwanted apps, there are few steps you can do. We recommend trying them all. If you do only one part of the tutorial, then it should be use malicious software removal tool, because it should remove adware and block any further infection. But to completely delete GlobalSearchSystem adware you’ll have to at least reset your web-browser settings such as startpage, new tab page and default search provider to default state, remove all unwanted and suspicious apps, and scan your Mac for adware using malware removal utilities. Some of the steps below will require you to close this web-page. So, please read the guide carefully, after that bookmark it or open it on your smartphone for later reference.

To remove GlobalSearchSystem, complete the following steps:

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

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

GlobalSearchSystem can make changes to the Mac system such as malicious changes to browser settings, and the addition of malicious system profiles. You need to check the system preferences, find and remove malicious profiles and ensure your settings are as you expect.

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 GlobalSearchSystem.

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 computer, which is normal.

Check the list of installed programs

Go to the Finder and remove questionable applications, all programs you don’t remember installing. It is important to pay the most attention to programs you have recently installed. If you do not know what a program does, look for the answer on the Internet.

Open Finder and click “Applications” as shown in the figure below.

You will see a list of applications installed on your MAC system. We recommend to pay maximum attention to the program you installed last. Most likely, it’s the GlobalSearchSystem adware. If you’re in doubt, you can always check the program by doing a search for her name in Google, Yahoo or Bing.

When the program which you need to delete is found, simply right click on its name, and choose “Move to Trash”.

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

Remove GlobalSearchSystem related files and folders

Now you need to try to find GlobalSearchSystem 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.

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

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

Some files created by GlobalSearchSystem 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 GlobalSearchSystem 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: com.machelper.plist, installapp.plist, macsearch.plist, com.net-preferences.plist, search.plist, com.GlobalSearchSystem.service.plist and com.google.defaultsearch.plist, . Most often, adware software, PUPs and browser hijackers create several files with similar names.

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

We suggest using MalwareBytes Free. You can download and install MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) to search for and get rid of GlobalSearchSystem related apps from your Mac. When installed and updated, the malicious software remover automatically identifies and deletes all security threats present on the MAC.

Installing the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware is simple. First you will need to download MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) on your Apple Mac by clicking on the link below.

After downloading is done, close all windows on your MAC OS. Further, run the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) will automatically start and you can see its main window as shown below.

Next, press the “Scan Now” button to begin scanning your Apple Mac for the GlobalSearchSystem adware. This task can take quite a while, so please be patient.

As the scanning ends, MalwareBytes will open a list of found items. Next, you need to press the “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) will delete GlobalSearchSystem adware and move the selected items to the Quarantine.

Remove GlobalSearchSystem from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

This step will show you how to remove malicious addons. This can remove GlobalSearchSystem adware and fix some surfing issues, especially after adware infection.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top-right corner, expand the Google Chrome menu. 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 GlobalSearchSystem 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 GlobalSearchSystem 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

In order to increase your security and protect your computer against new annoying advertisements and harmful websites, you need to run ad blocking program that blocks an access to harmful ads and web pages. Moreover, the application can stop the open of intrusive advertising, that also leads to faster loading of web sites and reduce the consumption of web traffic.

AdGuard can be downloaded from the following link.

When the download is done, 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 instructions. Press “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick guidance that will assist you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you launch your machine, AdGuard will start automatically and stop unwanted popup ads, block malicious and misleading web-pages.

To sum up

After completing the steps outlined above, your MAC OS should be clean from this adware software and other malicious software. The Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari will no longer display any unwanted ads when you browse the Net. Unfortunately, if the few simple steps does not help you, then you have caught a new adware software, and then the best way – ask for help.

Please create a new question by using the “Ask Question” button in the Questions and Answers. Try to give us some details about your problems, so we can try to help you more accurately. Wait for one of our trained “Security Team” or Site Administrator to provide you with knowledgeable assistance tailored to your problem with the GlobalSearchSystem adware.