How to remove WebSearchUpgrade app/extension from Mac (Virus removal guide)

What is WebSearchUpgrade

WebSearchUpgrade is supposed to be a program that will improve the browsing experience, but according to security professionals, this program is adware. Adware is a part of malicious software. It is designed to bombard you with unsolicited advertisements and popup windows that could potentially be dangerous for your Mac. If you get adware on your computer, it can alter web-browser settings and install malicious browser extensions.

In some cases, adware functions as spyware. Spyware can sometimes seek out your personal information stored on the MAC system, collect this information and use it to steal your identity. In this blog post we will discuss how can you remove adware from the Apple Mac manually or with free adware removal utilities compatible with compatible with modern operating systems.

How does WebSearchUpgrade get on your MAC

Most of unwanted ads and pop ups come from web-browser toolbars and/or extensions, BHOs (browser helper objects) and additional software. Most commonly, these items claim itself as apps which improve your experience on the Internet by providing a fast and interactive homepage or a search provider that does not track you. Remember, how to avoid the unwanted software. Be cautious, launch only reputable software which download from reputable sources. NEVER install any unknown and suspicious software.

Threat Summary

Name	WebSearchUpgrade, WebSearchUpgrade 1.0 app
Type	adware, potentially unwanted program (PUP), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, ApplicUnwnt, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, MacOS.Agent-MT, Adware.MAC.Generic, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A and Adware/Adload!OSX
Distribution	Freeware installers, dubious pop up advertisements, fake software updaters and torrent downloads
Symptoms	Your browser is redirected to web-sites you did not want, unclosable window appear and recommend fake updates and other unwanted programs, new entries appear in your Applications folder, unwanted internet browser toolbars, unexpected changes in your browser like using a new default search provider, fast Internet but slow browsing speeds.
Removal	WebSearchUpgrade removal guide

How to Remove WebSearchUpgrade adware (removal steps)

Fortunately, it is not hard to remove WebSearchUpgrade adware. In the following guidance, we will provide two ways to free your computer of this adware. One is the manual removal way and the other is automatic removal solution. You can select the way that best fits you. Please follow the removal guidance below to delete WebSearchUpgrade adware right now!

To remove WebSearchUpgrade, complete the following steps:

1. Remove profiles created by WebSearchUpgrade
2. Remove WebSearchUpgrade associated software by using the Finder
3. Remove WebSearchUpgrade related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove WebSearchUpgrade from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. How to stay safe online
7. To sum up

Remove profiles created by WebSearchUpgrade

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

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

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.

Remove WebSearchUpgrade associated software by using the Finder

Some of PUPs, browser hijackers and adware can be removed using the Move to Trash utility which can be found in the Finder. So, if you’re using any version of Mac OS and you have noticed an unwanted program, then first try to remove it through the Finder.

Make sure you have closed all browsers and other applications. Next, delete any unwanted and suspicious apps from Apple Mac using the Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Look around the entire list of software installed on your computer. Most probably, one of them is the WebSearchUpgrade adware. Select the suspicious program or the program that name is not familiar to you and uninstall it.

Drag the dubious program from the Applications folder to the Trash.

Most important, don’t forget, choose Finder -> Empty Trash.

Remove WebSearchUpgrade related files and folders

Now you need to try to find WebSearchUpgrade 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.

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

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

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

Check for WebSearchUpgrade 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.WebSearchUpgrade.system, then this folder must be deleted. Move all suspicious folders and files to the Trash.

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

Manual WebSearchUpgrade removal requires some computer skills. Some files and system entries that created by the adware can be not fully removed. We advise that run MalwareBytes to scan the Mac device. Moreover, this application will allow you to remove browser hijackers, adware, potentially unwanted programs and toolbars that your MAC system can be affected too.

Download MalwareBytes Anti Malware from the following link.

After the downloading process is finished, run it and follow the prompts. Press the “Scan” button for checking your MAC OS for the WebSearchUpgrade . Depending on your machine, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. While the MalwareBytes Anti Malware application is scanning, you can see number of objects it has identified as threat. Make sure to check mark the threats which are unsafe and then click the “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes is a free application that you can use to remove all detected folders, files, malicious services and so on.

Remove WebSearchUpgrade from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you have ‘WebSearchUpgrade ‘ removal problem, then remove unwanted extensions can help you. In the steps below we’ll show you the method to remove harmful extensions without reinstall. This will also help to delete WebSearchUpgrade from your web browser.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top-right corner, expand the Google Chrome menu. When the drop-down menu appears, select ‘More tools’ and click on ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to get rid of WebSearchUpgrade adware software 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 WebSearchUpgrade 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

It’s important to use ad-blocking software like AdGuard to protect your computer from malicious web pages. Most security experts says that it’s okay to stop advertisements. You should do so just to stay safe! And, of course, the AdGuard can to block misleading and other unwanted websites.

AdGuard can be downloaded from the following link.

Once downloading 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 tutorial. Click “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick guide that will help you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you start your computer, AdGuard will start automatically and stop annoying popup advertisements, block malicious and misleading web pages.

To sum up

Once you’ve done the steps above, your MAC OS should be clean from this adware software and other malicious software. The Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Safari will no longer display any unwanted ads when you surf the Net. Unfortunately, if the steps does not help you, then you have caught a new adware, 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 WebSearchUpgrade adware.