How to uninstall DigitalSearchPlatform app/extension from Mac (Virus removal guide)

What is DigitalSearchPlatform

According to security experts, DigitalSearchPlatform is an adware application. Adware is a type of malicious software that displays unwanted advertisements on the browser screen. Some of these ads are scams or fake ads developed to trick users. Even the harmless advertisements can become really irritating. Adware can be installed unintentionally and without users knowing about it, when users open email attachments, install free applications.

Another reason why you need to get rid of the DigitalSearchPlatform adware is its online data-tracking activity. It can gather your Web surfing activity by recording URLs visited, IP addresses, internet 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 privacy information theft. This is another reason why DigitalSearchPlatform should be uninstalled immediately.

If you want to get rid of the adware, you will not succeed, because it is very stubborn. Using the following instructions, you surely can remove DigitalSearchPlatform completely from your Mac.

How does DigitalSearchPlatform get on your MAC

Usually, adware gets into MAC computers as part of a bundle with free software, sharing files and other unsafe software which you downloaded from the Internet. The creators of adware pays software developers for distributing adware within their apps. So, optional programs is often included as part of the setup file. In order to avoid the installation of any adware: select only Manual, Custom or Advanced setup option and uncheck all bundled software in which you are unsure.

Threat Summary

Name	DigitalSearchPlatform, DigitalSearchPlatform 1.0 app, “digital platform search daemon”
Type	adware, PUP (potentially unwanted program), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	ApplicUnwnt, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, MacOS.Agent-MT, Adware/Adload!OSX, Adware.MAC.Generic, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload and OSX.Trojan.Gen
Distribution	Free software installers, shady pop-up advertisements, fake updaters and torrent downloads
Symptoms	When you go to a website, you’re frequently redirected to another web-page that you do not intend to visit, advertising popups won’t go away, unexpected application installed without your say-so, unwanted web-browser toolbars, unwanted changes in your internet browser like using a new default search engine, fast Internet but slow browsing speeds.
Removal	DigitalSearchPlatform removal guide

How to remove DigitalSearchPlatform from Mac computer

Fortunately, we’ve an effective solution which will help you manually or/and automatically remove DigitalSearchPlatform from your browser and bring your web browser settings, including new tab page, start page and search engine, back to normal. Below you’ll find a removal guidance with all the steps you may need to successfully remove adware and its components. Some of the steps will require you to reboot your computer or close this web site. So, read this instructions carefully, then bookmark this page or open it on your smartphone for later reference.

To remove DigitalSearchPlatform, follow the steps below:

1. Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device
2. Uninstall DigitalSearchPlatform associated software by using the Finder
3. Remove DigitalSearchPlatform related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove DigitalSearchPlatform from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. How to stay safe online

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

DigitalSearchPlatform 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 associated with DigitalSearchPlatform.

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 device, which is normal.

Uninstall DigitalSearchPlatform associated software by using the Finder

Check out the Finder (Applications section) to see all installed programs. If you see any unknown and dubious programs, they are the ones you need to remove.

Make sure you have closed all internet browsers and other software. Next, remove any undesired and suspicious software from MAC system using the Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

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

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

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

Remove DigitalSearchPlatform related files and folders

Now you need to try to find DigitalSearchPlatform 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

You can delete DigitalSearchPlatform associated files automatically through the use of MalwareBytes Free. We advise this free malware removal utility because it can easily delete toolbars, PUPs, browser hijackers and adware with all their components such as files, folders and system entries.

Please go to the link below to download MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM).

After the download is done, close all apps and windows on your MAC. Run the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) will automatically start and you can see its main screen like below.

Now click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan with this utility for the DigitalSearchPlatform adware. When a threat is detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly.

Once finished, MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) will show a list of all items found by the scan. Next, you need to click the “Quarantine” button. The MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) will delete DigitalSearchPlatform adware.

Remove DigitalSearchPlatform from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you have ‘DigitalSearchPlatform ‘ removal problem, then remove unwanted extensions can help you. In the steps below we’ll show you the solution to delete malicious plugins without reinstall. This will also help to remove DigitalSearchPlatform adware software from your web browser.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top-right corner, expand the 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 DigitalSearchPlatform 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 DigitalSearchPlatform 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

If you surf the Internet, you cannot avoid malvertising. But you can protect your internet browser against it. Download and use an adblocker program. AdGuard is an ad blocker which can filter out a large amount of of the malvertising, blocking dynamic scripts from loading malicious content.

1. AdGuard can be downloaded from the following link.
   
   

   AdGuard for Mac download
   3686 downloads
   Author: © Adguard
   Category: Security tools
   Update: January 17, 2018
   
2. Once downloading is complete, launch the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
3. After the install is finished, press “Skip” to close the setup program and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial which will assist 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 start your machine, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop intrusive ads, block harmful and misleading web pages.

Finish words

Now your computer should be free of the DigitalSearchPlatform adware. We suggest that you keep MalwareBytes (to periodically scan your MAC system for new adware softwares and other malware) and AdGuard (to help you stop annoying popup ads and harmful webpages). Moreover, to prevent any adware, please stay clear of unknown and third party applications.

If you need more help with DigitalSearchPlatform related issues, go to here.