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

What is NetLookupSearch

NetLookupSearch is an adware application that can make big problem to your MAC. Adware also known as ‘ad-supported’ software is a type of malicious program which displays lots of ads in form of pop-ups, coupons, promos or even fake alerts on the browser. NetLookupSearch can seriously affect your privacy, your computer’s performance and security.

Another reason why you need to delete NetLookupSearch is its online data-tracking activity. It can monetize its functionality by gathering user data from your surfing sessions. This user data, subsequently, can be easily transferred third party companies. This puts your privacy data at a security risk.

If you want to delete the adware, you will not succeed, because it is very stubborn. Using the following guidance, you surely can remove NetLookupSearch completely from your MAC system.

How does NetLookupSearch get on your MAC system

Adware usually gets on MAC computers as a part of freeware. So, when you installing free apps, carefully read the disclaimers, select the Custom or Advanced installation type to watch for bundled apps that are being installed, because certain of the programs are potentially unwanted apps and adware software.

Threat Summary

Name	NetLookupSearch, NetLookupSearch 1.0 app
Type	adware, PUP (potentially unwanted program), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Adware.MAC.Generic, MacOS.Agent-MT, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, ApplicUnwnt, OSX.Trojan.Gen and Adware/Adload!OSX
Distribution	Free software installers, misleading popup advertisements, torrent downloads and fake software updaters
Symptoms	You keep getting redirected to dubious web-sites, advertisements appear in places they shouldn’t be, your MAC starts automatically installing unwanted software, unexpected internet browser plugins or toolbars keep coming back, unexpected changes in your browser like using a new default search provider, low ping but slow Internet.
Removal	NetLookupSearch removal guide

How to Remove NetLookupSearch adware (removal instructions)

There are several steps to removing the NetLookupSearch adware, because it installs itself so deeply into the computer. You need to delete all suspicious and unknown software, then remove harmful add-ons from the Firefox, Chrome and Safari and other web browsers you have installed. Finally, you need to reset your web browser settings to get rid of any changes the adware software has made, and then check your machine with MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) to ensure the adware is fully removed. It will take a while.

To remove NetLookupSearch, perform the steps below:

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

Remove profiles created by NetLookupSearch

NetLookupSearch 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 associated with NetLookupSearch.

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.

Delete NetLookupSearch related software through the Finder

Check out the Finder (Applications section) to see all installed software. If you see any unknown and suspicious applications, they are the ones you need to delete.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Very carefully look around the entire list of programs installed on your MAC. Most likely, one of them is the NetLookupSearch adware. Once you have found a dubious, unwanted or unused program, right click to it and select “Move to Trash”. Another method is drag the program from the Applications folder to the Trash.

Don’t forget, select Finder -> “Empty Trash”.

Remove NetLookupSearch related files and folders

Now you need to try to find NetLookupSearch 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

Manual NetLookupSearch removal requires some computer skills. Some files and system entries that created by the adware software can be not completely removed. We advise that run MalwareBytes AntiMalware to scan the Mac. Moreover, this application will allow you to get rid of browser hijackers, potentially unwanted programs, toolbars and adware that your computer may be affected too.

Download MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) by clicking on the link below.

After the downloading process is finished, run it and follow the prompts. Click the “Scan” button to begin scanning your machine for the NetLookupSearch . This procedure can take quite a while, so please be patient. When a malware, adware software or PUPs are found, the number of the security threats will change accordingly. Review the scan results and then press the “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) is a free program that you can use to delete all detected folders, files, malicious services and so on.

Remove NetLookupSearch from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

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

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right hand corner, click on ‘three vertical dots’, and this will open up the main menu on Google Chrome. 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 NetLookupSearch 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 NetLookupSearch 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

To put it simply, you need to use an ad blocker utility (AdGuard, for example). It will stop and protect you from malicious web pages, unwanted advertisements and popups. To be able to do that, the ad-blocking program uses a list of filters. Each filter is a rule that describes a malicious web page, an advertising content, a banner and others. The ad blocker program automatically uses these filters, depending on the webpages you are visiting.

1. AdGuard can be downloaded from the following link.
   
   

   AdGuard for Mac download
   3687 downloads
   Author: © Adguard
   Category: Security tools
   Update: January 17, 2018
   
2. After the downloading process is finished, run the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
3. When the installation is finished, click “Skip” to close the setup application and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial which will help you get to know AdGuard better.
4. In most cases, the default settings are enough and you don’t need to change anything. Each time, when you run your computer, AdGuard will run automatically and stop annoying advertisements, block harmful and misleading web-pages.

To sum up

After completing the tutorial outlined above, your MAC system should be clean from this adware and other malicious software. The Mozilla Firefox, Safari and Google Chrome will no longer show any unwanted ads when you browse the Web. Unfortunately, if the step-by-step instructions 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 NetLookupSearch adware.