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

What is AccesibleDataSearch

According to security specialists, AccesibleDataSearch is an adware application. Adware is a type of malicious software. It have various methods of earning by displaying ads forcibly to its victims. Adware software can generate pop-up windows, display unsolicited advertisements, change the victim’s web-browser settings, or redirect the victim’s internet browser to scam web-sites. Aside from causing unwanted advertisements and web-browser redirects, it also can slow down the MAC OS.

Another reason why you need to delete AccesibleDataSearch is its online data-tracking activity. It can be used to gather and transmit user info without your knowledge. The adware can track information about web-sites visited, internet browser and system information, and your MAC IP address. Below we are discussing the ways which are very effective in uninstalling adware. The instructions will also allow you to delete AccesibleDataSearch from your MAC for free.

How does AccesibleDataSearch get on your machine

The most common way to get adware is a freeware setup file. Most commonly, the user have a chance to disable all unneeded modules, but some installation packages are designed to confuse the average users, in order to trick them into installing potentially unwanted apps and adware. Anyway, easier to prevent adware rather than clean up your MAC after one. So, keep your browser updated (turn on automatic updates), use good antivirus software, double check freeware before you run it (do a google search, scan a downloaded file with VirusTotal), avoid misleading and unknown webpages.

Threat Summary

Name	AccesibleDataSearch, AccesibleDataSearch 1.0 app
Type	adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, Adware/Adload!OSX, Adware.MAC.Generic, ApplicUnwnt, MacOS.Agent-MT and Program:MacOS/Vigram.A
Distribution	Free software installers, fake software updaters, suspicious popup ads and torrent downloads
Symptoms	Every time you perform an Internet search, your web browser is redirected to another web-site, advertising links appear in places they shouldn’t be, there is an unwanted program in the ‘Applications’ section of the Finder, unwanted web-browser plugins or toolbars keep coming back, your internet browser start page has modified and you cannot change it back, low ping but slow Internet.
Removal	AccesibleDataSearch removal guide

How to Remove AccesibleDataSearch (removal tutorial)

There are a simple manual tutorial below which will help you to get rid of AccesibleDataSearch adware from your MAC. The most effective method to delete this adware is to follow the manual removal instructions and then use MalwareBytes Anti-Malware automatic tool (it is free). The manual way will help to weaken this adware and these malicious software removal tools will completely remove the adware and revert back the Mozilla Firefox, Chrome and Safari settings to default.

To remove AccesibleDataSearch, complete the steps below:

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

Remove profiles created by AccesibleDataSearch

AccesibleDataSearch 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 AccesibleDataSearch.

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.

Delete AccesibleDataSearch related programs through the Finder

The next step in removing browser hijackers, PUPs and adware by yourself is to go into the Finder, then Applications. Take a look at the list of software on your Mac and see if there are any dubious and unknown apps. If you see any, you need to delete it. Of course, before doing so, you can do an Internet search to find details on the application. If it is a browser hijacker, PUP and adware, you will likely find information that says so.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

It will open a list of all software installed on your Apple Mac. Scroll through the all list, and uninstall any suspicious and unknown apps. Right click to questionable program and choose “Move to Trash”. Another way is drag the program from the Applications folder to the Trash.

Most important, scroll through the all list, and move to trash any unknown applications. Don’t forget, choose Finder -> Empty Trash.

Remove AccesibleDataSearch related files and folders

Now you need to try to find AccesibleDataSearch 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

We advise using MalwareBytes Anti Malware to scan the Mac device for adware software, PUPs and browser hijackers. This free tool is an advanced malware removal program designed by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This program uses the world’s most popular antimalware technology. It is able to help you delete browser hijackers and other security threats from your Mac for free.

1. Click the following link to download MalwareBytes Free.
   
   

   Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
   20850 downloads
   Author: Malwarebytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: September 10, 2020
   
2. After downloading is complete, close all applications and windows on your computer. Open a file location. Run the downloaded file and follow the prompts.
3. Click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan with this utility for the AccesibleDataSearch that causes internet browsers to show unwanted ads. Depending on your MAC OS, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. While the MalwareBytes program is checking, you can see count of objects it has identified as threat.
4. When the scan get finished, the results are displayed in the scan report. Review the scan results and then press “Quarantine”.

Remove AccesibleDataSearch from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

This step will show you how to remove harmful extensions. This can delete AccesibleDataSearch adware software and fix some browsing problems, especially after adware infection.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top-right corner, expand the 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 remove AccesibleDataSearch 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 AccesibleDataSearch adware removal, you need to reset 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

Run an ad blocking tool like AdGuard will protect you from malicious advertisements and content. Moreover, you can find that the AdGuard have an option to protect your privacy and stop phishing and spam web-pages. Additionally, ad blocking apps will help you to avoid annoying pop-ups and unverified links that also a good way to stay safe online.

Installing the AdGuard is simple. First you’ll need to download AdGuard from the following link.

Once the downloading process is complete, 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 guidance. Click “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” to see an quick guidance which will allow you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you launch your MAC OS, AdGuard will run automatically and stop annoying ads, block malicious and misleading web sites.

Finish words

Now your computer should be free of the AccesibleDataSearch adware that causes tons of intrusive popups. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted ads and intrusive malicious web pages) and MalwareBytes Free (to periodically scan your MAC for new malware, browser hijackers and adware software). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Mac operating system. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new browser hijackers, harmful programs and adware software are released.

If you are still having problems while trying to delete AccesibleDataSearch from your browser, then ask for help here.