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

What is CleanSearch

CleanSearch is a malicious application tha belongs to the Adware category. Adware is not as dangerous as such as a computer virus or Ransomware, but its presence can bring numerous pop-up windows and/or annoying adverts. Actually authors of adware software is associated with some third-party ad networks and by showing adverts to users they make revenue for yourself. These adverts not only bother your browsing experience but also redirect your web-browser to shady web-sites.

Does adware steal your privacy data? Adware is able to collect a wide variety of your confidential info which can be later transferred to third parties. You do not know if your home address, account names and passwords are safe.

How does CleanSearch get on your computer

Usually, adware gets into your machine as part of a bundle with free apps, sharing files and other unsafe software which users downloaded from the Internet. The makers of adware pays software developers for distributing adware within their software. So, third-party apps are often included as part of the installer. In order to avoid the setup of any adware: choose only Manual, Custom or Advanced setup option and uncheck all additional applications in which you are unsure.

Threat Summary

Name	CleanSearch, CleanSearch 1.0 app
Type	adware, potentially unwanted program (PUP), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, ApplicUnwnt, Adware.MAC.Generic, Adware/Adload!OSX and MacOS.Agent-MT
Distribution	Freeware installers, torrent downloads, fake update tools and shady pop up ads
Symptoms	You keep getting redirected to unfamiliar web sites, unexpected advertisements appear on web-pages that you are visiting, there is an unexpected program in the ‘Applications’ section of the Finder, unwanted internet browser toolbars, unwanted changes in your internet browser such as using a new default search provider, your browser slows to a crawl.
Removal	CleanSearch removal guide

How to Remove CleanSearch adware (removal instructions)

There are a simple manual guidance below that will help you to remove CleanSearch app from your Apple Mac. The most effective method to delete the adware is to follow the manual removal guide and then run MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) automatic utility (it is free). The manual solution will help to weaken this adware software and these malicious software removal tools will completely get rid of CleanSearch and return the Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Chrome settings to default.

To remove CleanSearch, perform the following steps:

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

Remove profiles created by CleanSearch

CleanSearch 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 Apple menu ( ) > System Preferences.

In System Preferences, select Profiles. if there is no Profiles in the list of preferences, that means there are no profiles installed on the Mac. If there is Profiles in the list, then click on it, then select a profile related to CleanSearch.

To delete a malicious profile, click on the minus button ( – ) located at the bottom-left of the Profiles screen.

Delete CleanSearch related programs through the Finder

It is of primary importance to identify and remove adware software, browser hijackers and PUPs through ‘Applications’ section of your Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Very carefully look around the entire list of apps installed on your machine. Most likely, one of them is the CleanSearch . Once you’ve found a dubious, unwanted or unused program, right click to it and choose “Move to Trash”. Another method is drag the program from the Applications folder to the Trash.

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

Remove CleanSearch related files and folders

Now you need to try to find CleanSearch 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.

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

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

Some files created by CleanSearch 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 CleanSearch 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, search.plist, com.CleanSearch.service.plist, installapp.plist, macsearch.plist and com.machelper.plist. Most often, browser hijackers, adware and PUPs create several files with similar names.

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

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

MalwareBytes Free can be downloaded from the following link.

Once the downloading process is complete, close all apps and windows on your MAC system. Run the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes Free will automatically start and you can see its main screen as on the image below.

Now press the “Scan” button to perform a system scan with this tool for the CleanSearch . A scan may take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your Apple Mac and the speed of your machine. While the MalwareBytes Anti Malware application is scanning, you may see count of objects it has identified as threat.

After MalwareBytes AntiMalware has finished scanning, MalwareBytes AntiMalware will display a list of all threats detected by the scan. When you’re ready, press the “Quarantine” button. The MalwareBytes Free will delete CleanSearch .

Remove CleanSearch from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

Annoying CleanSearch adware or other symptoms of adware software in your web-browser is a good reason to find and remove malicious extensions. This is an easy way to recover web-browsers settings and not lose any important information.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right corner, click on Chrome’s main menu button, represented by three vertical dots. 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 CleanSearch 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 problems with CleanSearch 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

Run ad-blocker program like AdGuard in order to stop ads, malvertisements, pop-ups and online trackers, avoid having to install malicious and adware browser plug-ins and add-ons that affect your MAC OS performance and impact your MAC OS security. Browse the Internet anonymously and stay safe online!

1. Download AdGuard on your MAC from the link below.
   
   

   AdGuard for Mac download
   3772 downloads
   Author: © Adguard
   Category: Security tools
   Update: January 17, 2018
   
2. After the download is done, launch the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
3. Once the installation is complete, click “Skip” to close the install program and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial that will allow 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 start your MAC system, AdGuard will start automatically and stop annoying advertisements, block malicious and misleading websites.

Finish words

After completing the few simple steps shown above, your computer should be clean from this adware and other malicious software. The Chrome, Safari and Mozilla Firefox will no longer display any unwanted ads when you browse the Internet. Unfortunately, if the step-by-step tutorial 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 CleanSearch adware.