How to get rid of Ib-search.com redirect from Mac (Chrome, Firefox, Safari)

What is Ib-search.com?

The security experts have determined that Ib-search.com is a fake search engine that is promoted by Browser hijackers. Browser hijackers are a form of malware that
changes browser settings, usually modifying default home and search pages. Ib-search malware can take over your web browser and force you to use the “http://www.ib-search.com” address as your new tab page, search provider and homepage. When Ib-search.com in the Mac computer, it can collect personal info such as search queries as well as browsing history.

When your Mac is infected with the Ib-search malware you will be forced to use its own search engine. It could seem not to be dangerous, but you still should be very careful, since it may display unwanted and malicious ads developed to trick you into buying some questionable apps or products, provide search results that may redirect your internet browser to certain deceptive, misleading or malicious web pages. We suggest that you use only the reliable search engine such as Google, Yahoo or Bing.

In addition to the above, Ib-search.com can be used to gather lots of your confidential information which can be later sold to third parties. You do not know if your home address, account names and passwords are safe. And of course you completely don’t know what will happen when you click on any advertisements on the Ib-search webpage.

If you are unfortunate have browser hijacker, adware or malware running on your MAC, you can follow the step-by-step tutorial here to remove Ib-search.com from Safari, Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.

How can a browser hijacker get on your Apple Mac

PUPs and browser hijackers spreads as a part of various free applications. This means that you need to be very careful when installing programs downloaded from the Web. Be sure to read the Terms of Use and the Software license, choose only the Manual, Advanced or Custom install mode, switch off all additional modules and apps are offered to install.

Threat Summary

Name	Ib-search.com
Type	search provider hijacker, homepage hijacker, PUP, browser hijacker, redirect virus
Affected Browser Settings	new tab page URL, search engine, homepage
Distribution	dubious pop up ads, fake update tools, free programs setup files
Symptoms	Unexpected ads appear on web-sites that you are visiting. You keep getting redirected to unfamiliar web sites. Your MAC OS starts automatically installing unexpected software. Unwanted web browser plugins or toolbar keep coming back. Your web browser start page has changed and you are unable to change it back.
Removal	Ib-search.com removal guide

How to remove Ib-search.com from Mac computer

If you have an unwanted homepage or search provider, constant pop-ups or advertisements, slow Apple Mac, crashing MAC system problems, you are in need of browser hijacker removal assistance. The guidance below will guide you forward to get Ib-search.com removed and will help you get your machine operating at peak capacity again.

To remove Ib-search.com, complete the steps below:

1. Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device
2. Check the list of installed applications
3. Remove Ib-search.com related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove Ib-search.com from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. How to stop Ib-search.com redirect

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

Ib-search malware 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 Ib-search.com.

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.

Check the list of installed applications

Some PUPs, adware and browser hijackers can be removed by uninstalling the free programs they came with. If this way does not succeed, then looking them up in the list of installed programs in the Finder. Use the “Move to Trash” command in order to remove them.

1. Open the Finder.
2. Click “Applications”.
3. It will show a list of all software installed on the machine.
4. Scroll through the all list, and remove questionable and unknown software. Pay maximum attention to the program you installed last.
5. Drag the suspicious program from the Applications folder to the Trash.
6. Empty Trash.

Remove Ib-search.com related files and folders

Now you need to try to find Ib-search.com 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.

Ib-search malware creates several files, these files must be found and removed. Some files created by Ib-search 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 Ib-search 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: installapp.plist, search.plist, com.Ib-search.service.plist, macsearch.plist, com.machelper.plist, com.google.defaultsearch.plist, and com.net-preferences.plist. Most often, browser hijackers, adware software and potentially unwanted programs create several files with similar names.

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

We advise using MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) to scan the Mac for potentially unwanted programs, adware and browser hijackers. This free tool is an advanced malware removal application created by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This program uses the world’s most popular antimalware technology. It is able to help you delete malware and other security threats from your Mac computer for free.

Visit the page linked below to download MalwareBytes.

Once downloading is complete, run it and follow the prompts. Click the “Scan” button to begin scanning your computer for the hijacker that responsible for the Ib-search.com redirects. A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the count of files on your computer and the speed of your MAC. While the MalwareBytes Free application is checking, you can see how many objects it has identified as threat. Review the scan results 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 Ib-search.com from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

This step will show you how to remove harmful add-ons. This can remove Ib-search.com redirects and fix some browsing issues, especially after hijacker infection.

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. When the drop-down menu appears, choose ‘More tools’ and click on ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to delete Ib-search.com 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 issues with Ib-search.com 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 stop Ib-search.com redirect

Run adblocker application such as AdGuard in order to stop advertisements, malvertisements, pop-ups and online trackers, avoid having to install harmful and adware browser plug-ins and add-ons which affect your computer performance and impact your MAC security. Surf the Web anonymously and stay safe online!

Download AdGuard on your MAC system by clicking on the following link.

Once the downloading process is finished, launch the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen. Follow the prompts.

Each time, when you start your machine, AdGuard will start automatically and stop unwanted popups, block Ib-search.com, as well as other malicious or misleading web pages.

Finish words

Once you have finished the step-by-step instructions shown above, your MAC should be clean from this hijacker and other malware. The Firefox, Chrome and Safari will no longer redirect your browser to the Ib-search.com site. Unfortunately, if the steps does not help you, then you have caught a new hijacker, 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 Ib-search malware.