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

What is SearchPartyd

SearchPartyd is a malicious application that acts as adware. Adware is a type of malware. When adware gets inside your Mac, it might carry out various harmful tasks. Some of the more common acts on computers include: display various pop up deals and/or annoying adverts; redirect your internet browser to shady websites; slow down your machine; modify web-browser settings.

Another reason why you need to get rid of SearchPartyd is its online data-tracking activity. It can collect personal information (your ip address, what is a webpage you are viewing now, what you are looking for on the Net, which links you are clicking), which can later transfer to third parties.

If you are unfortunate have adware software, you can follow the step-by-step guidance below that will allow you to delete SearchPartyd and get rid of any unwanted advertisements from your web browser.

How does SearchPartyd get on your MAC OS

Adware usually is bundled with some free software that users download off of the Internet. So, think back, have you ever download and run any free applications. In order to avoid infection, in the Setup wizard, you should be be proactive and carefully read the ‘Terms of use’, the ‘license agreement’ and other installation screens, as well as to always choose the ‘Manual’ or ‘Advanced’ installation mode, when installing anything downloaded from the Internet.

Threat Summary

Name	SearchPartyd, SearchPartyd 1.0 app
Type	adware software, potentially unwanted application (PUA), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	OSX.Trojan.Gen, Adware.MAC.Generic, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, ApplicUnwnt, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, Adware/Adload!OSX, MacOS.Agent-MT and Program:MacOS/Vigram.A
Distribution	Free software installers, suspicious pop-up ads, fake update tools and torrent downloads
Symptoms	You keep getting redirected to unfamiliar web sites, unclosable window appear and recommend fake updates and other unwanted programs, your Apple Mac starts automatically installing unwanted programs, unexpected web browser plugins or toolbars keep coming back, unwanted changes in your web browser like using a new default search engine, low ping but slow Internet.
Removal	SearchPartyd removal guide

How to remove SearchPartyd adware

According to experienced security experts, SearchPartyd removal can be complete manually and/or automatically. These tools which are listed below will help you remove adware, harmful browser extensions, malware and potentially unwanted applications . However, if you’re not willing to install other software to remove the adware, then use instructions below to revert back your Apple Mac settings to their previous states.

To remove SearchPartyd, use the following steps:

1. Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device
2. Remove SearchPartyd related apps through the Finder
3. Remove SearchPartyd related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove SearchPartyd from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. How to stay safe online

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

SearchPartyd 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 software.

Click the System Preferences icon ( ) in the Dock, or choose Apple menu ( ) > System Preferences.

In System Preferences, click Profiles, then select a profile related to SearchPartyd.

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.

Remove SearchPartyd related apps through the Finder

In order to get rid of potentially unwanted programs, adware and browser hijackers, open the Finder and click on “Applications”. Check the list of installed programs. For the ones you do not know, run an Internet search to see if they are adware, potentially unwanted programs and browser hijackers. If yes, delete them off. Even if they are just a applications that you do not use, then removing them off will increase your MAC system start up time and speed dramatically.

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

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Look around the entire list of programs installed on your MAC. Most likely, one of them is the adware software associated with SearchPartyd. Choose the dubious program or the program that name is not familiar to you and delete it.

Drag the dubious application from the Applications folder to the Trash.

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

Remove SearchPartyd related files and folders

Now you need to try to find SearchPartyd 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

We suggest using MalwareBytes Free to scan the Mac for PUPs, adware and browser hijackers. This free utility is an advanced malicious software removal program created by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This program uses the world’s most popular anti-malware technology. It’s able to help you get rid of adware and other security threats from your Mac for free.

1. Download MalwareBytes on your computer by clicking on the following link.
   
   

   Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
   20851 downloads
   Author: Malwarebytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: September 10, 2020
   
2. When downloading is finished, please close all software and open windows on your Apple Mac. Run the downloaded file. Follow the prompts.
3. The MalwareBytes Free will start and show the main window.
4. Further, press the “Scan” button for scanning your MAC OS for the adware that causes pop ups. This procedure may take quite a while, so please be patient. During the scan MalwareBytes will locate threats present on your machine.
5. After the system scan is done, a list of all threats detected is prepared.
6. When you are ready, click the “Remove Selected Items” button.
7. Close the AntiMalware and continue with the next step.

Remove SearchPartyd from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you are still getting SearchPartyd popup advertisements, then you can try to remove it by removing malicious extensions.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top-right corner, expand the Google Chrome menu. 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 remove SearchPartyd pop-ups 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 SearchPartyd pop ups 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

One of the worst things is the fact that you cannot stop all malicious web pages using only built-in Windows capabilities. However, there is a program out that you can use to stop annoying internet browser redirects, ads and pop-ups in any modern browsers including Firefox, Safari and Google Chrome. It is named Adguard and it works very well.

Visit the following page to download AdGuard.

After the download is finished, 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. Press “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial which will assist you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you start your MAC OS, AdGuard will run automatically and stop intrusive advertisements, block harmful and misleading web-sites.

To sum up

Once you’ve finished the tutorial outlined above, your MAC should be clean from this adware and other malware. The Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome will no longer display any unwanted ads when you browse the Net. Unfortunately, if the 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 SearchPartyd adware.