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

What is SmartSearchQuest

According to security professionals, SmartSearchQuest is an adware application that targets Mac platform. Adware is something that you should be aware of even if you run Safari, Google Chrome or other modern internet browser. This is the name given to applications that have been created to display unwanted advertisements and pop up commercials onto your web-browser screen. The reason for adware software’s existence is to make money for its author.

The SmartSearchQuest app can generate numerous additional pop-up, banner, pop-under and in-text link advertisements flooding on your browser; gather your privacy data like login details, online searches, etc; run in the background and drag down your machine running speed; give more chances for other adware software, PUAs even malicious software to get on your Apple Mac.

The worst is, the SmartSearchQuest adware can gather confidential data, including:

• IP addresses;
• URLs visited;
• search queries/terms;
• clicks on links and advertisements;
• web-browser version information.

If you are unfortunate have adware software or malicious software running on your MAC system, you can follow the suggestions here to get rid of SmartSearchQuest from your MAC OS and browser.

How does SmartSearchQuest get on your Apple Mac

Adware most likely to occur during the setup of freeware due the fact that adware like this are commonly hidden in the installer. Thus, if you have installed some free apps using Quick(Standard) method, you may have let adware get inside your MAC. Keep in mind that the Quick mode is unreliable because it do not warn about optional apps. Thus, bundled programs will be installed automatically unless you select Advanced/Custom mode and disable its installation.

Threat Summary

Name	SmartSearchQuest, SmartSearchQuest 1.0 app
Type	adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, MacOS.Agent-MT, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Adware/Adload!OSX, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Adware.MAC.Generic and ApplicUnwnt
Distribution	Freeware installers, suspicious pop-up advertisements, fake updaters and torrent downloads
Symptoms	When you go to a web page, you’re often redirected to another website that you do not intend to visit, unwanted ads appear on web pages that you are visiting, new entries appear in your Applications folder, unexpected icons on your desktop, your web-browser start page has modified and you cannot change it back, slow Internet or slow browsing.
Removal	SmartSearchQuest removal guide

How to remove SmartSearchQuest from Mac computer

According to experienced security experts, SmartSearchQuest removal can be finished manually and/or automatically. These utilities that are listed below will help you remove adware software, malicious browser plugins, malware and potentially unwanted apps . However, if you’re not willing to install other software to delete SmartSearchQuest adware, then use steps listed below to restore your machine settings to their previous states.

To remove SmartSearchQuest, perform the steps below:

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

Remove profiles created by SmartSearchQuest

SmartSearchQuest 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 device. If there is Profiles in the list, then click on it, then select a profile associated with SmartSearchQuest.

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

Remove SmartSearchQuest related programs through the Finder

Some of adware, browser hijackers and PUPs can be removed using the Move to Trash tool which is located in the Finder. So, if you’re running any version of Mac and you have noticed an unwanted program, then first try to get rid of it through the Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications” as on the image below.

You will see a list of software installed on your Apple Mac. We recommend to pay maximum attention to the program you installed last. Most likely, it’s the SmartSearchQuest . If you are in doubt, you can always check the program by doing a search for her name in Google, Yahoo or Bing.

After the application which you need to uninstall is found, simply right click on its name, and select “Move to Trash”.

Don’t forget, choose Finder, then “Empty Trash”.

Remove SmartSearchQuest related files and folders

Now you need to try to find SmartSearchQuest 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

If you are still having problems with the SmartSearchQuest removal or just wish to scan your Mac occasionally for adware and other malicious software, then download MalwareBytes Anti-Malware. It is free for home use, and scans for and removes various undesired apps that attacks your MAC system or degrades MAC system performance. MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) can remove browser hijackers, toolbars, adware and PUPs as well as malicious software, including ransomware and trojans.

MalwareBytes Free can be downloaded from the following link.

After the downloading process is complete, close all software and windows on your MAC. Open a directory in which you saved it. Run the saved file and follow the prompts.

Once install is finished, you will see window as displayed below.

Now press the “Scan” button . MalwareBytes AntiMalware application will scan through the whole MAC OS for the SmartSearchQuest adware. This task can take some time, so please be patient. While the MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) is checking, you can see how many objects it has identified either as being malicious software.

After MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) has completed scanning your computer, you’ll be shown the list of all detected threats on your MAC. Review the scan results and then click “Quarantine” button.

The Malwarebytes will now start to delete SmartSearchQuest adware software.

Remove SmartSearchQuest from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you are still seeing SmartSearchQuest that won’t go away, you might have harmful extensions installed on your web-browser. Check your web-browser for unwanted extensions using the steps below.

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 delete SmartSearchQuest adware software 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 SmartSearchQuest adware software 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

Running an ad-blocker program like AdGuard is an effective way to alleviate the risks. Additionally, ad blocking applications will also protect you from malicious advertisements and web sites, and, of course, block redirection chain to misleading, scam and similar websites.

Download AdGuard on your MAC from the link below.

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

Each time, when you start your MAC OS, AdGuard will start automatically and stop annoying popup ads, block malicious and misleading web pages.

To sum up

Once you’ve complete the steps outlined above, your Apple Mac should be clean from the SmartSearchQuest adware and other malicious software. The Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Chrome will no longer display any unwanted ads. Unfortunately, if the steps does not help you, then you have caught a new adware, and then the best way – ask for help here.