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

What is MajorLetterSearch

According to security experts, MajorLetterSearch is an adware application that targets Mac platform. Adware’s basic purpose is to display ads. These ads are often presented as sponsored links, pop ups or push notifications. Clicks on the advertisements produce a monetary payoff for the adware producers. Adware can change browser settings, redirect web-browser to scam sites and work like Spyware, since it sends confidential info such as searches and trends to advertisers.

Even worse, adware has the ability to collect confidential data which can be later sold to third party companies. You do not know if your home address, account names and passwords are safe.
Therefore it is very important to follow the step-by-step guidance below as soon as possible. The steps will help you to delete MajorLetterSearch as well as clean your browser from unwanted ads. What is more, the step-by-step guidance below will allow you delete other harmful software such as browser toolbars and browser hijackers which can be installed onto your Mac along with the adware.

How does MajorLetterSearch get on your machine

Usually, adware software gets into Mac computers as part of a bundle with freeware, sharing files and other unsafe apps that users downloaded from the World Wide Web. The authors of adware pays software creators for distributing adware within their applications. So, additional programs is often included as part of the installer. In order to avoid the install of any adware: choose only Manual, Custom or Advanced setup type and uncheck all additional apps in which you are unsure.

Threat Summary

Name	MajorLetterSearch
Type	adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, Adware.MAC.Generic, MacOS.Agent-MT, ApplicUnwnt and Adware/Adload!OSX
Distribution	Freeware installers, torrent downloads, fake update tools and shady pop up advertisements
Symptoms	You keep getting redirected to unfamiliar web-pages, undesired advertising links appear on webpages that you are visiting, there is an unwanted program in the ‘Applications’ section of the Finder, unexpected browser addons or toolbars keep coming back, unexpected changes in your browser like using a new default search engine, your web-browser slows to a crawl.
Removal	MajorLetterSearch removal guide

How to Remove MajorLetterSearch adware software (removal steps)

If you have consistent pop ups or unwanted advertisements, slow computer, crashing MAC system problems, you are in need of adware software removal assistance. The instructions below will guide you forward to get MajorLetterSearch adware removed and will help you get your computer operating at peak capacity again.

To remove MajorLetterSearch, use the steps below:

1. Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device
2. Check the list of installed software
3. Remove MajorLetterSearch related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove MajorLetterSearch from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. How to stay safe online

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

MajorLetterSearch 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 related to MajorLetterSearch.

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

Check the list of installed software

Check out the Finder (Applications section) to see all installed apps. If you see any unknown and questionable programs, they are the ones you need to delete.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Carefully browse through the list of installed applications and delete all suspicious and unknown apps.

Once you’ve found anything suspicious that may be the MajorLetterSearch adware or other potentially unwanted program, then right click this application and select “Move to Trash”. Once complete, Empty Trash.

Remove MajorLetterSearch related files and folders

Now you need to try to find MajorLetterSearch 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

We recommend using MalwareBytes Free. You can download and install MalwareBytes Anti Malware to search for and remove MajorLetterSearch associated programs from your Mac computer. When installed and updated, the malicious software remover automatically identifies and removes all security threats present on the machine.

Download MalwareBytes Anti Malware from the link below.

After downloading is done, close all applications and windows on your computer. Run the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes will automatically start and you can see its main screen like below.

Now click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan with this utility for the MajorLetterSearch . This task can take quite a while, so please be patient. When a threat is detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly. Wait until the the scanning is complete.

When MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) has completed scanning your Apple Mac, MalwareBytes Free will create a list of unwanted applications and adware. When you’re ready, click the “Quarantine” button. The MalwareBytes Free will remove MajorLetterSearch adware software and move the selected threats to the program’s quarantine.

Remove MajorLetterSearch from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you have ‘MajorLetterSearch adware’ removal problem, then remove unwanted extensions can help you. In the steps below we will show you the solution to remove malicious extensions without reinstall. This will also allow to remove MajorLetterSearch adware from your web-browser.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right hand corner, click on ‘three vertical dots’, and this will open up the main menu on Chrome. Select ‘More tools’, then ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to remove MajorLetterSearch 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 MajorLetterSearch 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

It is also critical to protect your web-browsers from harmful web sites and advertisements by using an ad blocking program such as AdGuard. Security experts says that it’ll greatly reduce the risk of malware, and potentially save lots of money. Additionally, the AdGuard can also protect your privacy by blocking almost all trackers.

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

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 press “Get Started” to see an quick guide that will help you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you start your computer, AdGuard will run automatically and stop unwanted ads, block malicious and misleading webpages.

Finish words

After completing the instructions above, your MAC system should be clean from the adware and other malicious software. The Mozilla Firefox, Safari and Google Chrome will no longer display the MajorLetterSearch ads when you surf the Internet. Unfortunately, if the steps 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 unwanted MajorLetterSearch adware.