How to get rid of Chillsearch.xyz redirect from Chrome, Firefox, Safari

What is Chillsearch.xyz?

According to computer security experts, Chillsearch.xyz is a fake search engine that is promoted by browser hijackers. Typically, browser hijackers make changes to the default homepage and search engine of user web-browsers, making it difficult to change them back. Browser hijackers may also include unwanted pop ups and ads to show up in the hijacked internet browsers. Browser hijackers are usually installed with freeware or shareware downloaded from third-party web-sites; they can also be found inside legitimate webpages and software.

Most often, browser hijackers promote fake search providers by setting their address as the default search engine. In this case, the browser hijacker installs Chillsearch.xyz as a search provider. This means that users whose browser is affected with the hijacker are forced to visit Chillsearch.xyz each time they search in the World Wide Web, open a new window or tab. And since Chillsearch.xyz is not a real search provider and does not have the ability to find the information users need, this web site redirects the user’s internet browser to the Yahoo search engine.

Another reason why you need to remove Chillsearch.xyz is its online data-tracking activity. It can gather personal info, including:

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

Browser hijackers are usually written in ways common to malicious software, spyware and adware. In order to get rid of browser hijacker and thereby get rid of Chillsearch.xyz, you will need use the steps below or run free removal tool listed below.

How can a browser hijacker get on your MAC system

Browser hijackers can be spread through the use of trojan horses and other forms of malware, but most often, browser hijackers such as Chillsearch.xyz get onto computers by being attached to some freeware. Many makers of free software include additional applications in their install package. Sometimes it is possible to avoid the installation of any hijackers: carefully read the Terms of Use and the Software license, choose only Manual, Custom or Advanced install mode, unset all checkboxes before clicking Install or Next button while installing new free software.

Threat Summary

Name	Chillsearch.xyz
Type	PUP, homepage hijacker, browser hijacker, search provider hijacker, redirect virus
Affected Browser Settings	new tab URL, search engine, start page
Distribution	suspicious pop-up ads, fake updaters, freeware installation packages
Symptoms	You experience a huge number of of unwanted pop-up windows. When you go to a website, you are automatically redirected to another webpage that you do not intend to visit. There is an unwanted program in the ‘Uninstall a program’ section of your Control Panel. New web browser extensions suddenly installed on your browser. Your browser startpage or search engine keeps changing or is not set to Google anymor.
Removal	Chillsearch.xyz removal guide

How to remove Chillsearch.xyz from Mac

Without a doubt, the browser hijacker is harmful to your MAC. So you need to quickly and completely delete this malware. To remove this hijacker, you can use the manual removal instructions that are given below or free malware removal tool such as MalwareBytes. We suggest you use automatic removal way which will allow you to get rid of Chillsearch.xyz redirect easily and safely. Manual removal is best used only if you’re well versed in machine or in the case where browser hijacker is not removed automatically. Certain of the steps will require you to restart your MAC OS or close this webpage. So, read this instructions carefully, then bookmark this page or open it on your smartphone for later reference.

To remove Chillsearch.xyz, follow the steps below:

1. Remove profiles created by Chillsearch.xyz
2. Uninstall Chillsearch.xyz related software through the Finder
3. Remove Chillsearch.xyz related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove Chillsearch.xyz from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. Block Chillsearch.xyz and other unwanted webpages

Remove profiles created by Chillsearch.xyz

Chillsearch.xyz 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 browser hijacker.

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 Chillsearch.xyz.

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.

Uninstall Chillsearch.xyz related software through the Finder

It is of primary importance to identify and delete browser hijackers, PUPs and adware software 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 hijacker related to Chillsearch.xyz redirects. Once you have found a dubious, unwanted or unused program, right click to it and choose “Move to Trash”. Another solution is drag the application from the Applications folder to the Trash.

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

Remove Chillsearch.xyz related files and folders

Now you need to try to find Chillsearch.xyz 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.

The browser hijacker creates several files, these files must be found and removed. Some files 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 Chillsearch.xyz related 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, com.net-preferences.plist, com.machelper.plist, com.Chillsearch.service.plist, search.plist, com.google.defaultsearch.plist, and macsearch.plist. Most often, browser hijackers, PUPs and adware create several files with similar names.

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

We recommend using MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM). You may download and install MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) to scan for and delete Chillsearch.xyz associated siftware from your Mac computer. When installed and updated, the malware remover automatically scans for and removes all security threats exist on the computer.

Visit the page linked below to download MalwareBytes.

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

The MalwareBytes Anti-Malware will automatically start and you can see its main screen as shown on the screen below.

Now click the “Scan” button . MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) program will scan through the whole Apple Mac for the browser hijacker responsible for the Chillsearch.xyz redirects. Depending on your MAC, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. When a malicious software, adware or potentially unwanted applications are detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly. Wait until the the scanning is done.

After the system scan is complete, the results are displayed in the scan report. All found items will be marked. You can delete them all by simply click the “Quarantine” button. The MalwareBytes will remove the browser hijacker and move the selected threats to the Quarantine.

Remove Chillsearch.xyz from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

Remove unwanted plugins is a easy solution to remove Chillsearch.xyz redirects and return web-browser’s settings which have been modified by hijacker.

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. Select ‘More tools’, then ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to delete Chillsearch.xyz 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 Chillsearch.xyz 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.

Block Chillsearch.xyz and other unwanted webpages

Enabling an ad-blocking program such as AdGuard is an effective way to alleviate the risks. Additionally, ad-blocking programs will also protect you from harmful ads and web-sites, and, of course, block redirection chain to Chillsearch.xyz and similar web-pages.

Download AdGuard on your Apple Mac from the following link.

After downloading 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 run automatically and stop unwanted pop ups, block Chillsearch.xyz, as well as other harmful or misleading web pages.

To sum up

We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted popups and annoying malicious websites) and MalwareBytes Anti Malware (to periodically scan your machine for new hijackers and other malicious software).

If you are still having problems while trying to remove Chillsearch.xyz from Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Chrome, then ask for help here here.