How to uninstall Chill Search from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

What is Chill Search?

The experienced security professionals have determined that Chill Search is a fake search engine promoted by browser hijackers. Browser hijacker is a part of malicious software that is designed to take over the web browser and control user’s surfing preferences. It commonly aims at Safari web browser, but it’s possible that it can hijack other browser too. Browser hijackers can sneak into Apple computers unnoticed due to the fact that it’s actively being promoted in freeware, malicious downloads and fake updates. We suggest that you remove Chill Search as soon as you notice the changes it has made to your home page, search engine by default and new tab.

The Chill Search browser hijacker takes over your web-browser’s default search provider and controls what will be shown to you whenever you do a searching. Other than the search results, it also provides tons of intrusive ads on the search page. Some of these advertisements developed to force you into buying certain questionable products and apps. Moreover, sometimes, those ads could redirect you to scam and malicious sites.

And finally, the Chill Search hijacker has the ability to gather a wide variety of your user information such as what web-pages you’re opening, what you’re looking for the Web and so on. This information, in the future, can be used for marketing purposes.

So, if you happen to encounter a browser hijacker or other such problem, then be quick and take effort to remove the browser hijacker sooner. Follow the few simple steps below to get rid of Chill Search. Let us know how you managed by sending us your comments please.

How can a browser hijacker get on your MAC system

Browser hijackers such as Chill Search come from browser toolbars, web-browser extensions, BHOs (browser helper objects) and optional apps. Most commonly, these items claim itself as applications which improve your experience on the Internet by providing a fast and interactive home page or a search engine that does not track you. Remember, how to avoid the unwanted apps. Be cautious, run only reputable software which download from reputable sources. NEVER install an unknown and suspicious applications.

Threat Summary

Name	Chill Search
Type	redirect virus, search engine hijacker, PUP, home page hijacker, browser hijacker
Affected Browser Settings	newtab page URL, home page, search provider
Distribution	shady pop-up advertisements, freeware installation packages, fake software updaters
Symptoms	Advertising banners appear on web-pages that you are visiting. You keep getting redirected to unfamiliar web sites. New entries appear in your Programs folder. Unwanted internet browser toolbar(s) Your web browser start page or search engine keeps changing or is not set to Google anymor.
Removal	Chill Search removal guide

How to remove Chill Search from Mac computer

Fortunately, it’s not hard to remove the Chill Search hijacker. In the following guidance, we will provide two solutions to free your Apple Mac of this browser hijacker. One is the manual removal method and the other is automatic removal method. You can select the way that best fits you. Please follow the removal guidance below to get rid of Chill Search right now!

To remove Chill Search, use the following steps:

1. Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device
2. Remove Chill Search associated software by using the Finder
3. Remove Chill Search related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove Chill Search from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. How to stop Chill Search redirect

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

Chill Search 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 Chill Search.

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.

Remove Chill Search associated software by using the Finder

Try to identify and delete the program that causes the appearance of annoying ads or internet browser redirect, using the Applications list which is located in the Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

It will display a list of all programs installed on your computer. Scroll through the all list, and uninstall any suspicious and unknown applications. Right click to questionable program and choose “Move to Trash”. Another method is drag the program from the Applications folder to the Trash.

Most important, scroll through the all list, and move to trash any unknown applications. Don’t forget, select Finder -> Empty Trash.

Remove Chill Search related files and folders

Now you need to try to find Chill Search 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.

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

Check for Chill Search 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 Chill Search 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 Chill Search 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.macsearch.system.plist, com.ChillSearch.system.plist, com.installapp.system.plist, com.machelper.system.plist and com.search.system.plist. In most cases, browser hijackers, potentially unwanted programs and adware software create several files with similar names.

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

We advise using MalwareBytes AntiMalware. You can download and install MalwareBytes to detect and remove Chill Search associated software from your Mac. When installed and updated, the malware remover automatically detects and removes all security threats exist on the MAC OS.

MalwareBytes Anti-Malware can be downloaded from the following link.

When downloading is complete, close all programs and windows on your Apple Mac. Open a directory in which you saved it. Run the saved file and follow the prompts.

Once installation is done, you will see window as on the image below.

Now click the “Scan” button . MalwareBytes Free application will scan through the whole MAC for the Chill Search hijacker. Depending on your Apple Mac, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour.

After the system scan is finished, MalwareBytes AntiMalware will show a screen which contains a list of malicious software that has been found. Review the results once the tool has done the system scan. If you think an entry should not be quarantined, then uncheck it. Otherwise, simply click “Quarantine” button.

The Malwarebytes will now remove Chill Search hijacker and move the selected threats to the Quarantine.

Remove Chill Search from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

Chill Search redirects or other symptoms of browser hijacker in your internet browser is a good reason to locate and delete harmful extensions. This is an easy method to recover web browsers settings and not lose any important information.

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 remove Chill Search browser hijacker 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 Chill Search 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 Chill Search redirect

Use ad-blocking tool such as AdGuard in order to stop ads, malvertisements, pop-ups and online trackers, avoid having to install malicious and adware browser plug-ins and add-ons that affect your Apple Mac performance and impact your MAC system security. Surf the Net anonymously and stay safe online!

Please go to the link below to download AdGuard.

After downloading is finished, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen. Follow the prompts.

Each time, when you start your MAC system, AdGuard will start automatically and stop intrusive popup advertisements, block Chill Search redirect, as well as other malicious or misleading web pages.

Finish words

We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted advertisements and annoying harmful websites) and MalwareBytes (to periodically scan your MAC for new malicious software, hijackers and adware). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Mac OS. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new browser hijackers, malicious applications and adware software are released.

If you are still having problems while trying to remove Chill Search from your web-browser, then ask for help here.