PowerSearchOnline Adware (Mac)

What is PowerSearchOnline?

PowerSearchOnline is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) claiming to save time and money while shopping online.

These claims often trick users to install, however, PowerSearchOnline is likely to infiltrate systems without user's permission. Furthermore, this PUP collects various user/system data and displays intrusive online advertisements. Therefore, PowerSearchOnline is classed as adware.

Following successful infiltration, PowerSearchOnline employs a 'virtual layer' to generate coupon, pop-up, banner, and other similar data types. The virtual layer enables placement of third party graphical content on any site. Since none of these ads originate from visited websites, underlying content is often concealed, significantly diminishing the web browsing experience.

In addition, some lead to dubious websites that might contain malicious content - clicking them risks further adware or malware infections. Be aware that PowerSearchOnline records search queries entered into search engines, website URLs visited, pages viewed, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, and other similar information relating to Internet browsing activity.

This data may seem insignificant, however, it will often contain personal details that developers share with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse personal information to generate revenue. This behavior can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. Therefore, PowerSearchOnline should be uninstalled immediately.

There are many applications similar to PowerSearchOnline including SmartShoppy, ShoppyTool, and WebShoppers - these are just some examples from a long list. All adware claims to enhance the web browsing experience in certain ways, however, these claims are often false, since many adware-type apps are useless for regular users.

Their purpose is to generate revenue for the developers. Rather than providing any real value, applications such as PowerSearchOnline collect personally identifiable information (which is later sold to third parties) and deliver intrusive online advertisements (via the "Pay Per Click" [PPC] advertising model).

How did PowerSearchOnline install on my computer?

PowerSearchOnline has an official download website, however, developers also distribute this app using a deceptive software marketing method called "bundling" - stealth installation of PUPs with regular software. Many users do not expect developers to hide third party applications under the "Custom/Advanced" settings of the download/installation processes and skip this section.

In doing so, they expose their systems to risk of various infections and compromise their privacy. The more developers promote these PUPs, the more revenue they generate. Thus, they never properly disclose these installations.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Installation of deceptive applications such as PowerSearchOnline can be prevented by closely analyzing the download/installation processes and declining all offers to install third party software. Select the "Custom/Advanced" settings, observe each step, and cancel all additionally-included applications.

Bundled software is often malicious and should never be installed. The key to computer safety is caution.

Deceptive application installers promoting PowerSearchOnline adware:

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Quick menu:

• What is PowerSearchOnline?
• STEP 1. Remove PowerSearchOnline related files and folders from OSX.
• STEP 2. Remove PowerSearchOnline ads from Safari.
• STEP 3. Remove PowerSearchOnline adware from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove PowerSearchOnline ads from Mozilla Firefox.

Video showing how to remove adware and browser hijackers from a Mac computer:

PowerSearchOnline adware removal:

Remove PowerSearchOnline-related potentially unwanted applications from your "Applications" folder:

Click the Finder icon. In the Finder window, select “Applications”. In the applications folder, look for “MPlayerX”,“NicePlayer”, or other suspicious applications and drag them to the Trash. After removing the potentially unwanted application(s) that cause online ads, scan your Mac for any remaining unwanted components.

Remove browser hijacker-related files and folders

Click the Finder icon from the menu bar. Choose Go, and click Go to Folder...

Check for browser hijacker generated files in the /Library/LaunchAgents/ folder:

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: /Library/LaunchAgents/

In the "LaunchAgents" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by browser hijackers - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Browser hijacker commonly installs several files with the exact same string.

Check for browser hijacker generated files in the ~/Library/Application Support/ folder:

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: ~/Library/Application Support/

In the "Application Support" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious folders. For example, "MplayerX" or "NicePlayer", and move these folders to the Trash.

Check for browser hijacker generated files in the ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ folder:

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: ~/Library/LaunchAgents/

In the "LaunchAgents" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by browser hijackers - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Browser hijacker commonly installs several files with the exact same string.

Check for browser hijacker generated files in the /Library/LaunchDaemons/ folder:

In the "Go to Folder..." bar, type: /Library/LaunchDaemons/

In the "LaunchDaemons" folder, look for recently-added suspicious files. For example "com.aoudad.net-preferences.plist", "com.myppes.net-preferences.plist", "com.kuklorest.net-preferences.plist", "com.avickUpd.plist", etc., and move them to the Trash.

Scan your Mac with Combo Cleaner:

If you have followed all the steps correctly, your Mac should be clean of infections. To ensure your system is not infected, run a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus. Download it HERE. After downloading the file, double click combocleaner.dmg installer. In the opened window, drag and drop the Combo Cleaner icon on top of the Applications icon. Now open your launchpad and click on the Combo Cleaner icon. Wait until Combo Cleaner updates its virus definition database and click the "Start Combo Scan" button.

Combo Cleaner will scan your Mac for malware infections. If the antivirus scan displays "no threats found" - this means that you can continue with the removal guide; otherwise, it's recommended to remove any found infections before continuing.

After removing files and folders generated by the browser hijackers, continue to remove rogue extensions from your Internet browsers.

Remove browser hijackers from Internet browsers

Remove Safari browser hijackers:

Open the Safari browser, from the menu bar, select "Safari" and click "Preferences...".

In the preferences window, select "Extensions" and look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions. When located, click the "Uninstall" button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Safari browser - none are crucial for regular browser operation.

Change your homepage:

In the "Preferences" window, select the "General" tab. To set your homepage, type the preferred website URL (for example: www.google.com) in the Homepage field. You can also click the "Set to Current Page" button if you wish to set your homepage to the website you are currently visiting.

Change your default search engine:

In the "Preferences" window, select the "Search" tab. Here you will find a drop-down menu labeled "Search engine:" Simply select your preferred search engine from the drop-down list.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Safari.

Remove Google Chrome browser hijackers:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Change your homepage

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable the malicious extension (if present), look for a browser hijacker URL below the "Open a specific or set of pages" option. If present, click on the three vertical dots icon and select "Remove".

Change your default search engine:

To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list look for a browser hijacker URL, when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Delete".

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.

Remove malicious extensions from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) and select "Add-ons and themes". Click "Extensions", in the opened window locate all recently-installed suspicious extensions, click on the three dots and then click "Remove".

Change your homepage

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Settings", in the opened window disable malicious extension (if present), remove the browser hijacker URL and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change your default search engine:

In the URL address bar, type "about:config" and press Enter. Click "Accept the Risk and Continue".

In the search filter at the top, type: "extensionControlled". Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the button.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Mozilla Firefox.

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