How to remove FormalSearch adware

What is FormalSearch?

FormalSearch is advertised as an app that enhances the browsing experience (provides fast searches, accurate search results, and so on), however, it simply displays unwanted advertisements.

Apps that feed users with these ads are called adware. Adware-type apps are also known as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs), since most people download and install them unintentionally. Furthermore, adware often gathers various details relating to users' browsing habits.

Examples of ads that adware-type apps display include coupons, banners, surveys, pop-up ads, etc. Generally, they conceal underlying content of visited websites. This can be very annoying and, when clicked, these ads usually open various untrustworthy websites.

They can also be designed to run scripts that download (and/or install) more unwanted apps, which might be malicious. PUAs record many details such as users' IP addresses, geolocations, entered search queries, addresses of visited websites, and so on. Some might be used to record personal details.

Developers of these apps share the data with other parties (potentially cyber criminals) who misuse private information to generate revenue. People who have adware on their computers and/or browsers risk becoming victims of identity theft and experiencing problems with browsing safety, privacy, unwanted downloads, installations, and so on.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by FormalSearch
Threat Type	Mac malware, Mac virus.
Symptoms	Your Mac becomes slower than normal, you see unwanted pop-up ads, you are redirected to dubious websites.
Distribution methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers, torrent file downloads.
Damage	Internet browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites, loss of private information.
Malware Removal (Mac)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your Mac with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner for Mac To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Limited seven days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

FormalSearch is virtually identical to WindowMix, AssistEngine, GenerelOpen, and many other apps that are categorized as adware. Typically, these apps do not operate as advertised and are designed only to display ads and/or gather various information relating to users. To avoid related problems, remove all adware immediately.

How did FormalSearch install on my computer?

Typically, apps of this type are installed together with other software or through clicked intrusive advertisements. Unwanted downloads and/or installations through other programs occurs when software developers include them in download or installation set-ups.

This marketing method to distribute unwanted apps is known as "bundling". To trick people into these unintentional downloads/installations, developers hide information about additionally-included PUAs in "Advanced", "Custom", and other similar settings of the set-ups. PUAs are installed/downloaded when people leave these settings unchanged.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Do not download software (especially free software) from unofficial websites, using Peer-to-Peer networks such as torrent clients, eMule, third party downloaders, or other channels of this kind. Use only official websites and direct links. Furthermore, check all settings that are available in download or installation setups and opt-out of offers to download or install unwanted apps.

Do not click intrusive ads, especially if they are displayed on dubious websites. These often cause redirects to untrustworthy websites or unwanted downloads/installations. If the browser opens dubious site or displays unwanted ads, check the list of apps installed on it.

Remove any unwanted extensions, plug-ins, or add-ons. The same applies to unwanted software installed on the computer. If your computer is already infected with FormalSearch, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Deceptive pop-up window designed to install FormalSearch adware on Safari (displayed by adware that is already installed):

 

Screenshot of FormalSearch installation folder:

Instant automatic Mac malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of Mac malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner for Mac By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Limited seven days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

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

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

FormalSearch adware removal:

Remove FormalSearch-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 adware-related files and folders

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

Check for adware 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 adware - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Adware commonly installs several files with the exact same string.

Check for adware 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 adware 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 adware - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Adware commonly installs several files with the exact same string.

Check for adware 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 adware, continue to remove rogue extensions from your Internet browsers.

Remove malicious extensions from Internet browsers

Remove malicious Safari extensions:

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.

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

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

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".

• 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".

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

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