How to uninstall LeadingSignSearch adware from the operating system

What is LeadingSignSearch adware?

Part of the AdLoad adware family, LeadingSignSearch is a rogue app that operates by delivering various intrusive advertisements. This application possesses some browser hijacker characteristics, such as making modifications to browser settings and promotion of fake search engines.

Additionally, most adware and browser hijacker types have data tracking capabilities, which are employed to monitor users' browsing activity. Due to the dubious methods used to promote LeadingSignSearch, it is also classified as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA).

For example, this app has been distributed using fake Flash Player updates. Note that bogus updaters are commonly used to proliferate PUAs and even malicious software (e.g. ransomware, Trojans, etc.).

LeadingSignSearch enables the placement of various intrusive ads (e.g. pop-ups, banners, coupons, surveys, etc.) on any visited website. These ads significantly diminish the browsing experience, as they limit browsing speed and overlay web page content. When clicked, they redirect to sale-oriented, untrusted, rogue, compromised, deceptive/scam and malicious sites.

Intrusive advertisements can even be triggered (when clicked) to execute scripts designed to stealthily download/install rogue software (e.g. PUAs). Browser hijackers that share traits with LeadingSignSearch operate by modifying browsers settings to promote bogus search engines.

The addresses of the fake search engines are assigned as the homepage, default search engine and new tab/window URLs. Therefore, all new tabs/windows opened and each search made via the URL bar redirects to a fake search engine. Few can generate unique results, and so they redirect to legitimate sites (e.g. Google, Yahoo, Bing and others).

Furthermore, these alterations cannot be reset, without removing the hijacker app. Any changes users attempt to make are automatically reset (if access is allowed at all). Most PUAs can track data. Information of interest includes browsing and search engine histories, IP addresses, geolocations and personal details.

The collected data is shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) seeking to misuse it for financial gain. Therefore, remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins without delay.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by LeadingSignSearch
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AD [Trj]), BitDefender (Gen:Variant.Adware.MAC.Adload.4), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/TrojanDownloader.Adl), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Cimpli.k), Full List (VirusTotal)
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.

SkilledDeskSearch, MajorSignalSearch and SearchWebSvc are some examples of other adware-type apps. This software usually seems legitimate and users are often tricked into downloading/installing it with offers of "useful" functions. In fact, these features seldom work as advertised and, in most cases, are nonoperational.

Genuine appearance and nonfunctional capabilities are common to many PUAs. The only purpose of these unwanted applications is to generate profit at users' expense. Rather than delivering any real value, PUAs deliver intrusive ad campaigns, hijack browsers, force-open untrusted/malicious web pages and gather private data.

How did LeadingSignSearch install on my computer?

PUAs proliferate via the download/install set-ups of other software (e.g. fake updaters). This deceptive marketing tactic of pre-packing regular programs with unwanted or malicious additions is called "bundling".

By rushing through download/installation processes (e.g. ignoring terms, using pre-set options, skipping steps and sections, etc.), many users risk inadvertently allowing bundled content onto systems. Some PUAs have "official" download pages. Intrusive ads also proliferate these apps.

Once clicked, they can execute scripts to download/install PUAs without users' permission.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

You are advised to research all products, before download/installation or purchase. Use only official and verified download channels, as opposed to free file-hosting sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks or other third party downloaders. Treat download and installation processes with caution.

Read the terms, explore all available options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings and opt-out of additional apps, tools, features and so on. Intrusive advertisements tend to seem normal and harmless, however, they can redirect to dubious websites (e.g. pornography, gambling, adult-dating and others).

If you encounter these ads/redirects, inspect the system and immediately remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with LeadingSignSearch, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Files related to LeadingSignSearch adware that need to be removed:

• ~/Library/Application Support/com.LeadingSignSearch/LeadingSignSearch
• ~/Library/Application Support/com.LeadingSignSearchDaemon/LeadingSignSearch
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.LeadingSignSearch.plist
• ~/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.LeadingSignSearchDaemon.plist

IMPORTANT NOTE! Rogue setups/apps that promote the LeadingSignSearch website are designed to create a new device profile. Therefore, before taking any further removal steps, perform these actions:

1) Click the "Preferences" icon in the menu bar and select "Profiles"

2) Select the "LeadingSignSearch" profile and delete it.

3) Perform a full system scan with Combo Cleaner anti-virus suite.

After performing these actions, you can proceed with further removal steps for this adware.

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

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

LeadingSignSearch adware removal:

Remove LeadingSignSearch-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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