How to remove AimSearch adware

What is AimSearch?

AimSearch is designed to function as adware and a browser hijacker. It serves advertisements and promotes the address of a fake search engine. Typically, people download and install apps of this type inadvertently. Research shows that this particular app is often installed via a fake Adobe Flash Player installer.

Apps that are installed by people in this way (unintentionally) are classified as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

Generally, installed adware displays coupons, banners, surveys, pop-ups and other forms of ads. When clicked, these can open various untrusted web pages, and sometimes even cause download/installation of unwanted, potentially malicious applications. Ads that appear due to installed adware should never be trusted.

Furthermore, AimSearch hijacks browser by changing certain settings. It promotes a fake search engine by assigning its associated URL as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab. In most cases, fake search engines do not generate unique results, or they display misleading information.

Furthermore, browser hijackers and adware-type applications often gather browsing-related (and other) information. AimSearch might target IP addresses, entered search queries, addresses of opened pages, geolocations, and even sensitive, confidential details.

Developers might sell the data to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it in other ways. To summarize, adware such as AimSearch can be the reason behind problems such as identity theft, financial loss, issues relating to browsing safety, online privacy, etc.

If AimSearch or other apps of this type are installed on the browser and/or operating system, remove them immediately. Note that the aforementioned fake Adobe Flash Player installers can be used to distribute adware, browser hijackers, PUAs, malware such as ransomware and Trojans, and other malicious programs.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by AimSearch
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AD [Trj]), AVG (MacOS:Adload-AD [Trj]), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/TrojanDownloader.Adload.AE), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Cimpli.k), Full List (VirusTotal)
Additional Information	This application belongs to the Adload malware family.
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.

AimSearch is very similar to QuestSearch, InfoSearch, SearchVirtualInfo and many other apps of this type. Typically, they serve advertisements and gather information. Adware-type apps deliver not real features or any other value. Most are designed only to generate revenue for the developers and can cause serious issues.

How did AimSearch install on my computer?

Research shows that AimSearch is distributed through an installer, which is disguised as an official Adobe Flash Player installer. Adware-type apps and other PUAs are commonly distributed by including them into the download/installation set-ups of other (mainly free) software.

This distribution method is known as "bundling". In most cases, offers to download or install additional apps are mentioned in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings of the set-ups. Many users fail to check and change these settings, thereby allowing PUAs to be downloaded and installed. PUAs also infiltrate when people click deceptive ads that execute certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

The safest way to download programs and files is using official web pages and direct download links.

Other channels/sources such as unofficial web pages, third party downloaders/installers, Peer-to-Peer networks such as torrent clients, eMule, and so on, can be used to distribute unwanted, malicious software. Check "Custom", "Advanced" and similar settings and decline offers to download or install additional, potentially unwanted apps.

Do not click ads displayed on untrusted websites, since these can download/install unwanted software or open other dubious pages. Remove any unwanted extensions, add-ons and plug-ins already installed on the browser immediately. The same should be applied to unwanted software of this kind that is installed on the computer.

If your computer is already infected with AimSearch, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Files related to the AimSearch adware that need to be removed:

• ~/Library/Application Support/com.AimSearch/AimSearch
• ~/Library/Application Support/com.AimSearchDaemon/AimSearch
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.AimSearch.plist
• ~/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.AimSearchDaemon.plist

IMPORTANT NOTE! Rogue setups/apps that promote AimSearch 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 "AimSearch" 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 AimSearch?
• STEP 1. Remove AimSearch related files and folders from OSX.
• STEP 2. Remove AimSearch ads from Safari.
• STEP 3. Remove AimSearch adware from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove AimSearch ads from Mozilla Firefox.

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

AimSearch adware removal:

Remove AimSearch-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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