How to remove SearchExplore adware

What is SearchExplore?

SearchExplore serves advertisements and promotes the address of a fake search engine by changing browser settings. This is a potentially unwanted application (PUA), which functions as adware and a browser hijacker. SearchExplore might also record data.

Apps of this type are categorized as PUAs, since people often download and install them inadvertently. Research shows that SearchExplore is distributed through a fake installer, which is disguised as the installer of the official Adobe Flash Player.

SearchExplore generates revenue for developers by serving online advertisements (e.g., coupons, banners, surveys, pop-ups). Commonly, these ads open dubious websites or even cause download/installation of PUAs by running certain scripts. In any case, no ads displayed by adware can be trusted.

SearchExplore promotes a fake search engine by assigning its associated URL as the homepage, new tab and default search engine within browser settings. In this way, it forces users to visit this address when they open a browser, new tab, or enter search queries into the URL bar.

The aforementioned settings cannot generally be undone or modified unless the browser hijacker that originally modified them (in this case, SearchExplore) is uninstalled. Note that adware-type apps and browser hijackers often gather browsing-related information.

For example, addresses of visited websites, entered search queries, geolocations, IP addresses, and other browsing data. PUAs might also record personal, sensitive information. The information is often sold to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who also misuse it to generate revenue.

Therefore, never download ot install SearchExplorer or other adware, browser hijacker, especially if they are distributed through fake Adobe Flash Player installers. Commonly, these installers are used to distribute malicious software such as ransomware, Trojan-type malware.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by SearchExplore
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AD [Trj]), DrWeb (Adware.Mac.Loader.17), 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.

In summary, SearchExplore users risk problems relating to privacy, browsing safety or they might even become victims of identity theft.

Commonly, these apps are advertised as useful and legitimate, however, they deliver no real value and can cause serious issues. Remove SearchExplore and other apps of this type from the browser and/or computer immediately. Others examples of apps that are similar to SearchExplore include AristotleLookup, GlobalDeskSearch and WebAssistSearch.

How did SearchExplore install on my computer?

SearchExplore is often installed through a fake Adobe Flash Player installer. These apps are also distributed through the download/installation set-ups of other, mainly free, programs. They are included into the set-ups as 'additional offers' and listed in "Advanced", "Custom", "Manual" or other settings.

This distribution method is known as "bundling" and works when people fail to check and change the settings - this allows PUAs to be downloaded and installed together with regular programs. In some cases, PUAs are downloaded/installed when users click deceptive ads that run certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Programs and files should NOT be downloaded from unofficial websites, through Peer-to-Peer networks (for example, torrent clients, eMule), third party downloaders, or other similar channels. Never install software through third party installers. These channels/tools are often monetized by distributing unwanted, potentially malicious software.

You are advised to download software only from official websites and via direct links. Check all download/installation settings such as "Custom" and "Advanced" and decline offers to download or install additional, unwanted software.

Do not click advertisements that appear on dubious web pages, since these tend to open other dubious websites or even cause unwanted downloads and installations. Remove all unwanted extensions, plug-ins and add-ons that are installed on the browser, and programs of this kind installed on the operating system.

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

Files related to SearchExplore adware that need to be removed:

• ~/Library/Application Support/com.SearchExplore/SearchExplore
• ~/Library/Application Support/com.SearchExploreDaemon/SearchExplore
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.SearchExplore.plist
• ~/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.SearchExploreDaemon.plist

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

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

SearchExplore adware removal:

Remove SearchExplore-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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