How to remove WebSearchStride adware

What is WebSearchStride?

Like most adware-type applications, WebSearchStride generates revenue for the developers by feeding people with various online advertisements. It also changes certain browser settings to promote the address of a fake search engine. Therefore, this app functions as adware and a browser hijacker.

Apps of this type are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs), since users often download and install them inadvertently. Note that WebSearchStride's installer is disguised as the official Adobe Flash Player installer (i.e., developers distribute WebSearchStride through a deceptive, fake installer).

Adware serves banners, coupons, pop-ups, surveys and other ads. People who click these are often led to various untrusted websites and, in some cases, they allow the ads to download/install PUAs by executing certain scripts. Therefore, never trust ads that appear due to installed adware (including WebSearchStride).

Furthermore, WebSearchStride forces users to visit the address of a fake search engine by changing browser settings - it assigns the address of a fake search engine as the homepage, default search engine and new tab.

The only way to stop a hijacked browser from opening the bogus address (fake search engine) when opening a browser, new window or entering search queries into the URL bar, is to uninstall the app that originally reassigned the settings.

In this case, it is necessary to uninstall WebSearchStride. Additionally, adware-type apps and browser hijackers record browsing data (e.g., IP addresses, geolocations, addresses of visited websites, entered search queries) and sometimes personal, sensitive details as well.

The data might be sold to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) and misused to generate revenue in other ways. By having WebSearchStride installed on browsers and operating systems, users risk becoming victims of identity theft, experiencing problems relating to browsing safety, privacy, and other issues.

Therefore, never download or install this app - if it already installed, remove it immediately. Fake installers (such as deceptive Adobe Flash Player installers) should be avoided, since they distribute malware (Trojans, ransomware and other software of this kind).

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by WebSearchStride
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AD [Trj]), BitDefender (Gen:Variant.Adware.MAC.AdLoad.1), 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.

More examples of adware similar to WebSearchStride include SearchExplore, TechFunctionSearch and TechBoardSearch. Generally, apps of this type are useless and cause problems. They are designed only to help developers to generate revenue by serving advertisements and gathering user-system information.

How did WebSearchStride install on my computer?

This app is distributed through a deceptive installer disguised as the official Adobe Flash Player installer. Adware and other apps of this kind also infiltrate in other ways. Commonly, people download and install PUAs when they are included into set-ups of other software as 'additional offers'.

In most cases, these offers can be declined through the "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings, however, many users fail to check and change these settings, thereby allowing PUAs to infiltrate. This distribution method of unwanted apps is called "bundling".

PUAs are also downloaded and installed through deceptive ads that execute certain scripts when clicked.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

To avoid unwanted downloads and installations, use only official, trustworthy websites. Avoid third party downloaders and installers, torrent clients, eMule (and other Peer-to-Peer networks), unofficial pages, etc. These channels are often used to distribute unwanted programs.

Check all settings that are included in the software set-ups and decline offers to download or install unwanted apps. Do not click ads that appear on dubious web pages, since they can open other pages of this kind or cause unwanted downloads and installations.

Remove any suspicious, unwanted plug-ins, add-ons and extensions installed on the browser, and software of this kind installed on the computer. If your computer is already infected with WebSearchStride, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Files related to TechFunctionSearch adware that need to be removed:

• ~/Library/Application Support/com.WebSearchStride/WebSearchStride
• ~/Library/Application Support/com.WebSearchStrideDaemon/WebSearchStride
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.WebSearchStride.plist
• ~/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.WebSearchStrideDaemon.plist

IMPORTANT NOTE! Rogue setups/apps that promote WebSearchStride adware 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 "WebSearchStride" 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/browser hijacker.

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

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

WebSearchStride adware removal:

Remove WebSearchStride-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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