How to remove SearchTopic adware

What is SearchTopic?

SearchTopic serve advertisements and promote the address of a fake search engine by modifying certain browser settings. In this context, the app has characteristics of adware and a browser hijacker. It is also possible that SearchTopic will gather data relating to users' browsing habits.

People often download and install programs such as SearchTopic inadvertently and, therefore, they are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs). Research shows that users are often tricked into installing SearchTopic through a deceptive Adobe Flash Player installer.

In most cases, apps such as SearchTopic display coupons, banners, pop-ups surveys and other advertisements that often promote (open) dubious websites or even cause download/installation of other PUAs. In any case, you are advised against clicking ads that are served by installed adware.

SearchTopic changes the homepage and default search engine to the address of a fake search engine. In this way, it forces users to visit a specific address when they open a browser, new tab, or enter search queries into the URL bar. These changes cannot be undone unless users uninstall the app that made them.

Therefore, to stop the browser from opening the address assigned by SearchTopic, it is necessary to uninstall this app. The app might also collect data such as addresses of visited pages, entered search queries, IP addresses, geolocations and other browsing details. In some cases these apps record private, sensitive information as well.

The criminals responsible can misuse the information to generate revenue by selling it to third parties, or in other ways. Therefore, users who have apps such as SearchTopic installed on browsers and/or computers might become victims of identity theft, experience issues relating to browsing safety, online privacy, etc.

For these reasons never trust, download, or installed these PUAs. Do not use deceptive installers (such as fake, unofficial Adobe Flash Player installers), since these often install apps such as SearchTopic or even malicious software including ransomware, Trojan-type programs, and other malware.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by SearchTopic
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
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.

SearchTopic is very similar to CreativeSearch, ElementaryDataSearch, ResultsToolbox, and many other potentially unwanted applications.

In most cases, these apps serve intrusive ads, gather data, and promote fake search engines. Developers advertise them as legitimate and useful, however, rather than operating as advertised, programs such as SearchTopic are used simply to generate revenue for the developers and can cause serious issues.

How did SearchTopic install on my computer?

Research shows that SearchTopic is often installed inadvertently via a deceptive Adobe Flash Player installer. People also download and/or install these apps through the set-ups of other programs. I.e., when they are distributed by including them into various download/installation set-ups as 'additional offers'.

This distribution method is known as "bundling" and is used to trick people into downloading/installing unwanted apps with their regular software. These rogue downloads and installations happen when people fail to check "Advanced", "Custom" or other settings, and decline offers to download or install additionally-included apps.

Leaving the settings unchanged allows PUAs to infiltrate. In some cases, PUAs are downloaded and installed through deceptive ads that are are clicked and capable of executing certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

You are strongly advised not to use third party downloaders, installers (including fake Adobe Flash Player installers), Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule), unofficial pages to download or install any programs or files. These channels can be used to distribute PUAs or even malicious apps.

Files and software should be downloaded only from official websites and via direct links. Decline offers to download or install PUAs through "Advanced", "Custom" and other similar settings of the set-ups. Do not click intrusive ads that appear on dubious websites (these ads often open untrusted websites or even cause unwanted downloads and installations).

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

Files related to Kreberisec adware that need to be removed:

• ~/Library/Application Support/com.SearchTopic/SearchTopic
• ~/Library/Application Support/com.SearchTopicDaemon/SearchTopic
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.SearchTopic.plist
• ~/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.SearchTopicDaemon.plist

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

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

SearchTopic adware removal:

Remove SearchTopic-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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