How to uninstall WebAdvancedSearch adware

What is WebAdvancedSearch adware?

WebAdvancedSearch is an adware-type application with browser hijacker traits. It delivers intrusive advertisement campaigns and modifies browsers to promote fake search engines.

Most adware type apps and browser hijackers have data tracking capabilities, which are used to monitor users' browsing activity, and it is very likely that WebAdvancedSearch has this functionality as well. Due to the dubious techniques used to proliferate WebAdvancedSearch, it is classified as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA).

This app has been observed being spread via fake Adobe Flash Player updates. Bogus software updaters/installers are also used to spread malware such as Trojans, ransomware, cryptominers, etc.

Adware operates by enabling placement of pop-ups, banners, surveys, coupons and other intrusive ads, typically, on any visited website. These ads limit website visibility and browsing speed, thereby significantly diminishing the browsing experience. Intrusive advertisements are more than just an annoyance - they are also harmful.

When clicked, they can redirect to sale-oriented, untrusted, rogue, deceptive/scam, compromised and malicious websites. Additionally, some intrusive ads stealthily download and install rogue software (e.g. PUAs) when clicked. Browser hijackers assign the addresses of bogus search engines as the homepage, default search engine and new tab/window URLs.

Therefore, new browser tabs/windows opened and search queries typed into the URL bar cause redirects to the promoted address. Fake search engines have no genuine value to regular users, as they are rarely capable of providing unique results - they simply redirect to Yahoo, Google, Bing and other genuine sites. 

Furthermore, recovering a hijacked browser without removing the software affecting it is impossible, since any changes users attempt to make to their browsers are automatically reset (if access to the browser settings is permitted at all). Furthermore, most PUAs (adware and browser hijackers included) can track data.

They can record users' browsing habits (URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries typed, etc.) and collect personal information (IP addresses, geolocations and other details). The gathered data is usually shared with and/or sold to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals).

In summary, the presence of these unwanted apps on devices can lead to system infections, financial loss, serious privacy issues and even identity theft. To protect device and user safety, remove all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins without delay.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by WebAdvancedSearch
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AD [Trj]), BitDefender (Gen:Variant.Adware.MAC.Rload.5), 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.

ExtendedTask, AdvancedProcesser, AdjustableValue and PlusAbout are some examples of other adware-type apps. They may seem legitimate and useful, and people are often lured into download/installation with a wide variety of "useful" functionality, however, despite how good the features may sound, they are seldom operational.

In fact, this applies to most PUAs. The sole purpose of these unwanted applications is to generate revenue for the developers. Regular users receive no value and can instead experience serious issues. PUAs run intrusive ad campaigns, force-open dubious/malicious sites, modify browsers and gather private data.

How did WebAdvancedSearch install on my computer?

PUAs are distributed through download/installation set-ups. This deceptive marketing technique of pre-packing regular software with unwanted or malicious additions is called "bundling". Rushing download/installation processes (e.g. ignoring terms, skipping steps, etc.) increases the risk of unintentionally allowing bundled content into the system.

Some PUAs have "official" download web pages. Intrusive advertisements proliferate these apps as well. Once clicked, they can execute scripts to download/install PUAs without users' permission.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

You are strongly advised to research all software before download/installation and/or purchase. Use only official and verified download channels. Unofficial and free file-hosting websites, P2P sharing networks (BitTorrent, eMule, Gnutella, etc.) and other third party downloaders commonly offer deceptive and/or bundled content, and are therefore untrusted.

When downloading/installing, it is important to read the terms, explore all possible options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings and opt-out of additional apps, tools, features, and so on. Intrusive ads may seem legitimate and harmless, however, they can redirect to highly dubious sites (e.g. gambling, pornography, adult-dating, etc.).

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

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

• ~/Library/Application Support/com.WebAdvancedSearch/WebAdvancedSearch
• ~/Library/Application Support/com.WebAdvancedSearchDaemon/WebAdvancedSearch
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.WebAdvancedSearch.plist
• ~/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.WebAdvancedSearchDaemon.plist

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

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

WebAdvancedSearch adware removal:

Remove WebAdvancedSearch-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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