Uninstall apps designed to promote search.navigationbuffer.com
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is search.navigationbuffer.com?
search.navigationbuffer.com is the address of a fake search engine. Typically, these addresses appear in browser settings when people inadvertently install browser hijackers or adware-type applications. In this case, the settings are changed after installation of adware called AdjustableSkill.
Other apps might also promote search.navigationbuffer.com. Note that users often download and install adware (and browser hijackers) unintentionally and, therefore, they are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).
In most cases, apps that promote fake search engines change browser settings such as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab. AdjustableSkill changes the address of the default search engine to search.navigationbuffer.com.
The search engine is fake, since it redirects users to search.yahoo.com (and displays results generated by the Yahoo search engine). Users cannot generally remove the address of the fake search engine from browser settings unless they uninstall the app that promotes it.
In this case, search.navigationbuffer.com can be removed from settings when AdjustableSkill is no longer installed. Research shows that this app can read sensitive information from websites such as passwords, credit card details, telephone numbers, and other details of this kind.
This information could be misused to steal identities, personal accounts, and make fraudulent purchases, transactions, etc. Therefore, never download or install AdjustableSkill, or other similar applications.
| Name | search.navigationbuffer.com browser hijacker |
| Threat Type | Browser hijacker, Mac malware, Mac virus. |
| Serving IP Address | 104.124.58.147 |
| Symptoms | Your Mac became 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 browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady 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. |
More examples of fake search engines similar to search.navigationbuffer.com are z6airr.com, 0yrvtrh.com and searchiing.com. They do not generate any unique results and simply provide results generated by other search engines (e.g., Google, Bing, Yahoo).
In some cases, fake search engines generate misleading results and promote addresses of dubious, potentially malicious websites. Never trust or use fake search engines. As mentioned, their addresses are promoted through PUAs that users download and install inadvertently.
How did search.navigationbuffer.com install on my computer?
AdjustableSkill is distributed through a fake Adobe Flash Player installer. These rogue installers should never be used to install any software, as they can infiltrate malware (ransomware, Trojans, and other malicious programs). People often download and install PUAs when software developers distribute them using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling".
This method is used to trick users into downloading and installing PUAs with other programs by including them into the set-ups as 'additional offers'. Generally, these offers are listed (and can be declined) in "Custom" and "Advanced" settings. Many users fail to check and change these settings, thereby allowing additional PUAs to be downloaded and installed.
Deceptive ads can also cause unwanted downloads and installations - when clicked, they execute certain scripts.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
You are advised to download software only from official websites and through direct links. Channels and tools such as Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule and so on), third party downloaders, installers, unofficial, dubious websites, etc., should not be trusted. Check all settings such as "Custom" and "Advanced" and decline offers to download or install unwanted apps.
Do not click advertisements that are displayed on untrusted websites, since they can leads to potentially malicious pages or cause download/installation of unwanted apps. Remove any unwanted, unknown or suspicious extensions, add-ons and plug-ins installed on the browser, and programs of this kind installed on the operating system.
If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate them.
Fake Adobe Flash Player installer designed to install AdsjutableSkill adware:
AdjustableSkill installed on Safari:
Browser settings changed to search.navigationbuffer.com (Chrome):
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 search.navigationbuffer.com?
- STEP 1. Remove search.navigationbuffer.com related files and folders from OSX.
- STEP 2. Remove search.navigationbuffer.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 3. Remove search.navigationbuffer.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.navigationbuffer.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
Video showing how to remove adware and browser hijackers from a Mac computer:
search.navigationbuffer.com redirect removal:
Remove search.navigationbuffer.com-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 browser hijacker-related files and folders
Click the Finder icon from the menu bar. Choose Go, and click Go to Folder...
Check for browser hijacker 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 browser hijackers - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Browser hijacker commonly installs several files with the exact same string.
Check for browser hijacker 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 browser hijacker 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 browser hijackers - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Browser hijacker commonly installs several files with the exact same string.
Check for browser hijacker 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 browser hijackers, continue to remove rogue extensions from your Internet browsers.
Remove browser hijackers from Internet browsers
Remove Safari browser hijackers:
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.
Change your homepage:
In the "Preferences" window, select the "General" tab. To set your homepage, type the preferred website URL (for example: www.google.com) in the Homepage field. You can also click the "Set to Current Page" button if you wish to set your homepage to the website you are currently visiting.
Change your default search engine:
In the "Preferences" window, select the "Search" tab. Here you will find a drop-down menu labeled "Search engine:" Simply select your preferred search engine from the drop-down list.
- If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Safari.
Remove Google Chrome browser hijackers:
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".
Change your homepage
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable the malicious extension (if present), look for a browser hijacker URL below the "Open a specific or set of pages" option. If present, click on the three vertical dots icon and select "Remove".
Change your default search engine:
To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list look for a browser hijacker URL, when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Delete".
- 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".
Change your homepage
To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Settings", in the opened window disable malicious extension (if present), remove the browser hijacker URL and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
Change your default search engine:
In the URL address bar, type "about:config" and press Enter. Click "Accept the Risk and Continue".
In the search filter at the top, type: "extensionControlled". Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the 
button.
- If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Mozilla Firefox.
Outstanding!
▼ Show Discussion