How to remove Cyber Search from browsers and operating systems

What is Cyber Search?

Cyber Search is a browser hijacker which changes certain browser settings to cybersearch.xyz, adds the "Managed by your organization" feature to Google Chrome browsers, and collects private, sensitive information. Generally, users download and install apps such as Cyber Search (browser hijackers) inadvertently.

This particular app is distributed via a fake installer for Adobe Flash Player and, therefore, is categorized as a potentially unwanted application (PUA).

Typically, browser hijackers change settings such as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab. Cyber Search changes them to cybersearch.xyz. Therefore, users are forced to visit this site when they enter search queries into the URL bar, open a browser, or new tab. In most cases, fake search engines display results generated by other search engines.

On the Chrome browser, cybersearch.xyz redirects to bing.com (displays results generated by Bing), whilst on Safari browsers, it redirects to webcrawler.com (displays results generated by another dubious search engine, which could include links to untrusted web pages in its results).

Generally, the addresses of fake search engines can only be removed from browser settings when the browser hijackers that promote them are no longer installed on the browser. Therefore, to remove cybersearch.xyz, the Cyber Search browser hijacker must first be uninstalled.

As mentioned, this app can read sensitive information such as credit card details, telephone numbers, and passwords. The details could be misused to make fraudulent purchases and transactions, and to steal identities and personal accounts, and for other malicious purposes.

Therefore, users of Cyber Search could become victims of identity theft, lose access to stolen accounts, suffer monetary loss, experience problems relating to web browsing safety, online privacy, and other issues.

Threat Summary:

Name	Cyber Search browser hijacker
Threat Type	Browser hijacker, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names (Fake Installer)	Avast (BV:Bundlore-C [Adw]), BitDefender (Adware.MAC.AdLoad.UQ), Emsisoft (Adware.MAC.AdLoad.UQ (B)), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Bnodlero.am), Full List (VirusTotal).
Serving IP Address (cybersearch.xyz)	162.255.119.250
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 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. ▼ 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 fake search engines are d2sri.com, 6v5f3l.com and search.locatorunit.com. Generally, they appear in browser settings after installation of browser hijackers. Note that, even if a browser hijacker is advertised as useful and legitimate, they are useless to regular users - the main purpose of these PUAs is to generate revenue for the developer.

Therefore, apps of this type should never be downloaded or installed.

How did Cyber Search install on my computer?

Cyber Search is distributed via a fake installer for Adobe Flash Player. Note that fake, deceptive installers can be used to distribute malware such as ransomware and various Trojans. Unwanted downloads and installations often occur when developers distribute PUAs by integrating them into the download/installation setups of other programs as "extra offers".

This distribution method is known as "bundling". The offers can be declined in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings of the setups (or by unticking certain checkboxes). Many users fail to check and change these settings (or untick the checkboxes), thereby allowing PUAs to infiltrate together with the desired software.

PUAs are also downloaded and installed by clicking deceptive advertisements (usually on untrusted sites) that execute certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Download software and files from official websites and via direct links. It is not safe to use torrent clients, eMule (or other Peer-to-Peer networks), third party downloaders, unofficial websites or other sources of this kind. Avoid third party installers. Check "Advanced", "Custom" and other settings, and decline offers to download or install unwanted software.

Do not click ads that are displayed on dubious websites, since they can open other untrusted websites or even cause unwanted downloads and installations. Remove any unwanted, suspicious applications (extensions, add-ons, and plug-ins) that are installed on the browser.

The same should be applied to programs of this kind that are 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.

To prevent Cyber Search browser hijacker from re-installing, ensure that you delete the LiveInfoUpdates directory from the Applications folder:

cybersearch.xyz redirects to bing.com on Chrome (GIF):

cybersearch.xyz redirects to webcrawler.com on Safari (GIF):

Fake installer for Adobe Flash Player designed to install Cyber Search:

Screenshot of a deceptive website promoting these fake installers:

Screenshot of "Managed by your organization" feature added by Cyber Search on Chrome browser:

cybersearch.xyz assigned as the default search engine in Chrome settings:

Cyber Search installed on Safari:

Appearance of a fake Google Docs extension (named "Google Docs Offline") designed to control browser settings and promote browser hijackers (such as cybersearch.xyz):

Appearance of this fake Google Docs extension managing Google Chrome search engine settings:

This browser hijacker modifies the Google Chrome web browser itself, thereby making it unfixable. Therefore, in order to use it, you must re-install a fresh copy once all malicious files are removed.

IMPORTANT NOTE! Rogue setups/apps that promote the Cyber Search 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 "Chrome Settings" 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.

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 Cyber Search?
• STEP 1. Remove Cyber Search related files and folders from OSX.
• STEP 2. Remove Cyber Search redirect from Safari.
• STEP 3. Remove Cyber Search browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove Cyber Search homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.

Video showing how to remove Cyber Search browser hijacker using Combo Cleaner:

Cyber Search redirect removal:

Remove Cyber Search-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.

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