How to remove the TechResultsSearch unwanted app

What is TechResultsSearch?

The main purpose of the TechResultsSearch application is to generate revenue for developers by serving advertisements and promoting a fake search engine. This app is designed to operate as adware and as a browser hijacker. It is also likely to record various data.

TechResultsSearch is distributed using a fake Adobe Flash Player installer. Users do not often download and install this app intentionally and, for this reason, TechResultsSearch is classified as a potentially unwanted application (PUA).

As mentioned, TechResultsSearch generates revenue for developers by displaying ads. Usually, adware-type apps serve banners, surveys, pop-ups, coupons, and other advertisements. Ads shown by adware are often used to promote (open) dubious pages or even designed to run scripts that download and install unwanted software. You should not click advertisements that appear because of installed adware.

Additionally, TechResultsSearch hijacks browsers by changing settings such as the default search engine, homepage, and new tab. Like most apps of this type, it changes them to the address of a fake search engine - this forces users visit the address when they open a browser, new tab, or enter search queries into the URL bar.

Fake search engines cannot be trusted: they can generate dubious results (include links to bogus pages among generated results). They can also show results generated by legitimate search engines.

Furthermore, TechResultsSearch is likely to record data, targeting IP addresses, entered search queries, addresses of visited websites, geolocations, and other information relating to users' browsing habits. Adware can also access confidential data such as passwords, credit card details, and so on.

These are the main reasons why adware should never be installed on browsers or operating systems. By installing these apps, users risk becoming victims of identity theft, losing access to personal accounts, suffering monetary loss, and experiencing other issues, let alone having to regularly see unwanted ads and suffer redirects to dubious pages.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by TechResultsSearch
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AD [Trj]), BitDefender (Adware.MAC.AdLoad.AFC), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/TrojanDownloader.Adload.AD), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Cimpli.l), 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.

There are many more applications that display advertisements, promote specific addresses, and gather information relating to the browsing activities (or even more sensitive details). Some examples of apps that have similar functionality are LauncherSetup, DefaultExplorer, and AnalyzerWindow.

Users do not often download or install these PUAs intentionally. In any case, users who have installed adware or browser hijackers should remove them immediately.

How did TechResultsSearch install on my computer?

TechResultsSearch is distributed through a fake installer that is disguised as the installer for Adobe Flash Player. Typically, fake installers are promoted on deceptive, potentially malicious pages. They are also used to distribute malicious software (e.g., Trojans, ransomware).

PUAs are distributed via download/installation set-ups of other products. This deceptive marketing tactic of packing regular software with unwanted or malicious additions is called "bundling".

Rushing download/installation processes (e.g. ignoring terms, skipping steps and settings, etc.) increases the risk of inadvertently allowing bundled content into the system.

Some PUAs have "official" download sites. Intrusive advertisements proliferate these applications as well. Once clicked, they can execute scripts to download/install PUAs without users' consent.

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.

Regularly scan your computer with reputable antivirus or anti-spyware software and keep this software up to date.

If your computer is already infected with TechResultsSearch, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Files related to TechResultsSearch adware that need to be removed:

• ~/Library/Application Support/com.TechResultsSearch/TechResultsSearch
• ~/Library/Application Support/com.TechResultsSearchDaemon/TechResultsSearch
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.TechResultsSearch.plist
• ~/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.TechResultsSearchDaemon.plist

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

Video showing how to remove TechResultsSearch adware using Combo Cleaner:

TechResultsSearch adware removal:

Remove TechResultsSearch-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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