How to remove the LeadingChannelSearch adware?

What is LeadingChannelSearch adware?

LeadingChannelSearch is a potentially unwanted application (PUA) designed to display advertisements and force users to use a fake search engine by modifying a web browser's settings. This PUA functions as a browser hijacker and adware. It is known that LeadingChannelSearch is distributed using a fake installer.

LeadingChannelSearch adware in detail

LeadingChannelSearch displays advertisements designed to open questionable websites (for example, scam websites, download pages for other PUAs). It could generate advertisements designed to download or install unwanted applications as well. Usually, apps like LeadingChannelSearch display pop-up ads, banners, coupons, surveys, etc.

Also, LeadingChannelSearch changes web browser's settings such as the address of a default search engine, homepage, and new tab. It changes them to an address of a fake search engine and prevents users from removing that address from the settings as mentioned above - it forces users to visit and use a fake search engine (once they open a browser, new tab, etc.).

It is important to mention that fake search engines can show misleading results or show results generated by other questionable search engines. Also, they can display advertisements alongside their search results. In one way or another, it is strongly recommended not to use fake search engines. It is safest to use Google, Yahoo and other legitimate search engines.

It is likely that LeadingChannelSearch collects information about its users as well, for example, their IP addresses, visited websites, entered search queries. Moreover, it could be capable of reading and collecting passwords, credit card details, email addresses, and other information. These are the main reasons not to have LeadingChannelSearch installed.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by LeadingChannelSearch
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AD [Trj]), AVG (MacOS:Adload-AD [Trj]), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/TrojanDownloader.Adload.AE), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Cimpli.l), Full List (VirusTotal)
Additional Information	This application belongs to 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.

LeadingChannelSearch adware in general

This app displays ads and promotes a fake search engine. There is a high possibility that it collects various data as well. As a rule, users download and install applications like LeadingChannelSearch unknowingly because most of them are distributed using deceptive methods. More adware examples are AccessibleEngineSearch, MultiplySearch and SwitcherGuard.

How did LeadingChannelSearch install on my computer?

To trick users into installing LeadingChannelSearch, its developers use a fake installer that looks like the installer for Adobe Flash Player. Usually, fake installers are promoted on deceptive websites. It is important to mention that fake installers can be designed to infect computers with ransomware, Trojans, and other malicious software.

It is also common for PUAs to be distributed via downloaders and installers for free programs. This distribution method is known as "bundling". Users download or install PUAs together with other programs when they do not change "Advanced", "Custom", "Manual" or other settings that their downloaders or installers have.

Sometimes users unintentionally download or install potentially unwanted applications by clicking advertisements while visiting untrustworthy, potentially malicious web pages. Some advertisements can cause unexpected downloads or installations by running certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Applications and files should be downloaded from legitimate, official pages. It is not safe to open files downloaded from unofficial pages, third-party downloaders, Peer-to-Peer networks like torrent clients, eMule. Those files can be designed to install unwanted software or infect computers. Third-party installers can be malicious too.

Furthermore, it is recommended not to finish downloads and installations without checking downloaders and installers for bundled applications. Usually, optional offers can be deselected via "Custom", "Advanced", "Manual" or other settings, or by unticking ticked checkboxes. It is worth mentioning that most PUAs are distributed with freeware.

Advertisements on untrustworthy websites (for example, on pages related to pornography, gambling, adult dating) should not be clicked. Pretty often, those ads are designed to open various untrustworthy, potentially malicious websites. Sometimes they can be designed to download or install potentially malicious apps.

Unwanted, suspicious applications (for example, extensions, plug-ins or add-ons) installed on a web browser and programs of this kind installed on a computer should be removed as soon as possible. If your computer is already infected with LeadingChannelSearch, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

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

• ~/Library/Application Support/com.LeadingChannelSearch/LeadingChannelSearch
• ~/Library/Application Support/com.LeadingChannelSearchDaemon/LeadingChannelSearch
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.LeadingChannelSearch.plist
• ~/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.LeadingChannelSearchDaemon.plist

IMPORTANT NOTE! Rogue setups/apps that promote the LeadingChannelSearch 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 (Dock) and select "Profiles".

2) Locate all suspicious profiles (for example "LeadingChannelSearch") and delete them.

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 LeadingChannelSearch?
• STEP 1. Remove LeadingChannelSearch related files and folders from OSX.
• STEP 2. Remove LeadingChannelSearch ads from Safari.
• STEP 3. Remove LeadingChannelSearch adware from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove LeadingChannelSearch ads from Mozilla Firefox.

Video showing how to remove LeadingChannelSearch adware using Combo Cleaner:

LeadingChannelSearch adware removal:

Remove LeadingChannelSearch-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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