How to remove MainSearchAdvise and search.initialunit.com?
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What is MainSearchAdvise browser hijacker?
MainSearchAdvise browser hijacker is a form of unwanted software that alters a web browser's settings to force its users to visit the search.initialunit.com address. Search.initialunit.com is a fake search engine. It is noteworthy that it is unusual for browser hijackers to be downloaded knowingly, intentionally.
MainSearchAdvise browser hijacker in detail
Typically, hijacked browsers open a specific address every time users open a new window, tab or enter search queries in an address bar. It is because installed browser hijackers change settings such as the address of a homepage, new tab and default search engine. MainSearchAdvise browser hijacker changes those settings to search.initialunit.com.
As mentioned in the introduction paragraph, search.initialunit.com is a fake search engine. It is fake because it shows results generated by Google (search.initialunit.com does not generate results). It is worth mentioning that search.initialunit.com may show results generated by untrustworthy search engines/other fake search engines.
It is important to know that fake search engines can be used to promote potentially malicious websites and display shady advertisements. Therefore, fake search engines cannot be trusted. To remove search.initialunit.com from the browser's settings, it is necessary to uninstall MainSearchAdvise.
It is worth knowing that apps of this type can be designed to gather browsing-related details such as visited websites, entered search queries, geolocations, IP addresses, and so on. In some cases, they collect sensitive information as well (foe example, credit card details, saved passwords, autofill data).
| Name | search.initialunit.com redirect |
| Threat Type | Browser hijacker, Mac malware, Mac virus |
| Detection Names (search.initialunit.com) | Fortinet (Malware), Full List (VirusTotal) |
| Serving IP Address | 54.230.18.34 |
| Symptoms | Your Mac became slower than normal, you see unwanted pop-up ads, you get redirected to shady 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. |
Browser hijackers in general
Browser hijackers are useless applications designed to promote fake search engines. Pretty often, they function as data collectors. In one way or another, it is not safe to have them installed on browsers or use fake search engines. More examples of browser hijackers are ProType, UltraWebFormat, and OpticalRatePro.
How did MainSearchAdvise install on my computer?
It is common for unwanted downloads and installations to happen through downloaders and installers for other programs - when PAUs are bundled with other programs. Typically, users can find and decline optional applications in "Advanced", "Custom" or other settings or near ticked checkboxes. However, not all users check and change those settings.
In other cases, users cause unexpected downloads or installations by clicking on deceptive advertisements designed to execute certain scripts or using fake installers designed to distribute potentially unwanted (or even malicious) applications. In all these three cases, users download and install PUAs unintentionally.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Downloads should come from official sources (websites or platforms like App Store). It is not safe to use third-party downloaders, installers, torrent clients, eMule or other P2P networks, unofficial sites. Downloaders and installers should be checked for "Custom", "Advanced (and other similar) options, settings, and ticked checkboxes.
The settings mentioned above can be used to prevent PUAs from being downloaded or installed. Furthermore, ads that appear on pages relating to pornography, adult dating, gambling, or other shady pages should not be clicked as well. They are often used to promote potentially malicious pages or distribute unwanted software.
Suspicious, unwanted extensions, add-ons, plug-ins installed on a web browser, and programs of this kind installed on the operating system should be removed. If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate them.
Search.initialunit.com redirects to google.com (GIF):
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:
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Quick menu:
- What is MainSearchAdvise?
- STEP 1. Remove MainSearchAdvise related files and folders from OSX.
- STEP 2. Remove MainSearchAdvise redirect from Safari.
- STEP 3. Remove MainSearchAdvise browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove MainSearchAdvise homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
Video showing how to remove adware and browser hijackers from a Mac computer:
MainSearchAdvise redirect removal:
Remove MainSearchAdvise 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!
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