How to remove SimpleSearchApp adware from your operating system

What is SimpleSearchApp?

SimpleSearchApp is categorized as adware. It is endorsed as tool to enhance the browsing experience by allegedly providing fast searches, accurate and improved search results, etc. In fact, it delivers intrusive ad campaigns. I.e., displays various advertisements, some of which are harmful.

Furthermore, due to its dubious proliferation methods, SimpleSearchApp is classified as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA).

Adware displays a wide variety of unwanted and intrusive ads including, for example, pop-ups, banners, surveys, coupons and so on. Intrusive advertisements significantly diminish the browsing experience. They limit browsing speed and overlay web page content.

As well as affecting the browsing experience, these ads possess certain capabilities that endanger device and user safety. When clicked, they redirect to a number of dangerous sites including (but not limited to) untrustworthy, rogue, compromised, deceptive/scam and malicious web pages.

Clicking can even trigger them to execute scripts designed to stealthily download/install PUAs. Adware is not the only type of unwanted application. Other types can generate redirects to similarly hazardous websites. Some can hijack browsers. This kind make unauthorized changes to browsers, limit/deny access to their settings and promote fake search engines.

PUAs commonly have data tracking capabilities. They record users' browsing activity (URLs visited, web pages viewed, search queries typed, etc.) and gather personal information (IP addresses, geolocations and other details). This vulnerable data can then be shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) intent on misusing it for financial gain.

Therefore, PUAs can cause browser and system infiltration/infections, and result in financial loss, serious privacy issues and even identity theft. To protect devices from these risks, remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins without delay.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by SimpleSearchApp
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Adload-J [Trj]), BitDefender (Gen:Variant.Adware.MAC.AdLoad.1), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/TrojanDownloader.Adload.AE), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Cimpli.h), Full List (VirusTotal)
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.

SearchAdditionally, ElementsCentral, and PhaseSearch are some examples of other adware infections. In general, PUAs share common traits. These apps often seem legitimate and functional. They tempt users to install with various "useful" functions. While the advertised features may sound inviting, they seldom work as promised.

In most cases, the features are nonoperational. The sole purpose of all unwanted applications is to generate profit for the developers, whilst regular users receive no value. PUAs run intrusive ad campaigns, force-open untrustworthy and malicious sites, hijack browsers and collect sensitive data.

How did SimpleSearchApp install on my computer?

PUAs commonly proliferate via download/install set-ups of other software. "Bundling" is the term used to describe the deceptive marketing method of pre-packing normal products with unwanted or malicious content.

By rushing through download/installation processes (e.g. ignoring terms, skipping steps and sections, using pre-set options, etc.), many users increase the risk of unintentionally allowing bundled apps onto their devices. Certain PUAs have "official" download web pages.

As mentioned, intrusive ads also proliferate these applications. Once these ads are clicked, they can execute scripts to download/install PUAs without users' consent.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Research all content, before downloading/installing. Use only official and verified download sources. Do not use untrustworthy download channels such as P2P sharing networks (BitTorrent, eMule, Gnutella, etc.), free file-hosting websites and other third party downloaders.

Treat download and installation processes with caution. Read the terms, study all available options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings and opt-out of additional apps, tools, features, etc. Intrusive ads typically seem legitimate and harmless, however, they can redirect to highly dubious web pages (e.g. gambling, pornography, adult-dating and so on).

If you encounter ads/redirects of this kind, check the system and immediately remove all suspect applications and/or browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with SimpleSearchApp, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Pop-up window displayed once SimpleSearchApp installation is complete:

SimpleSearchApp adware installation folder:

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

Video showing how to remove adware and browser hijackers from a Mac computer:

SimpleSearchApp adware removal:

Remove SimpleSearchApp-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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