How to uninstall TotalSearch adware

What is TotalSearch?

TotalSearch is one of many potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) that people tend to download or install unintentionally. This PUA is categorized as adware - it serves various intrusive advertisements. Apps such as TotalSearch can also gather various information.

Adware feeds users with intrusive ads that are displayed in the form of coupons, surveys, pop-ups, banners, etc. Displayed ads conceal underlying content of most/all visited web pages and, if clicked, open other untrusted websites. In some cases, they can download or install unwanted software by executing certain scripts.

Adware might also gather browsing-related information. For example, entered search queries, addresses of visited websites, IP addresses, geolocations, and so on. In some cases, these apps target sensitive, personal details as well.

In any case, the developers seek to generate revenue by selling the information to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse the data to generate revenue in other ways. Installed adware can be the reason behind unwanted downloads and installations, problems relating to browsing safety, privacy, etc.

Some users might even become victims of identity theft. Therefore, do not download or install TotalSearch, or any other adware.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by TotalSearch
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AD [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.k), 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.

More adware examples include WebScheduler, CrowdExclusive and FocusBrowse.

These applications are advertised as useful, however, few deliver any valid features or other value. In most cases, they are designed only to help the developers to generate revenue by serving advertisements and gathering user-system information. Furthermore, they can be the reason behind serious problems.

How did TotalSearch install on my computer?

Adware and other PUAs are often downloaded and installed through deceptive advertisements that run certain scripts, or via the download/installation set-ups of other software. Developers include PUAs into set-ups as "additional offers". These can be found in settings such as "Advanced", "Custom", "Manual" or other similar settings.

Many users fail to check and change the settings, thereby allowing included apps (PUAs) to be downloaded and installed together with the required software. This PUA distribution method is known as "bundling".

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Software should be downloaded from trustworthy, official websites and through direct links. Do not use third party downloaders, installers torrent clients, eMule (and other Peer-to-Peer networks) unofficial, dubious websites, or other sources/channels - they are often used to distribute unwanted, potentially malicious software.

Check all "Custom", "Advanced" and other settings of the set-ups before completing the process. Decline offers to download or install additionally-included applications. Do not click advertisements that are displayed on gambling, adult dating, pornography or other dubious websites.

These ads can open untrusted web pages and even cause download/installation of unwanted applications. Remove any suspicious, unknown/unwanted add-ons, extensions or plug-ins installed on the browser, and programs of this kind installed on the computer.

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

Pop-up window displayed once TotalSearch installation is complete:

TotalSearch installation folder and contents:

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

Video showing how to remove TotalSearch adware using Combo Cleaner:

TotalSearch adware removal:

Remove TotalSearch-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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