How to remove Bright Start

What is Bright Start?

Bright Start is a potentially unwanted application (PUA), a browser hijacker which promotes qsearch.pw (the address of a fake search engine) by changing browser settings. These apps often track information and gather browsing-related data. Browser hijackers are classified as PUAs, since people usually download and install them unintentionally.

In most cases, browser hijackers promote fake search engines by assigning their URLs as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab. In this way, they ensure that users visit a particular address when they open a browser, new tab and enter search queries into the URL bar.

Note that Bright Start users are provided with search results generated by search.becovi.com (qsearch.pw simply redirects to search.becovi.com). These bogus search engines often generate misleading results and can display links that lead to other dubious, potentially malicious pages.

Therefore, fake search engines should never be trusted. Most browser hijackers prevent users from removing the address of the fake search engine from browser settings. Therefore, they are forced to visit the fake search engine as long as the hijacker is installed on the browser and/or operating system.

Typically, the only way to undo modifications made by the browser hijacker is to uninstall it (in this case, Bright Start). Furthermore, apps of this type often gather browsing data such as entered search queries, addresses of visited websites, geolocations, IP addresses, etc., however, some browser hijackers also collect private, sensitive details.

It is possible that the developer will sell gathered data to third parties who could misuse it in other ways. The data might be sold to cyber criminals. Therefore, never download or install these apps. If Bright Start or other apps are installed on the browser and/or operating system, remove them immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	qsearch.pw redirect
Threat Type	Browser hijacker, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Bundlore-DR [Adw]), BitDefender (Adware.MAC.Generic.14530), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Bundlore.CE), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Bnodlero.an), 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 browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying 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 fake search engines on the internet including search.friendlysocket.com, search.gratziany.com and search.doc2pdfsearch.com - these are just some examples.

Generally, they are promoted through browser hijackers, which are supposedly useful apps that improve the browsing experience and deliver various features. In fact, they deliver no real value and simply cause problems.

How did Bright Start install on my computer?

It is possible to cause unwanted downloads and installations by clicking ads that run certain scripts, however, in most cases, PUAs infiltrate when people download and install other (usually free) software. Commonly, PUAs are distributed by including them into the download/installation set-ups of other software as 'additional offers'.

This distribution method is called "bundling". Offers to download and install additional software can be found in settings such as "Custom" and "Advanced", however, many users fail to check and change these settings, thereby agreeing by default with offers to download and install additional, potentially unwanted apps.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

In most cases, PUAs are distributed through Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule), unofficial websites, third party downloaders, installers and other channels/tools of this kind. Therefore, they should not be used to download or install your software.

Programs should be downloaded from official pages and through direct links. Check all download and installation settings such as "Custom" and "Advanced" and decline offers to download or install potentially unwanted applications before completing the process.

Do not click advertisements that appear on dubious pages, since they can open rogue websites or cause unwanted downloads/installations. Remove any, suspicious extensions, add-ons and plug-ins installed on the browser immediately. Also remove programs of this kind that are installed on the operating system.

If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate them.

Bright Start redirects to search.becovi.com via qsearch.pw (GIF):

Bright Start installed on Google Chrome:

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 Bright Start?
• STEP 1. Remove Bright Start related files and folders from OSX.
• STEP 2. Remove Bright Start redirect from Safari.
• STEP 3. Remove Bright Start browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove Bright Start homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.

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

Bright Start redirect removal:

Remove Bright Start-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.

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