How to uninstall apps that promote prudensearch.com
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is prudensearch.com?
prudensearch.com is the address of a fake search engine supposedly designed to improve the browsing experience (generate accurate results, provide quick access to various popular pages, etc.). Generally, these search engines are promoted through potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) classified as browser hijackers.
Note that prudensearch.com is promoted through a PUA called PrudenSearch. Typically, apps of this type promote fake search engines by changing certain browser settings. They also gather various data. PrudenSearch is distributed through a deceptive Adobe Flash Player installer, which is also used to distribute other PUAs named Media Player, Easy Mac Care and Shoptimizely.
PrudenSearch promotes prudensearch.com by assigning it as the address of the default search engine. Note that most browser hijackers also change the address of the homepage and new tab.
Additionally, prudensearch.com is classified as a fake search engine, since it displays results generated by Bing, however, it actually redirects users to bing.com through trovi.com (another dubious address). Commonly, apps such as PrudenSearch do not allow users to undo the changes that were made by them as long as they are installed.
Therefore, prudensearch.com can be removed from browser settings only when PrudenSearch is uninstalled.
These PUAs often gather details such as users' IP addresses, geolocations, addresses of visited pages, entered search queries, and other browsing data. It is possible that the data will be misused to generate revenue by selling it to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals), or in other ways.
Therefore, these apps can lead to problems such as identity theft, issues relating to browsing safety, and online privacy. Never download or install any PUAs, and avoid fake search engines. As mentioned, PrudenSearch is distributed together with Shoptimizely (adware) and Easy Mac Care and Media Player, other PUAs.
These applications should not be trusted. If they are installed on the browser or computer, remove them immediately.
| Name | PrudenSearch browser hijacker |
| Threat Type | Browser hijacker, Mac malware, Mac virus. |
| Detection Names (of a deceptive installer) | Avast (MacOS:Agent-FJ [Adw]), BitDefender (Adware.MAC.Bundlore.EGJ), Emsisoft (Adware.MAC.Bundlore.EGJ (B)), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Bnodlero.ah), Full List (VirusTotal). |
| Serving IP Address | 104.26.7.110 |
| Additional Payload | Media Player, Easy Mac Care, Shoptimizely |
| Symptoms | Your Mac became 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), 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. |
prudensearch.com is virtually identical to searchmine.net. More examples of fake search engines similar to prudensearch.com are search.getstranto.club, my-search.site and go.coloringmaster.net. Typically, they do not generate independent results, and simply display those generated by other search engines (such as Bing, Yahoo, Google).
Fake search engines also display misleading results and promote dubious websites. As mentioned, PrudenSearch (and other PUAs) are distributed through a deceptive installer. Commonly, such installers are used to distribute PUAs and also malware (e.g., ransomware, Trojans). Therefore, never use them to install any applications.
How did prudensearch.com install on my computer?
This fake search engine appears in browser settings when users install PrudenSearch through a deceptive Adobe Flash Player installer. PUAs can also be installed through the set-ups of other programs and deceptive ads.
Unwanted downloads and installations through set-ups of other programs happens when people fail to check and change settings such as "Custom" and "Advanced" - this allows additionally-included apps to be downloaded and installed with the required software.
This distribution method of potentially unwanted software is known as "bundling". Rogue downloads and installations also happen when people click intrusive ads that execute certain scripts.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
You are strongly advised to download all software from official websites and through direct links. Avoid third party downloaders (and installers), Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., eMule, torrent clients), unofficial sites and other channels of this kind.
Check "Advanced", "Custom", and other settings and decline offers to download or install additional software before completing the process. Do not click advertisements that appear on dubious websites, since they can open other untrusted pages or even cause download/installation of unwanted apps by executing certain scripts.
Remove any unwanted, suspicious plug-ins, extensions and add-ons already installed on the browser, and programs of this kind 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.
prudensearch.com redirects to bing.com via trovi.com (GIF):
Deceptive application installer promoting prudensearch.com, Media Player, Shoptimizely and Easy Mac Care:
prudensearch.com assigned as the default search engine in Chrome:
This browser hijacker modifies the Google Chrome web browser itself, thereby making it unfixable. For this reason, in order to use it you have to re-install a fresh copy once all the malicious files are removed.
IMPORTANT NOTE! Rogue setups/apps that promote the prudensearch.com website 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 and select "Profiles".
2) Select the "Chrome Settings" and "Safari Settings" profiles 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.
Update 19 October 2020 - Criminals have recently updated the Pruden Search browser hijacker by adding a feature that allows it to add the "Managed by your organization" entry to Google Chrome.
Screenshot of Google Chrome browser with "Managed by your organization" entry:
Instant automatic Mac malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced computer 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 prudensearch.com?
- STEP 1. Remove prudensearch.com related files and folders from OSX.
- STEP 2. Remove prudensearch.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 3. Remove prudensearch.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove prudensearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
Video showing how to remove prudensearch.com browser hijacker using Combo Cleaner:
prudensearch.com redirect removal:
Remove prudensearch.com-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 prudensearch browser hijacker 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 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 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 in the correct order you Mac should be clean of infections. To be sure 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 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 it's virus definition database and click "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.
PrudenSearch browser hijacker homepage and default Internet search engine removal from Internet browsers:
Remove malicious extensions from Safari:
Remove prudensearch browser hijacker related Safari extensions:
Open 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 normal 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 labelled "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 malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:
Remove prudensearch browser hijacker related Mozilla Firefox add-ons:
Open your Mozilla Firefox browser. At the top right corner of the screen, click the "Open Menu" (three horizontal lines) button. From the opened menu, choose "Add-ons".
Choose the "Extensions" tab and look for any recently-installed suspicious add-ons. When located, click the "Remove" button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Mozilla Firefox browser - none are crucial for normal browser operation.
Change your homepage:
To change your homepage, click the "Open Menu" (three horizontal lines) button and choose "Preferences" from the drop-down menu. To set your homepage, type the preferred website URL (for example: www.google.com) in the Homepage Page.
Change default search engine:
In the URL address bar, type "about:config" and click the "I'll be careful, I promise!" button.
In the "Search:" field, type the name of the browser hijacker. Right click on each of the found preferences and click "Reset" from the drop-down menu.
- If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Mozilla Firefox.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Remove prudensearch browser hijacker related Google Chrome add-ons:
Open Google Chrome and click the "Chrome menu" (three horizontal lines) button located in the top-right corner of the browser window. From the drop-down menu, choose "More Tools" and select "Extensions".
In the "Extensions" window, look for any recently-installed suspicious add-ons. When located, click the "Trash" button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Google Chrome browser - none are crucial for normal browser operation.
Change your homepage:
Click the "Chrome menu" (three horizontal lines) button and choose "Settings". In the "On Startup" section, click the "Set pages" link near to the "Open a specific page or set of pages" option. Remove the URL of the browser hijacker (for example trovi.com) and enter your preferred URL (for example, google.com).
Change default search engine:
Click the "Chrome menu" (three horizontal lines) button and choose "Settings". In the "Search" section, click the "Manage search engines..." button. In the opened window, remove the unwanted Internet search engine by clicking the "X" button next to it. Select your preferred Internet search engine from the list and click the "Make default" button next to it.
- If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.
Outstanding!
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