How to uninstall MajorPanelSearch adware

What is MajorPanelSearch?

MajorPanelSearch is designed to display advertisements and promote the address of a fake search engine by changing browser settings. This app has traits of adware and browser hijackers. It might also be designed to collect data relating to users' browsing habits.

In most cases, people download and install these apps unintentionally and, therefore, MajorPanelSearch (and other apps of this type) are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs). Research shows that MajorPanelSearch is distributed through a deceptive Adobe Flash Player installer.

MajorPanelSearch adware overview

In most cases, adware-type apps such as MajorPanelSearch feed users with surveys, banners, pop-ups, coupons and other advertisements. Commonly, these conceal underlying content of visited web pages, open bogus websites, or even execute scripts designed to download and install unwanted software.

Therefore, do not trust or click these ads. Furthermore, MajorPanelSearch assign the address of a fake search engine as the homepage, default search engine, and new tab. Therefore, users of MajorPanelSearch are forced to visit a rogue address when they open a browser, new tab, or enter search queries into the URL bar.

Browser hijackers prevent people from modifying or undoing the settings that were reassigned, as long as they are installed. Therefore, MajorPanelSearch must be uninstalled to allow the settings to be returned to the required URLs.

Additionally, MajorPanelSearch might record IP addresses, addresses of visited web pages, entered search queries, geolocations and other browsing data, or even private, sensitive information. Developers often misuse this information to generate revenue by selling it to third parties (who might be cyber criminals), or in other ways.

Therefore, MajorPanelSearch users might become victims of identity theft, experience issues relating to browsing safety, privacy, and other problems. Never install these apps and bear in mind that it is not safe to use third party installers (such as a deceptive Adobe Flash Player installers), since they can distribute malware (e.g., ransomware, Trojan-type programs).

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by MajorPanelSearch
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Agent-KA [Trj]), AVG (MacOS:Agent-KA [Trj]), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/TrojanDownloader.Agent.G), Kaspersky (HEUR:Backdoor.OSX.Lador.a), Full List (VirusTotal).
Additional Information	This application belongs to Adload malware family.
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.

Adware examples

More examples of apps similar to MajorPanelSearch are AdditionalChannelSearch, SearchToolHelper and SocratesResults. Unfortunately, these are just some of examples and there are many more online.

These apps are supposedly legitimate and useful - developers advertise them as capable of improving the browsing experience, including various features, etc., however, they are useless and can cause serious problems. For these reasons, remove MajorPanelSearch and other rogue apps from the browser and computer.

How did MajorPanelSearch install on my computer?

As mentioned, MajorPanelSearch is distributed through a fake Adobe Flash Player installer. These installers are not associated with legitimate software (such as Adobe Flash Player) and distribute unwanted, malicious apps. PUAs are also distributed by including them into the download/installation set-ups of other, mainly free, programs.

This distribution method is called "bundling". Typically, additionally-included apps can be found in "Custom", "Advanced" and other settings.

Many people download and install their software without checking and changing these settings, thereby agreeing by default with offers to download and install additionally-included apps. Unwanted downloads and installations can also be caused by clicking deceptive ads that execute certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Unofficial, websites, Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g. eMule. torrent clients), third party downloaders, and other tools/channels are often used to distribute unwanted, potentially malicious apps. The same applies to third party installers. Therefore, files and programs should be downloaded only from official pages and through direct links.

Check all settings such as "Custom" and "Advanced" and decline offers to download or install unwanted apps before completing the process. Do not click intrusive advertisements on dubious websites, since they can open untrusted websites or cause download/installation of unwanted apps.

Remove all unwanted, suspicious extensions, add-ons and plug-ins that are installed on the browser. Also remove programs of this kind that are installed on the computer. If your computer is already infected with MajorPanelSearch, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Files related to MajorPanelSearch adware that need to be removed:

• ~/Library/Application Support/com.MajorPanelSearch/MajorPanelSearch
• ~/Library/Application Support/com.MajorPanelSearchDaemon/MajorPanelSearch
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.MajorPanelSearch.plist
• ~/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.MajorPanelSearchDaemon.plist

IMPORTANT NOTE! Rogue setups/apps that promote MajorPanelSearch adware 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 "MajorPanelSearch" profile and delete it.

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 adware/browser hijacker.

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

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

MajorPanelSearch adware removal:

Remove MajorPanelSearch-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.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What harm can adware cause?

Adware-displayed ads promote content that may cause severe issues (e.g., system infections, financial losses, etc.). Advertising-supported software can decrease browsing quality and system performance. It usually has data-tracking functionalities – therefore, it is considered to be a privacy threat.

What does adware do?

Adware enables the placement of ads on visited webpages and/or other interfaces. Additionally, some adware types can generate redirects and gather private data.

How do adware developers generate revenue?

Adware developers profit primarily through affiliate programs by endorsing websites, apps, browser extensions, products, services, and other content.

Will Combo Cleaner remove MajorPanelSearch adware?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your system and eliminate installed adware-type applications. It is pertinent to mention that manual removal (unaided by security software) might not be an ideal solution. In some instances, even after the software has been manually removed – various components (files) stay hidden within the system. The remnants may continue to run and cause problems. Hence, it is crucial to eliminate adware thoroughly.

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