How to remove the unwanted app designed to promote searches.cloud

What is searches.cloud?

searches.cloud is the address of a fake search engine, which is promoted through a potentially unwanted application (PUA), a browser hijacker distributed through a deceptive Adobe Flash Player installer. Generally, these apps promote fake search engines by modifying browser settings.

They are categorized as PUAs, since users often download and install them inadvertently. Note that PUAs often monitor and record data.

Typically, apps that promote fake search engines change browser settings such as the address of the homepage, new tab, and default search engine. In this case, the settings are assigned to searches.cloud. This fake search engine then redirects users to webcrawler.com, another dubious search engine.

Commonly, these search engines do not generate unique results (they simply display results generated by legitimate search engines such as Google and Yahoo) or generate results that include links to bogus websites. In any case, you are advised against using search engines that are promoted through potentially unwanted applications.

These PUAs often gather browsing-related data (IP addresses, geolocations, entered search queries, and URLs of visited websites), however, they might also record private, sensitive information as well.

Furthermore, the people behind these apps (the developers) often sell the data to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals), or misuse it to generate revenue in other ways. Note that users cannot remove the fake search engine URL from browser settings unless they first uninstall the app that modified them.

Threat Summary:

Name	searches.cloud browser hijacker
Threat Type	Browser hijacker, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Serving IP Address	104.27.167.56
Additional Information	Searches.cloud redirects to webcrawler.com
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 rogue 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 online. Some examples are search.streamfacts.today and search.gamesearcher.pro. Generally, these addresses appear in browser settings after installation of browser hijackers.

PUAs are advertised as useful and legitimate, and supposedly include various features, however, their only purpose is to generate revenue for developers by promoting fake search engines and gathering data. They are useless for regular users and can cause serious problems. Never trust, download, or install any PUAs.

How did searches.cloud install on my computer?

The PUA that promotes searches.cloud is distributed through a deceptive installer. Note that these installers can also infect computers with malware (e.g., ransomware, Trojan-type programs). PUAs are often distributed using a method called "bundling", by including the unwanted apps into the download/installation set-ups of various software.

In most cases, information about these additionally-included apps is provided in "Custom", "Advanced", and other settings.

People who download and install programs without changing these settings agree by default with offers to download and install additionally-included PUAs. In some cases unwanted downloads and installations are caused by clicking deceptive ads that execute certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Programs and files should not be downloaded from unofficial websites, through Peer-to-Peer networks such as torrent clients, eMule, etc., third party downloaders, or other similar sources, channels, or installed through third party installers - this can lead to inadvertent download/installation of unwanted, potentially malicious apps.

Software and files should be downloaded only from official websites and via direct links. Check all settings such as "Custom", "Advanced", and "Manual" and decline offers to download or install potentially unwanted software. Do not click intrusive ads on dubious web pages, since these tend to open other bogus websites or cause unwanted downloads and installations.

Remove all unwanted extensions, plug-ins and add-ons that are already installed on the browser, and 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.

searches.cloud redirects to webcrawler.com (GIF):

Screenshots of a deceptive installer designed to install an app which changes browser settings to searches.cloud:

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

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

searches.cloud redirect removal:

Remove searches.cloud-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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