How to remove apps designed to promote search.handlersection.com
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is search.handlersection.com?
search.handlersection.com is a fake search engine that displays results generated by Yahoo after redirecting users to one of the addresses promoted by Safe Finder. Note that search.handlersection.com also redirects to search.anysearchmanager.com, the address of another dubious search engine.
Generally, addresses of fake search engines such as search.handlersection.com are promoted by potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) classified as browser hijackers. These apps are usually designed to promote fake search engines by modifying browser settings, and they also collect data.
Typically, browser hijackers promote fake search engines by changing settings such as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab. In this case the browser hijacker assigns them to search.handlersection.com. In this way, the apps force users to visit a specific address when they open a browser, new tab, or enter search queries into the browser's URL bar.
To undo changes that were made by browser hijackers, the rogue software must be uninstalled, since these PUAs prevent users from modifying/undoing settings that were made by them as long as they are installed.
As mentioned, search.handlersection.com displays results generated by Yahoo (redirects users to search.yahoo.com via one of the Safe Finder sites) or redirects to another fake search engine, which might be designed to display misleading results. In any case, neither search.handlersection.com nor other search engines of this kind can be trusted.
Furthermore, apps that promote fake search engines often gather browsing data. For example, IP addresses, geolocations, addresses of visited websites, entered search queries, and so on. Some browser hijackers are capable of accessing sensitive details as well.
Developers sell collected data to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) or misuse it to generate revenue in other ways. People with browsers hijacked by such PUAs might experience problems relating to browsing safety, online privacy or even become victims of identity theft. For these reasons, never trust these apps and uninstall all PUAs immediately.
| Name | search.handlersection.com browser hijacker |
| Threat Type | Browser hijacker, Mac malware, Mac virus. |
| Serving IP Address | 104.124.58.147 |
| Symptoms | Your Mac became slower than normal, you see unwanted pop-up ads, you are redirected to dubious websites. |
| Additional Information | Search.handlersection.com redirects to search.yahoo.com via Safe Finder site and to search.anysearchmanager.com |
| 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. |
Some more examples of fake search engines are searches.cloud, searchsnow.com and prudensearch.com. Generally, they display results generated by other, legitimate search engines, or that include links to dubious web pages. Therefore, use only legitimate search engines such as Google, Yahoo, Bing.
Generally, people do not install apps that promote fake search engines intentionally (see below).
How did search.handlersection.com install on my computer?
In most cases, browser hijackers and other PUAs are downloaded and/or installed through deceptive advertisements, which users intentionally or accidentally click, or during the download/installation processes of other programs (when developers distribute PUAs using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling").
Using bundling, they include unwanted apps into the set-ups of other programs as 'additional offers' and hope that users will fail to decline them. Offers to download or install PUAs are usually listed in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings. When users download and install programs without checking and changing these settings, they allow PUAs to infiltrate.
Unwanted downloads and installations via deceptive ads happen when people click them - they then go on to execute certain scripts.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
You are advised to check all "Custom", "Advanced", "Manual" and other similar settings of the download/installation setup. Decline any offers to download or install unwanted software before completing the process. Download software and files only from official pages and via direct links.
Avoid untrusted, unofficial websites, torrent clients, eMule (or other Peer-to-Peer networks), third party downloaders, installers, etc. Do not click intrusive ads that appear on dubious web pages, since these can open dubious websites or cause unwanted downloads and installations.
Remove any suspicious apps (extensions, add-ons, plug-ins) already installed on the browser immediately. The same should be applied to 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.
search.handlersection.com redirects to search.anysearchmanager.com (GIF):
search.handlersection.com assigned in Chrome as the homepage:
search.handlersection.com assigned in Chrome as the default search engine:
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 search.handlersection.com?
- STEP 1. Remove search.handlersection.com related files and folders from OSX.
- STEP 2. Remove search.handlersection.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 3. Remove search.handlersection.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.handlersection.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
Video showing how to remove adware and browser hijackers from a Mac computer:
search.handlersection.com redirect removal:
Remove search.handlersection.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 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.
Outstanding!
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