How to remove SearchRange adware

What is SearchRange?

The SearchRange app is often installed unintentionally through a deceptive Adobe Flash Player installer. Therefore, this app is categorized as a potentially unwanted application (PUA). After installation, it hijacks browsers, changes certain browser settings, and starts to display various ads.

I.e., SearchRange is both an adware-type app and a browser hijacker. Apps of this type are often designed to gather browsing-related and other information.

Typically, adware feeds users with coupons, surveys, banners, pop-ups and other advertisements. By clicking these ads, many users open dubious websites or even allow them to execute certain scripts to download/install unwanted applications.

Browser hijackers change browser settings such as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab, to the address of a fake search engine. Typically, these changes cannot be undone unless the browser hijacker that made them is uninstalled.

SearchRange might also collect IP addresses, geolocations, entered search queries, addresses of visited websites and other information relating to users' browsing habits. It might also record private, sensitive details. People behind these apps can misuse the data to generate revenue by selling it to third parties (possibly cyber criminals), or in other ways.

Therefore, to avoid having your browser hijacked, seeing unwanted ads and experiencing problems relating to browsing safety, online privacy or even becoming a victim of identity theft, never trust, download, or install SearchRange or other apps of this type.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by SearchRange
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AD [Trj]), BitDefender (Gen:Variant.Adware.MAC.Rload.5), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/TrojanDownloader.Adload.AE), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Cimpli.k), 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.

SearchRange is virtually identical to many other adware-type apps/browser hijackers such as DataSearchLauncher, LookWebResults, and SearchMainInfo. They generate revenue for developers by serving ads, promoting fake search engines, and gathering various data.

Most of these apps are useless and can cause serious problems. If an app of this type is installed on the browser and/or operating system, remove it immediately.

How did SearchRange install on my computer?

Many users install SearchRange when they attempt to update/install Adobe Flash Player with an unofficial, deceptive installer. Note that such installers often install malicious programs like ransomware, Trojans. People also download and install PUAs together with their other, required programs.

This happens when PUAs are included into the set-ups as 'additional offers'. Many users do not check the setups, and fail to decline offers within the "Advanced", "Custom" or other settings. In some cases, unwanted downloads and installations are caused by clicking deceptive advertisements that run certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Software and files should be downloaded only from official, trustworthy websites and via direct links. Other channels and tools such as third party downloaders/installers, Peer-to-Peer networks (for example, torrent clients, eMule), unofficial pages should not be trusted, as they can distribute malware, PUAs, and other unwanted programs.

Check all "Custom" and "Advanced" settings and decline offers to download or install included apps. Do not click intrusive advertisements that appear on dubious sites, since they can open various potentially malicious websites or even cause download/installation of unwanted applications.

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

SearchRange asking permission to receive incoming network connections:

Files related to SearchRange adware that need to be removed:

• ~/Library/Application Support/com.SearchRange/SearchRange
• ~/Library/Application Support/com.SearchRangeDaemon/SearchRange
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.SearchRange.plist
• ~/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.SearchRangeDaemon.plist

IMPORTANT NOTE! Rogue setups/apps that promote SearchRange 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 "SearchRange" 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 SearchRange?
• STEP 1. Remove SearchRange related files and folders from OSX.
• STEP 2. Remove SearchRange ads from Safari.
• STEP 3. Remove SearchRange adware from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove SearchRange ads from Mozilla Firefox.

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

SearchRange adware removal:

Remove SearchRange-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.

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