How to remove GeneralBoardSearch adware

What is GeneralBoardSearch?

GeneralBoardSearch is designed to display advertisements and promote the address of a fake search engine by modifying certain browser settings. This app is classified as adware and a browser hijacker.

In most cases, users download and install apps of this type inadvertently and, for this reason, GeneralBoardSearch is categorized as a potentially unwanted application (PUA). Note that apps such as GeneralBoardSearch can also gather browsing data. Research shows that this app is distributed through a deceptive installer, which supposedly installs Adobe Flash Player.

Generally, adware displays advertisements such as coupons, surveys, banners, and pop-ups. These ads can be designed to promote (open) dubious web pages and, in some cases, cause unwanted downloads and installations by running certain scripts.

Browser hijackers promote fake search engine addresses by changing settings such as the address of the homepage, default search engine and new tab. They are classified as fake, since they provide results generated by other, often legitimate, search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and Bing.

Note, however, that fake search engines promoted by browser hijackers can include links to dubious pages in their results as well. The addresses of fake search engines can only be changed to preferred URLs after uninstallation of the browser hijacker.

Furthermore, GeneralBoardSearch can collect IP addresses, entered search queries, addresses of visited pages, geolocations, and other browsing data. Some hijackers also access sensitive information. The information could be sold to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) or misused to generate revenue in other ways.

Therefore, users who have installed apps such as GeneralBoardSearch could become victims of identity theft, and experience issues relating to online privacy and browsing safety or other problems. Therefore, never download or install GeneralBoardSearch or any similar PUAs.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by GeneralBoardSearch
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
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.

GeneralBoardSearch is very similar to many other adware-type apps including, for example, GlobalEngineSearch, SearchStudio, and DiscoverResults. They are advertised as useful, legitimate software programs, which supposedly include various features, improve the browsing experience, etc.

In fact, most are designed only to generate revenue for the developers by serving ads and gathering information. PUAs can cause a number of serious issues, depending on the information that they are designed to collect.

How did GeneralBoardSearch install on my computer?

This app is distributed by using a fake Adobe Flash Player installer. Note that third party, unofficial installers are also used to distribute malware. For example, ransomware and Trojans. PUAs are also spread by including them into the download/installation set-ups of other programs.

This distribution method is called "bundling". Generally, included apps can be declined in "Advanced", "Custom" or other settings of set-ups. Many users download and install programs without checking and changing these settings, thereby agreeing by default with offers to download and install PUAs.

Sometimes unwanted downloads and installations are caused by clicking deceptive advertisements that run certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

You are advised to download programs and files from official pages and via direct download links. Other tools and sources (e.g., third party downloaders, installers, unofficial pages, Peer-to-Peer networks such as eMule, torrent clients) should not be used. Check all "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings and decline offers to download or install unwanted apps.

Do not click intrusive ads that appear on bogus web pages, since they can open other untrusted sites or even cause unwanted downloads and installations. Remove any unwanted, suspicious extensions, plug-ins and add-ons installed on the browser, and software of this kind installed on the computer.

If your computer is already infected with GeneralBoardSearch, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Files related to GeneralBoardSearch adware that need to be removed:

• ~/Library/Application Support/com.GeneralBoardSearch/GeneralBoardSearch
• ~/Library/Application Support/com.GeneralBoardSearchDaemon/GeneralBoardSearch
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.GeneralBoardSearch.plist
• ~/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.GeneralBoardSearchDaemon.plist

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

Video showing how to remove GeneralBoardSearch adware using Combo Cleaner:

GeneralBoardSearch adware removal:

Remove GeneralBoardSearch-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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