WebNewSearch Adware (Mac)

What is WebNewSearch?

WebNewSearch is a potentially unwanted application (PUA), which functions as adware and a browser hijacker: it serves advertisements and promotes the address of a fake search engine. Additionally, it might be designed to collect data. Apps like WebNewSearch are classified as PUAs because, in most cases, users download and install them unintentionally.

Note that WebNewSearch is distributed via a fake installer disguised as the installer for the official Adobe Flash Player.

WebNewSearch adware

Typically, adware-type applications such as WebNewSearch serve coupons, pop-up ads, banners, surveys and others. Users who click the ads arrive at dubious websites or even allow them to cause unwanted downloads and installations by executing certain scripts.

WebNewSearch also functions as a browser hijacker - it changes settings such as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab to the URL of a fake search engine. Generally, these search engines provide results generated by other, legitimate search engines (i.e., they do not generate unique results).

They might also provide misleading results, including links to dubious web pages. Furthermore, WebNewSearch and similar apps collect information relating to users' browsing habits. For example, IP addresses, geolocations, entered search queries, addresses of visited/opened sites, and other browsing data.

In some cases, these PUAs collect personal, sensitive information as well. The data is sold to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) or misused to generate revenue in other ways. Therefore, apps such as WebNewSearch can be reason behind problems relating to browsing safety, online privacy or even identity theft.

Threat Summary:
Name	Ads by WebNewSearch
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Additional Information	This application belongs to the 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 (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by RCS LT, the parent company of PCRisk.com.

More examples of apps that function in a similar manner to WebNewSearch are MacWebService, TotalConsoleSearch and SearchNetCharacter. Generally, the apps are promoted as useful, legitimate software. In fact, they are useless to regular users and can cause serious problems.

Most are designed only to generate revenue for the developers by serving online advertisements, promoting certain websites and collecting data.

How did WebNewSearch install on my computer?

As mentioned, WebNewSearch is distributed via a fake Adobe Flash Player installer. Note that third party, fake installers can also be used to distribute malicious programs (e.g., ransomware, Trojans).

Users often download and install apps of this kind by clicking dubious, deceptive ads that execute certain scripts, or when software developers distribute them by using the "bundling" method. In the latter case, developers include PUAs into the download/installation set-ups of other programs as 'additional offers'.

Usually, these offers are mentioned and can be declined in "Custom", "Advanced" and other settings of set-ups or by unticking certain available checkboxes. When users leave the aforementioned settings unchanged (or checkboxes unticked), they allow additional apps to be downloaded and installed with regular software.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

You are advised to download files and programs from official websites and via direct download links. Other tools and sources such as third party downloaders and installers, unofficial pages, and Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., eMule, torrent clients) should not be used to download or install software.

Check all "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings (or available checkboxes) for offers to download and/or install unwanted apps. Do not click ads on dubious websites, since they can be designed to open bogus web pages or cause unwanted downloads and installations.

Remove any unwanted, suspicious extensions, plug-ins and add-ons installed on the browser, and software of this kind from the operating system. If your computer is already infected with WebNewSearch, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this adware.

Files related to WebNewSearch adware that need to be removed:

~/Library/Application Support/com.WebNewSearch/WebNewSearch
~/Library/Application Support/com.WebNewSearchDaemon/WebNewSearch
~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.WebNewSearch.plist
~/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.WebNewSearchDaemon.plist

IMPORTANT NOTE! Rogue setups/apps that promote WebNewSearch 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".

Remove rogue profiles designed to promote WebNewSearch (Step 1)

2) Select the "WebNewSearch" profile and delete it.

Remove rogue profiles designed to promote WebNewSearch (Step 2)

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 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 malware. Download it by clicking the button below:

DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner

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. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by RCS LT, the parent company of PCRisk.com.

Quick menu:

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

Video showing how to remove WebNewSearch adware using Combo Cleaner:

WebNewSearch adware removal:

Remove WebNewSearch-related potentially unwanted applications from your "Applications" folder:

mac browser hijacker removal from 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.

DOWNLOAD remover for malware infections

Combo Cleaner checks if your computer is infected with malware. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by RCS LT, the parent company of PCRisk.com.

Remove adware-related files and folders

Mac Go To Folder step

Click the Finder icon, from the menu bar. Choose Go, and click Go to Folder...

Mac removing related files and folders - step 1 Check for adware generated files in the /Library/LaunchAgents/ folder:

Mac go to /Library/LaunchAgents - step 1

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: /Library/LaunchAgents/

Mac go to /Library/LaunchAgents - step 2

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.

Mac removing related files and folders - step 2 Check for adware generated files in the ~/Library/Application Support/ folder:

Mac go to /Library/Application Support - step 1

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: ~/Library/Application Support/

Mac go to /Library/Application Support - step 2

In the "Application Support" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious folders. For example, "MplayerX" or "NicePlayer", and move these folders to the Trash.

Mac removing related files and folders - step 3 Check for adware generated files in the ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ folder:

Mac go to ~/Library/LaunchAgents - step 1

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: ~/Library/LaunchAgents/

Mac go to ~/Library/LaunchAgents - step 2

Mac removing related files and folders - step 4 Check for adware generated files in the /Library/LaunchDaemons/ folder:

Mac go to /Library/LaunchDaemons - step 1

In the "Go to Folder..." bar, type: /Library/LaunchDaemons/

Mac go to /Library/LaunchDaemons - step 2

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.

Mac removing malware related files and folders - step 5 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.

Mac remove malware with Combo Cleaner - step 1

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.

Mac remove malware with Combo Cleaner - step 2

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:

Removal of malicious extensions in Safari - step 1

Open the Safari browser, from the menu bar, select "Safari" and click "Preferences...".

Removal of malicious extensions in Safari - step 2

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:

Removal of malicious extensions in Google Chrome - step 1

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".

Removal of malicious extensions in Google Chrome - step 2

If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.

Remove malicious extensions from Mozilla Firefox:

Removal of malicious extensions in Mozilla Firefox - step 1

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".