How to uninstall SearchBrowserSky adware

What is SearchBrowserSky?

SearchBrowserSky is the name of an application distributed using a fake installer, which appears similar to the installer for Adobe Flash Player. Apps distributed using such methods are often downloaded and installed by users inadvertently and are thus classified as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

SearchBrowserSky functions as adware and as a browser hijacker: it displays advertisements and promotes a fake search engine by making certain changes to browser settings.

SearchBrowserSky and similar apps often collect information relating to users' browsing habits and other data.

The main purpose of adware is to generate advertisements. Adware-type apps often generate ads to promote dubious websites and PUAs. If clicked, they run certain scripts and download or even install potentially unwanted software. For these reasons, do trust any ads served by SearchBrowserSky or similar apps.

These apps can sometimes access sensitive information. For example, credit card details, passwords, and telephone numbers. This information is used for malicious purposes. For example, to steal accounts, make unauthorized transactions and purchases, and to steal identities. They target browsing-related data such as IP addresses, geolocations, entered search queries, and addresses of visited sites. Adware developers monetize collected information in various ways.

As mentioned, SearchBrowserSky hijacks browsers to promote fake search engines by changing browser settings such as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab (it assigns them to the address of a fake search engine).

Generally, fake search engines do not often generate unique results and show those generated by legitimate search engines (e.g., Google, Yahoo, Bing), however, they can sometimes generate results that include links to dubious websites and display ads.

In any case, you are strongly advised not to use any fake search engines to browse/search the internet.

Note that when an app such as SearchBrowserSky hijacks a browser, the address of the fake search engine cannot be removed from settings until the rogue app is removed.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by SearchBrowserSky
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AD [Trj]), AVG (MacOS:Adload-AD [Trj]), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/TrojanDownloader.Adload.AD), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Cimpli.l), Full List (VirusTotal)
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 (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.

More adware examples are SimpleSignSearch, ConfigType, and DeskProduct.

Adware-type apps serve advertisements, promote fake search engines, and collect various data. Adware can cause problems relating to online privacy, browsing safety, and even monetary loss, identity theft, and other issues.

SearchBrowserSky and similar apps should be removed from browsers and operating systems as soon as possible.

How did SearchBrowserSky install on my computer?

The installer for the SearchBrowserSky app is disguised as the installer for Adobe Flash Player. Usually, fake installers are available for download on deceptive websites (on pages that use deception to promote rogue software).

It is important to mention that fake installers can be used to distribute Trojans, ransomware, and other malicious software.

PUAs are distributed via download/installation set-ups of other products. This deceptive marketing tactic of packing regular software with unwanted or malicious additions is called "bundling".

Rushing download/installation processes (e.g. ignoring terms, skipping steps and settings, etc.) increases the risk of inadvertently allowing bundled content into the system.

Some PUAs have "official" download sites. Intrusive advertisements proliferate these applications as well. Once clicked, they can execute scripts to download/install PUAs without users' consent.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Download software and files from official websites and via direct links. It is not safe to use torrent clients, eMule (or other Peer-to-Peer networks), third party downloaders, unofficial websites or other sources of this kind.

Avoid third party installers. Check "Advanced", "Custom" and other settings, and decline offers to download or install unwanted software. Do not click ads that are displayed on dubious websites, since they can open other untrusted websites or even cause unwanted downloads and installations.

Remove any unwanted, suspicious applications (extensions, add-ons, and plug-ins) that are installed on the browser. The same should be applied to programs of this kind that are installed on the operating system.

Regularly scan your computer with reputable antivirus or anti-spyware software and keep this software up to date.

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

Files related to SearchBrowserSky adware that need to be removed:

• ~/Library/Application Support/com.SearchBrowserSky/SearchBrowserSky
• ~/Library/Application Support/com.SearchBrowserSkyDaemon/SearchBrowserSky
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.SearchBrowserSky.plist
• ~/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.SearchBrowserSkyDaemon.plist

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

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

SearchBrowserSky adware removal:

Remove SearchBrowserSky-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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