GoSearch Adware - How to remove

GoSearch is a malicious app that causes web browsers to open unexpected sites. It affects only Mac computers.

GoSearch displays advertisements, causes redirects to promoted websites, spies on people’s browsing habits, and may download more malicious apps. It should be deleted as soon as it’s discovered. However, this isn’t always easy – the GoSearch adware is persistent.

GoSearch in short:

Threat type	Trojan, adware, spyware.
Effects of GoSearch on infected Macs	Internet browsers automatically open unfamiliar websites, there is an excessive number of ads being displayed, user data is collected.
How adware is installed	Falsely advertised online as required updates, embedded in the installers of other apps.
How to remove GoSearch	Delete GoSearch, other unwanted apps, and malicious files manually and with anti-malware tools (Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, others), restore system settings and browser settings.

How GoSearch affects Macs

GoSearch is an app, as well as a browser add-on. Here are some of the things that it does that are problematic:

• Forces web browsers, especially Safari, to visit unwanted and unexpected sites. Opens advertisements as webpages.
• Collects user data.
• Changes system settings.
• Refuses to be uninstalled.

GoSearch is detected as Adware by various antivirus apps: Virustotal.com. This means that it infects Macs and then displays ads in the browsers of the victims.

GoSearch may cause your browser’s new tab and home page to change, an unusual site to deliver the search results. SearchMarquis, SearchBaron, Yahoo, AnySearchManager are some of the unexpected sites that may appear thanks to GoSearch.

In the same way that GoSearch is able to inject advertisements into people’s browsers, it is also able to collect data about their browsing history, search history, and, in theory, even all the data that the user types into webpages, which could include passwords and payment details.

Just in case, you may want to reset your passwords after you delete GoSearch.

How GoSearch gets installed

A few antivirus programs detect GoSearch as a trojan, possibly because it uses deceptive installation tactics.

GoSearch may come bundled with various free apps, included as an optional offer but not disclosed properly. As a result, you could install it by accident just because you failed to notice that it was even there. It’s not your fault – some developers make optional offers deliberately easy to miss.

There are also deceptive ads that spread GoSearch. They often take the form of software update prompts. They look like legitimate macOS warnings, but really, they’re nothing more than clever ads created by scammers.

After the GoSearch app is installed, you might try to delete it. However, in some cases, the GoSearch app refuses to go away: it either returns after being removed, or it gets replaced by a very similar app with another name, such as WebAdviseSearch, IndexerInput, UtilityData, and others.

How to remove GoSearch

The persistence that GoSearch has is thanks to various files that are lurking on your system and don’t get deleted with the GoSearch app.

You can use an anti-malware app, like Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes, to remove GoSearch. But you will need to do some manual work, as well.

Delete malicious files

Boot your Mac in safe mode to prevent GoSearch from running. This will make it easier to delete it.

Then scan your device with your anti-malware app and delete any items that are detected.

You can look for suspicious files yourself. Most likely, they can be found in a few Library folders:

• Open Finder -> Go -> Go to Folder. Use the dialog to navigate to these folders:
  • ~/Library/LaunchAgents,
  • /Library/LaunchDaemons,
  • ~/Library/Application Support,
  • /Library/Application Support.
• Look for files with “GoSearch” in their names, files that don’t seem to belong to any of your apps, files with names made of random character strings, and files whose Date Added is the same as when GoSearch appeared.

Delete suspicious files, however, keep a backup. In case you remove a legitimate file, there should be an easy way for you to restore it.

Also, remove suspicious files from your Downloads and uninstall other unwanted apps.

Change system settings

Something that anti-malware apps may overlook is your System Preferences. They’re very important to review.

Open your System Preferences:

• Click on Profiles (if the icon is there). Remove all unfamiliar items (select them and press the minus ‘ – ‘ button).
• Open Users & Groups, Login Items. Remove all unwanted items.
• Click on Network, Advanced, Proxies. If a proxy is configured but you didn’t do it, deselect it and save.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Restore browser settings

How to remove GoSearch Adware from Safari:Top

Remove malicious extensions

• Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences.
  
• Select Extensions and uninstall GoSearch Adware and other suspicious extensions.
  
• If your homepage was changed, click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences and choose General tab. Enter preferable URL to the homepage field.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings(older versions) If you are still experiencing any issues related to GoSearch Adware, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Reset Safari…
  
• Select which options you want to reset (usually all of them come preselected) and click on the Reset button.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

TopHow to remove GoSearch Adware from Google Chrome on Mac:

• Open Chrome browser.
• Enter in the url field “chrome://extensions” address and hit Enter.
• Find GoSearch Adware on the extensions list and click on the recycle bin icon next to it.
• Click on 'Chrome' button at the top left corner. Select 'Preferences' on a drop-down menu box.
• Find 'Search' options on Settings tab. If your search engine is changed, click 'Manage Search Engines' and set your preferred search engine.
• On the same page find 'Show home button' checkbox and change your homepage.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to GoSearch Adware, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• On the 'Preferences' menu window, scroll down to the bottom and find 'Reset settings' button. Click it.
• Confirm your selection and click 'Reset' on the following window.

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program. Top

How To remove GoSearch Adware from Firefox on Mac OS:

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla window and select the “Add-ons” icon (Or press cmd+Shift+A on your keyboard).
• Go through Extensions list, remove everything GoSearch Adware related and items you do not recognise. If you do not know the extension and it is not made by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft, Oracle or Adobe then you probably do not need it.
• Enter “about:preferences” in URL bar and hit enter.
• Open Search settings tab.
• If your search engine is changed, click 'Default Search Engines' and set your preferred search engine.
• If your homepage was changed, click on the Firefox menu in the top right corner, select Preferences-> General. Enter a preferable URL to the home page field.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to GoSearch Adware, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla Firefox window. Click on the Help button.
• Choose Troubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
• Click on the Refresh Firefox button.
• Click on the Refresh Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.

If the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program to identify malicious entries.