InetWebSearch Adware - How to remove

InetWebSearch is adware. It infects Macs through malicious ads and infected downloads. Once installed, InetWebSearch causes issues like a slow Mac, pop-up ads in the browser, hijacked internet searches, and compromised privacy. Some of the ads that InetWebSearch shows are dangerous and can result in even more infections.

In short about InetWebSearch:

Type of threat	Adware, trojan.
How InetWebSearch works	Changes browser settings to redirect searches and inject ads, hides settings and files in system folders.
How to remove InetWebSearch	Delete malicious files, apps, extensions, find and remove malware (with Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, etc.), restore system and browser settings.
How to fix system settings	Review configuration profiles and network settings, remove unwanted browser extensions, restore browser search settings.

What InetWebSearch does

InetWebSearch is malware. It gets downloaded with fake Flash updates, fake macOS updates, and it may also come bundled with apps downloaded from shady, unofficial sources. Some sites get infected with malicious code and start spreading malware even without the site owner’s knowledge.

The person who downloads InetWebSearch doesn’t know they did it. They think they’re getting a nice free app, maybe a Mac cleaner, an important software update, etc. Even after installation completed, InetWebSearch might take a while to appear.

When it does, though, it’s hard to avoid. Different people experience different effects, here are a few possible symptoms:

• big empty pop-ups informing about completed installation, updates, etc. with a single “ok” button,
• internet search results delivered on a different site than normal,
• pop-up ads in the browser,
• the browser and other online apps sometimes just stop working,
• the Mac severely slows down sometimes,
• deleting InetWebSearch doesn’t work.

InetWebSearch is an adware app. It fills your browser with ads, opens promoted websites, and logs your browsing history. InetWebSearch doesn’t seem to have security standards for its ads, so you can encounter all kinds of dangerous stuff: scams, fake virus warnings, newtab hijackers, deceptive Mac optimizers, and unregulated health supplements.

Most likely, InetWebSearch is AdLoad, an infamous type of adware that affects both macOS and Windows devices. A few examples are SmartWebSearch, UtilityData, and LookUpLauncher.

How to remove InetWebSearch

Remove malicious files

Use an anti-malware program, such as Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, or others to scan your Mac for malicious files and apps.

Alternatively, find and delete the files:

• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.InetWebSearch.plist
• /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.InetWebSearchDaemon.plist
• ~/Library/Application Support/com.InetWebSearch/InetWebSearch
• /Library/Application Support/com.InetWebSearchDaemon/InetWebSearch

Open Finder -> Go -> Go to Folder and type in the folder names, as they’re hidden by default. Then find and delete files that are named “InetWebSearch” or something close to it.

It’s better to use an anti-malware app because InetWebSearch is likely not the only malicious item on your Mac – malware spreads in groups. But it is difficult to find each malicious file and setting manually, especially when each victim’s circumstances are different.

To avoid InetWebSearch messing with its own removal, start your Mac in safe mode (reboot and hold “Shift” until “Safe boot” shows up in the corner of your screen).

Restore the settings of your Mac

System Preferences -> Profiles: look for InetWebSearch’s profiles or other unfamiliar profiles. Remove them. InetWebSearch creates them to force your internet browser to load Yahoo, Safe Finder, or other search engines. It can also use them to modify your Network settings to send your traffic through a proxy. Check your proxy settings on System Preferences -> Network -> Advanced -> Proxies. Malicious apps sometimes set a SOCKS proxy. Deselect it and save the settings.

Finder -> Applications: look for InetWebSearch and drag it to Trash. This time, it should remain deleted for good.

Open your browser and find the extensions. In Safari, go to Safari -> Preferences -> Extensions. Same for Chrome and Firefox. Look for InetWebSearch and other potentially unwanted extensions. InetWebSearch’s permissions are very intrusive, such as the ability to read your data on all the sites that you visit. This extension needs to be removed so that it can’t mess with your browser.

While you’re in your browser settings, restore your search engine and home page. If you’re not sure how, the guide at the bottom has the instructions.

Scan your Mac again later. If malware returns after a few reboots, then a few malicious files must have remained. Check the Library folders or try using a different anti-malware app.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Restore browser settings

How to remove InetWebSearch 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 InetWebSearch 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 InetWebSearch 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 InetWebSearch Adware from Google Chrome on Mac:

• Open Chrome browser.
• Enter in the url field “chrome://extensions” address and hit Enter.
• Find InetWebSearch 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 InetWebSearch 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 InetWebSearch 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 InetWebSearch 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 InetWebSearch 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.