ResultSearchManager Malware - How to remove

ResultSearchManager behaves like a malicious app and it gets installed as a fake software update. It configures macOS’ network settings to send traffic through a Socks proxy and installs a browser-hijacking extension on Safari. ResultSearchManager appears every time the browser is started and it refuses to be uninstalled. To get rid of ResultSearchManager, you need to find and delete the profiles and files that belong to it.

In short about ResultSearchManager:

Type of threat	Trojan, adware, browser hijacker.
How ResultSearchManager gets installed	Downloaded in free but infected apps, downloaded from a site falsely advertising it as an important software update.
What the malware does	Hijacks the browser and changes how internet search works, hijacks internet traffic, shows pop-up ads.
Removing ResultSearchManager	Use antivirus apps (Combo Cleaner, etc.), remove apps, extensions, files, and settings that belong to ResultSearchManager, delete the file that ResultSearchManager came in.

Problems caused by ResultSearchManager

ResultSearchManager works as a browser hijacker (a malicious application that changes how your web browser works to take advantage of the user). ResultSearchManager changes the browser:

• changes your search settings to get you to use Yahoo/Bing/Anysearchmanager,
• reads your browsing history,
• can inject ads into any webpage,
• can read your data, including passwords.

ResultSearchManager’s goal is to control how you browse the internet. If it can direct you to affiliated sites, it can make you see more ads, and that makes money for ResultSearchManager’s creators. That’s why ResultSearchManager is considered to be adware.

Another problem is ResultSearchManager hijacking network traffic. This can cause connectivity issues, as well as make online apps (browser, email, etc.) unstable.

To remain installed, ResultSearchManager messes with macOS. It creates profiles (scripts that manage settings on your Mac) and gets itself added to startup. It also hides in Applications and browser extensions so that it can’t be easily removed.

On top of all that, ResultSearchManager may come with some other infections, such as adware. So, you might notice pop-up ads, unexpected redirects in the browser, and other issues.

How the malware gets installed

There are a couple of ways that ResultSearchManager can infiltrate a Mac: downloaded with another program, or downloaded as a software update, which was actually malware in disguise.

Malware being bundled with free apps is, unfortunately, pretty common for apps that are downloaded from unreliable websites. Infected installers offer some application to “enhance your browser”, but it’s really just ResultSearchManager or a similar malicious app.

Malicious webpages get promoted by adware and by sites that don’t care about the ads they show being secure (infringing streaming sites, pirating sites, etc.). These ads show fake warnings about a new software update being available, but the file that they push is actually an adware bundle that installs ResultSearchManager or other malware.

How to remove ResultSearchManager

To get rid of ResultSearchManager, you could use an antivirus application (such as Combo Cleaner) or delete ResultSearchManager manually. Or to combine the two methods: delete ResultSearchManager and then do an antivirus scan to make sure that all malware is gone.

To remove ResultSearchManager, start the Mac in safe mode. Restart it and hold the Shift button pressed until you see the login screen. This stops unnecessary apps from running.

Then, remove ResultSearchManager’s profiles, app, and browser extension. Profiles can be found in System Preferences. Open profiles, select the suspicious ones, and delete them by pressing the minus button at the bottom.

Then, open Finder and its Go to Folder dialog (from the Go menu or by right-clicking Finder in the Dock). Then type/paste in some system folder names:

• /Library/LaunchDaemons
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents
• /Library/LaunchAgents
• ~/Library/Application Support

Be careful because these folders hold many legitimate app settings. Find and delete files that have ResultSearchManager, NetFunctionSearch, VirtualBoardSearch, GeneralLaunch, LogicalSearch, and similar names. Look the name up online if you aren’t sure if it’s safe.

If you want to be extremely careful, then you can also set new passwords after making sure that your Mac is really clean. Alternatively, use a password manager so that no malware can ever steal it.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Manually remove browser extensions

How to remove ResultSearchManager Malware from Safari:Top

Remove malicious extensions

• Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences.
  
• Select Extensions and uninstall ResultSearchManager Malware 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 ResultSearchManager Malware, 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 ResultSearchManager Malware from Google Chrome on Mac:

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