SearchLeadingInfo Adware - How to remove

SearchLeadingInfo is an app that might appear unexpected on your Mac. It might ask for permissions and access to other apps. If allowed to, it can cause problems with the internet connection, open unwanted websites, and track user data, such as their browsing history.

Uninstalling SearchLeadingInfo can be a little more tricky than removing a normal app. It can be a little stubborn. To remove it, it’s needed to delete the settings and files related to this app.

SearchLeadingInfo in short:

Classification	Adware, trojan.
What are SearchLeadingInfo’s symptoms?	It causes browsers to open unexpected sites, it may be installed together with other suspicious apps.
How to avoid adware infections	Only install known and reliable apps, protect your Mac with anti-malware tools.
How to delete SearchLeadingInfo	Find and remove files and settings related to SearchLeadingInfo, do this manually and with antivirus tools (Spyhunter for Mac, Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, etc.), uninstall SearchLeadingInfo and other suspicious apps and browser extensions.

Problems with the SearchLeadingInfo app

SearchLeadingInfo changes network settings

SearchLeadingInfo is an app that you might see on your Mac asking for access and for permissions.

• The SearchLeadingInfo app may ask to get access to incoming network connections or to get access to control Safari.
• It may also change your network settings to use a SOCKS proxy.
• SearchLeadingInfo may install a configuration profile. This profile can be used to change browser search settings.
• Some malicious browser extensions may be installed together with SearchLeadingInfo.

As a result, you might see your internet connection slow down or even drop occasionally.

In addition, unexpected sites might show up in your browser. Searchmarquis.com, Searchbaron.com, Flashsearch.xyz, and others. This makes the web more annoying to browse and it’s potentially bad for online security, as the mentioned sites tend to show worse ads than you might see on reputable websites.

SearchLeadingInfo can also be bad for privacy, as it’s able to log browsing history. Sometimes, apps like SearchLeadingInfo come with a browser extension that is able to read all your data on all the sites that you visit, which could reveal a lot of personal information. In general, browser extensions are not good for privacy. They can track a lot of adat about you – way more than any website.

It’s installed without permission

SearchLeadingInfo is similar to other adware apps – SkilledMarketing, MapperState, OriginalUnitValue, FrequencySignal, etc. These apps are just a few of dozens and dozens of adware infections that have been attacking Macs for the last few years. Shlayer, AdLoad are adware families that SearchLeadingInfo may belong to.

These apps appear unexpectedly on Macs. People who encounter them don’t know how them, they definitely don’t install them on purpose.

• One of the ways that this happens is via malicious ads. Malicious ads are sometimes designed to look like software updates – but they download and install malware.
• Adware can also be hidden in free app installers downloaded from shady sites. Some software download sites make money by bundling free apps with adware, others straight up spread malware.

Either way, be careful of where you download your apps and software updates. Check your app security settings, consider using an ad blocker.

How to delete SearchLeadingInfo

Find and delete all the files and settings related to SearchLeadingInfo. These might include the installer, a few files in the Library folders, profiles, and startup items that SearchLeadingInfo needs to function and to remain persistent. Deleting these files can help you get back control over your browsers and prevent SearchLeadingInfo from returning on its own.

There might be other suspicious apps, too. You can use anti-malware apps like Spyhunter for Mac, Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, and others to check your computer for malicious and potentially unwanted items.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Manually remove malicious apps and files

How to remove SearchLeadingInfo Adware from macOS

Delete SearchLeadingInfo from your applications.

1. Open Finder.
2. In the menu bar, click Go.
3. Select Applications from the dropdown.
4. Find the SearchLeadingInfo Adware app.
5. Select it and right-click it (or hold the Ctrl and click the left mouse button).
6. In the dropdown, click Move to Bin/Trash. You might be asked to provide your login password.

(Optional) Delete related settings

Some malicious apps make themselves difficult to delete by changing various settings and leaving behind malicious files. Remove settings related to SearchLeadingInfo.

• Click the Apple logo in the menu bar. Open System Preferences.
• Some malicious applications set profiles to enforce unwanted settings. Remove unwanted configuration profiles.

1. 1. In System Preferences, click the Profiles icon. This icon is only visible if there are profiles on your Mac.
   2. Select unwanted profiles and remove them by pressing the minus '-'  button at the bottom.

• Some adware applications set SOCKS proxy to manipulate your internet traffic. Remove unwanted proxies:

1. 1. In System Preferences, click Network, Advanced, Proxies.
   2. If a proxy is set without your permission, uncheck it and click OK.

(Optional) Delete malicious files

Some malicious apps leave behind dangerous files in your Library folders. Delete files related to SearchLeadingInfo Adware.

1. Open Finder.
2. In the menu bar, click Go -> Computer.
3. In the search box, type in SearchLeadingInfo and variations of it.
4. Delete the files that are found and that seem to be related to SearchLeadingInfo Adware.

Check browser settings

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

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