UniversalToolSearch - How to remove

UniversalToolSearch is a malicious app that attacks macOS devices. It comes with fake software updates from shady websites, and once downloaded it hijacks a Mac’s web browser and proxy settings, reading the victim’s data and manipulating their web searches. Getting rid of UniversalToolSearch requires finding and deleting its files or using an anti-malware application.

Details on UniversalToolSearch:

Classification	Adware, trojan, browser hijacker.
How UniversalToolSearch gets installed	Promoted by adware, on infected websites, by malicious ads, spreads like a trojan.
Effects of the malware	Changes your browser settings, injects pop-up ads everywhere, hijacks your internet traffic.
How to remove UniversalToolSearch	Use an anti-malware program (Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, etc.), delete malicious profiles, apps, and extensions, if needed, find and delete UniversalToolSearch’s files.

UniversalToolSearch effects

UniversalToolSearch is a browser hijacker similar to Any Search Manager, LookupConsole, DataQuest malware, SearchSkilledData, etc. Its browser extension has access to your data on all sites, which lets it inject ads everywhere. It can also read your data, which is a big privacy issue.

You might be experiencing problems with your internet connection dropping and with online apps crashing. If so, then UniversalToolSearch may have also set a proxy for your internet connection. Check your proxy settings in your System Preferences.

With a UniversalToolSearch infection, you may also notice these symptoms:

• random system pop-ups that hijack your mouse cursor,
• pop-up ads everywhere,
• changed home page in your browser,
• new default search engine in your browser.

How to avoid malware

Malware spreads in a variety of ways, including getting bundled with shady free apps and tricking people to install it with deceptive ads. UniversalToolSearch comes with fake software updates and installers. It can be found on malicious sites via redirects and pop-up ads:

• ads websites that don’t mind spreading malware (pirating sites, mostly),
• old and/or small sites that got infected with malware and now automatically redirect visitors to malicious sites,
• ads displayed by adware viruses (apps, browser extensions, notification spammers) that had infected your Mac previously.

Often, UniversalToolSearch is promoted as an update for a trusted application. Malicious ads will say anything to get us to download the promoted file, and that includes disguising the app as a Flash Player update, a macOS update, and anything else that has our trust. By definition, this makes UniversalToolSearch a trojan.

That’s why it’s important to scan installers with an antivirus app before you open them.

Nowadays, most applications should update themselves automatically, so online update prompts should not exist at all. Always be suspicious when a website requires you to install something in order to watch a video or download a file – it’s likely to be malware.

How to remove UniversalToolSearch

The easiest way to deal with a UniversalToolSearch infection is probably to scan your Mac with an anti-malware app, such as Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, or another trusted application. Not just to have the app remove UniversalToolSearch for you. If UniversalToolSearch was installed together with other adware, which is likely, then a scan will show you. It’s just a good idea to scan your Mac after an infection to make sure that you’ve cleaned out everything.

First of all, you can start your Mac in safe mode (by holding Shift while it boots until you see the login screen). This will stop malware from running. Safe mode only lasts until the next time you start your Mac.

Then, open your System Preferences and find UniversalToolSearch’s profiles. There might be more than one. Any profile whose code is messing with your default search is suspicious. You can delete profiles by pressing the minus button in the bottom left.

Then, go to your Applications folder and delete the UniversalToolSearch app. Also, remove the browser extension from your web browsers. I put the instructions below.

It could happen that UniversalToolSearch returns (possibly under a different name) the next time you log in to your Mac. If so, then some files must have remained on your computer. You need to find and delete them. To do that manually, you should be able to find them in these folders:

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

You can open the Go to Folder dialog in the Go menu in Finder, then type in the name of the folder. Then look for files and folders named UniversalToolSearch. Look for files that were added at around the time that UniversalToolSearch appeared in your Mac. Deleting the correct files will stop UniversalToolSearch from starting up again.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Uninstall browser extensions

How to remove UniversalToolSearch from Safari:Top

Remove malicious extensions

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

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