How to uninstall SearchConsole app/extension from Mac (Virus removal guide)

What is SearchConsole

According to security professionals, SearchConsole is a PUA (potentially unwanted application) that belongs to the Adware group. Adware is form of malicious software that can cause problems for your Mac. It can generate numerous additional pop-up, banner, pop-under and in-text link ads flooding on your web browser; collect your confidential information like login details, online searches, etc; run in the background and drag down your MAC system running speed; give more chances for other adware, PUPs even malicious software to get on your computer.

Another reason why you need to get rid of the SearchConsole adware is its online data-tracking activity. It has the ability to gather and transmit personal info without your knowledge. Adware be able to track information about web sites visited, browser and system information, and your MAC system IP address. If you are unfortunate have adware software or malware running on your MAC system, you can follow the tutorial here to remove SearchConsole from your MAC and web-browser.

How does SearchConsole get on your computer

Adware software actively distributed with freeware, as a part of the installer of these programs. Therefore, it’s very important, when installing an unknown app, read the Terms of use and the Software license, as well as to select the Manual, Advanced or Custom install option. In this mode, you can disable the install of additional modules and apps and protect your Apple Mac from adware.

Threat Summary

Name	SearchConsole, SearchConsole 1.0 app
Type	adware, potentially unwanted program (PUP), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, Adware.MAC.Generic, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, ApplicUnwnt, MacOS.Agent-MT, Adware/Adload!OSX and OSX.Trojan.Gen
Distribution	Free software installers, shady pop-up ads, torrent downloads and fake updaters
Symptoms	The web-page links redirect to a webpages different from what you expected, advertising links appear in places they shouldn’t be, your computer starts automatically installing unwanted apps, new add-ons suddenly added on your web-browser, your browser settings are being modified without your request, low ping but slow Internet.
Removal	SearchConsole removal guide

How to remove SearchConsole adware

The following step-by-step instructions will allow you to get rid of SearchConsole adware from the Mozilla Firefox, Safari and Google Chrome. Moreover, the step-by-step instructions below will help you to remove malicious software, browser hijackers, potentially unwanted applications and toolbars that your machine may be infected. Please do the tutorial step by step. If you need help or have any questions, then ask for our assistance or type a comment below. Certain of the steps below will require you to exit this web-page. So, please read the few simple steps carefully, after that bookmark it or open it on your smartphone for later reference.

To remove SearchConsole, perform the steps below:

1. Remove profiles created by SearchConsole
2. Uninstall SearchConsole related apps through the Finder
3. Remove SearchConsole related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove SearchConsole from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. How to stay safe online

Remove profiles created by SearchConsole

SearchConsole can install a configuration profile on the Mac system to block changes made to the browser settings. Therefore, you need to open system preferences, find and delete the profile installed by the adware.

Click the System Preferences icon ( ) in the Dock, or choose Apple menu ( ) > System Preferences.

In System Preferences, click Profiles, then select a profile associated with SearchConsole.

Click the minus button ( – ) located at the bottom-left of the Profiles screen to remove the profile.
Note: if you do not see Profiles in the System Preferences, that means there are no profiles installed on your Mac device, which is normal.

Uninstall SearchConsole related apps through the Finder

It’s of primary importance to identify and remove adware, potentially unwanted programs and browser hijackers through ‘Applications’ section of your Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Very carefully look around the entire list of apps installed on your Apple Mac. Most likely, one of them is the SearchConsole adware. Once you’ve found a questionable, unwanted or unused program, right click to it and select “Move to Trash”. Another way is drag the program from the Applications folder to the Trash.

Don’t forget, choose Finder -> “Empty Trash”.

Remove SearchConsole related files and folders

Now you need to try to find SearchConsole related files and folders, and then delete them manually. You need to look for these files in certain directories. To quickly open them, we recommend using the “Go to Folder…” command.

SearchConsole creates several files, these files must be found and removed. Below is a list of files associated with this unwanted application.

• /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.SearchConsole.system.plist
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.SearchConsole.service.plist
• /Library/Application Support/.(RANDOM)/System/com.SearchConsole.system
• ~/Library/Application Support/.(RANDOM)/Services/com.SearchConsole.service.app

Some files created by SearchConsole are hidden from the user. To find and delete them, you need to enable “show hidden files”. To do this, use the shortcut CMD + SHIFT + . Press once to show hidden files and again to hide them. There is another way. Click Finder -> Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal. In Terminal, paste the following text: defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES

Press Enter. Hold the ‘Option/alt’ key, then right click on the Finder icon in the dock and click Relaunch.

Click on the Finder icon. From the menu bar, select Go and click “Go to Folder…”. As a result, a small window opens that allows you to quickly open a specific directory.

Check for SearchConsole generated files in the /Library/LaunchAgents folder

In the “Go to Folder…” window, type the following text and press Go:
/Library/LaunchAgents

This will open the contents of the “/Library/LaunchAgents” folder. Look carefully at it and pay special attention to recently created files, as well as files that have a suspicious name. Move all suspicious files to the Trash. A few examples of files: macsearch.plist, com.google.defaultsearch.plist, , installapp.plist, com.machelper.plist, com.SearchConsole.service.plist, com.net-preferences.plist and search.plist. Most often, potentially unwanted programs, adware software and browser hijackers create several files with similar names.

Check for SearchConsole generated files in the /Library/Application Support folder

In the “Go to Folder…” window, type the following text and press Go:
/Library/Application Support

This will open the contents of the “Application Support” folder. Look carefully at its contents, pay special attention to recently added/changed folders and files. Check the contents of suspicious folders, if there is a file with a name similar to com.SearchConsole.system, then this folder must be deleted. Move all suspicious folders and files to the Trash.

Check for SearchConsole generated files in the “~/Library/LaunchAgents” folder

In the “Go to Folder…” window, type the following text and press Go:
~/Library/LaunchAgents

Proceed in the same way as with the “/Library/LaunchAgents” and “/Library/Application Support” folders. Look for suspicious and recently added files. Move all suspicious files to the Trash.

Check for SearchConsole generated files in the /Library/LaunchDaemons folder

In the “Go to Folder…” window, type the following text and press Go:
/Library/LaunchDaemons

Carefully browse the entire list of files and pay special attention to recently created files, as well as files that have a suspicious name. Move all suspicious files to the Trash. A few examples of files to be deleted: com.SearchConsole.system.plist, com.search.system.plist, com.macsearch.system.plist, com.installapp.system.plist and com.machelper.system.plist. In most cases, adware, PUPs and browser hijackers create several files with similar names.

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

If you are still having problems with the SearchConsole removal or just wish to check your Mac device occasionally for adware and other malicious software, then download MalwareBytes Free. It is free for home use, and scans for and removes various undesired applications that attacks your MAC OS or degrades MAC OS performance. MalwareBytes can remove browser hijackers, toolbars, adware and potentially unwanted programs as well as malware, including ransomware and trojans.

Click the following link to download MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM).

Once the downloading process is finished, run it and follow the prompts. Click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan with this tool for the SearchConsole . A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your computer and the speed of your MAC. While the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware is scanning, you can see how many objects it has identified either as being malicious software. Review the results once the tool has done the system scan. If you think an entry should not be quarantined, then uncheck it. Otherwise, simply click the “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) is a free application that you can use to delete all detected folders, files, malicious services and so on.

Remove SearchConsole from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

This step will show you how to delete malicious plugins. This can get rid of SearchConsole adware and fix some surfing problems, especially after adware software infection.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right corner, click on Google Chrome’s main menu button, represented by three vertical dots. Select ‘More tools’, then ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to get rid of SearchConsole by reset Chrome settings.	Click on ‘menu’ button and select ‘Add-ons’. Go to ‘Extensions’ tab. To uninstall an add-on, click on ‘Remove’ button next to it. If you are still experiencing issues with SearchConsole removal, you need to reset Firefox browser.
Safari
On the top menu select ‘Safari’, then ‘Preferences’. Select ‘Extensions’ tab. Select an extension you want to delete and click ‘Uninstall’ button next to it.

How to stay safe online

It’s also critical to protect your web-browsers from malicious websites and ads by using an adblocker application such as AdGuard. Security experts says that it’ll greatly reduce the risk of malicious software, and potentially save lots of money. Additionally, the AdGuard may also protect your privacy by blocking almost all trackers.

1. Installing the AdGuard is simple. First you’ll need to download AdGuard by clicking on the link below. Save it on your Windows desktop or in any other place.
   
   

   AdGuard for Mac download
   3760 downloads
   Author: © Adguard
   Category: Security tools
   Update: January 17, 2018
   
2. Once downloading is done, launch the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
3. After the install is finished, press “Skip” to close the install program and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial which will allow you get to know AdGuard better.
4. In most cases, the default settings are enough and you don’t need to change anything. Each time, when you start your MAC system, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop unwanted advertisements, block harmful and misleading websites.

To sum up

Now your MAC system should be free of the SearchConsole adware. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted advertisements and intrusive malicious webpages) and MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (to periodically scan your MAC for new malicious software, browser hijackers and adware software). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Mac OS. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new browser hijackers, malicious software and adware are released.

If you are still having problems while trying to remove SearchConsole from your internet browser, then ask for help here.