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

What is SearchAim

SearchAim is an adware application that targets Apple computers. Adware is a form of malicious software developed to throw ads up on the browser screen. SearchAim generates revenue for its creator by randomly showing a huge number of ads and pop-up deals. You might experience a change in your home page or search engine, new tabs opening or even a redirect to scam webpages. The worst is, it can have spyware and keyloggers built into itself leading to greater damage to your MAC and possible invasion of your confidential data.

The SearchAim adware can be used to collect lots of your personal info to get profit. It can analyze your browsing, and gain access to your user information and, subsequently, can sell it to third party companies. Thus, there are more than enough reasons to remove the adware from your MAC computer.

How does SearchAim get on your Apple Mac

Adware software usually spreads bundled with some free applications that users download off of the Web. So, think back, have you ever download and run any free programs. In order to avoid infection, in the Setup wizard, you should be be proactive and carefully read the ‘Terms of use’, the ‘license agreement’ and other installation screens, as well as to always choose the ‘Manual’ or ‘Advanced’ install option, when installing anything downloaded from the Internet.

Threat Summary

Name	SearchAim, “SearchAim 1.0 extension”
Type	adware software, potentially unwanted program (PUP), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	ApplicUnwnt, MacOS.Agent-MT, Adware.MAC.Generic, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, Adware/Adload!OSX and Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload
Distribution	Freeware installers, misleading popup ads, fake update tools and torrent downloads
Symptoms	Every time you perform an Internet search, your browser is redirected to another web page, you experience a ton of of unexpected pop up windows, new entries appear in your Applications folder, an unwanted toolbar appears in your browser, unexpected changes in your internet browser like displaying new tabs you did not open, speed test good but internet slow.
Removal	SearchAim removal guide

How to remove SearchAim from Mac computer

Fortunately, it is not hard to remove SearchAim adware. In the following guide, we will provide two solutions to clean your machine of this adware. One is the manual removal way and the other is automatic removal method. You can select the way that best fits you. Please follow the removal tutorial below to get rid of SearchAim adware right now!

To remove SearchAim, execute the steps below:

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

Remove profiles created by SearchAim

SearchAim 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 SearchAim.

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, which is normal.

Remove SearchAim related applications through the Finder

Some of browser hijackers, PUPs and adware can be removed using the Move to Trash utility which can be found in the Finder. So, if you’re running any version of Mac OS and you have noticed an unwanted application, then first try to get rid of it through the Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications” like below.

You will see a list of programs installed on your MAC system. We recommend to pay maximum attention to the program you installed last. Most likely, it’s the SearchAim . If you’re in doubt, you can always check the program by doing a search for her name in Google, Yahoo or Bing.

When the program which you need to delete is found, simply right press on its name, and choose “Move to Trash”.

Don’t forget, select Finder, then “Empty Trash”.

Remove SearchAim related files and folders

Now you need to try to find SearchAim 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.

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

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

Some files created by SearchAim 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 SearchAim 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: com.machelper.plist, search.plist, com.net-preferences.plist, installapp.plist, com.SearchAim.service.plist, com.google.defaultsearch.plist, and macsearch.plist. Most often, browser hijackers, potentially unwanted programs and adware software create several files with similar names.

Check for SearchAim 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.SearchAim.system, then this folder must be deleted. Move all suspicious folders and files to the Trash.

Check for SearchAim 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 SearchAim 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.search.system.plist, com.machelper.system.plist, com.installapp.system.plist, com.macsearch.system.plist and com.SearchAim.system.plist. In most cases, potentially unwanted programs, browser hijackers and adware software create several files with similar names.

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

If you carefully followed the previous steps, then you should be able to get rid of SearchAim. Of course, very often PUPs, browser hijackers and adware hides on a Apple computer, disguising itself as legitimate apps and files. Therefore, in some cases, it is difficult for an inexperienced user to decide whether a particular file is part of PUPs, browser hijackers and adware. Therefore, we suggest you to run MalwareBytes AntiMalware to scan the Mac.

Installing the MalwareBytes is simple. First you will need to download MalwareBytes AntiMalware on your Windows Desktop by clicking on the link below.

Once the download is done, close all windows on your Apple Mac. Further, launch the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes AntiMalware will automatically start and you may see its main window as displayed on the image below.

Next, click the “Scan Now” button . MalwareBytes AntiMalware application will scan through the whole MAC OS for the SearchAim adware software. A scan may take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the count of files on your computer and the speed of your computer. While the MalwareBytes is scanning, you can see count of objects it has identified either as being malicious software.

When MalwareBytes Anti-Malware has finished scanning, MalwareBytes Anti-Malware will display a screen that contains a list of malware that has been found. When you are ready, press the “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes AntiMalware will delete SearchAim adware software and move the selected threats to the Quarantine.

Remove SearchAim from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you are still seeing SearchAim that won’t go away, you might have malicious extensions installed on your browser. Check your web-browser for unwanted plugins using the steps below.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
Click on ‘three dots menu’ button at the top right corner of the Google Chrome window. In the menu go to ‘More tools’, then ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to remove SearchAim 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 problems with SearchAim 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

Enabling an ad-blocking program like AdGuard is an effective way to alleviate the risks. Additionally, ad blocker software will also protect you from malicious ads and webpages, and, of course, block redirection chain to misleading, scam and similar websites.

Click the following link to download the latest version of AdGuard for Apple Mac.

When the download is done, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen. Follow the prompts.

Each time, when you launch your MAC, AdGuard will start automatically and stop unwanted ads, block malicious and misleading web-pages.

To sum up

Once you have removed the SearchAim adware software using the step-by-step instructions, Safari, Chrome and Firefox will no longer any unwanted advertisements. Unfortunately, if the steps does not help you, then you have caught a new adware, and then the best way – ask for help here.