How to remove Advanced Web Search (Mac)

What is Advanced Web Search

Advanced Web Search is an unwanted extension that can get installed in a browser without your consent (see how it could infiltrate your system here). Both Mac and Windows users reported its presence in Google Chrome with the following symptoms – modified default search engine, homepage appearance, and random redirects to third-party pages. When Advanced Web Search is installed, users are likely to see their search queries getting redirected through a suspicious search engine and then ending up shown by a legitimate portal like Yahoo, Google, or Bing. In addition, it is also possible that you may see an increased amount of ads generated on various pages. Many browser hijackers use the technology of “virtual layers” to display hovering ads over websites you visit. Such ads are usually affiliated with unwanted content selling low-quality/fake software or even distributing malware – thus, you should avoid clicking on them. Unwanted extensions may also be able to gather some browser information (e.g., IP addresses, geolocations, cookies, web history, etc.) and sell it to third-party figures. Browser hijackers can also install the “Managed by your organization” feature, which will negate traditional ways of removing extensions. If you got infected by Advanced Web Search and struggle to remove it yourself, use our guide to do it correctly and without traces.

How Advanced Web Search infected your computer

Browser hijackers and other potentially unwanted programs have numerously been distributed through fake Adobe Flash Player installers/updaters on deceptive third-party pages. Such pages often make false claims about outdated or insufficient software on users’ PCs, therefore, urging inexperienced users to download a fake installer. Apart from this, users may also get accidentally infected with unwanted software while installing some third-party programs from unofficial websites (Peer-to-Peer torrent pages) that host reuploaded freeware, pirated, or cracked software. Unwanted software like Advanced Web Search may be hidden inside the installer and presented as an additional offer. However, since many users neglect reading the “Terms & Conditions” and also do not check all settings of the installation (“Custom”, “Advanced”, etc.), they end up infected with unwanted software eventually. Sometimes the installer may offer to choose between “Recommended” or “Manual” types of installations, which could be your case as well. In other instances, it may also be that information about third-party offers will not be disclosed at all, meaning it is impossible to prevent its installation unless you close the whole set-up. To avoid this, it is recommended to download software only from official and trusted vendors, avoid downloads through ads and random pages hosting free software – apart from delivering unwanted software, users may be infected by malware as well.

1. Download Advanced Web Search Removal Tool
2. Remove Advanced Web Search from Login Items
3. Remove/Uninstall Advanced Web Search from Applications
4. Remove Advanced Web Search from browsers
5. Reset browser settings
6. Remove Advanced Web Search files and folders
7. Block Advanced Web Search ads and pop-ups
8. How to protect from threats, like Advanced Web Search

Remove Advanced Web Search manually for free

Note: Advanced Web Search sets up to start on Mac OS startup. Therefore, before starting the removal, perform these steps:

1. Open System Preferences, choose Users & Groups.
2. Choose your account (set up as Current User).
3. Click Login Items tab.
4. Find “Advanced Web Search” entry. Select it, and click the “-“ (minus) button to remove it.

Note 2: Advanced Web Search won’t quit just by closing it, therefor use Force Quit to end the process.

1. Press 3 buttons at the same time: Option, Command, and Esc (Escape). This is similar to Control-Alt-Delete on a Windows PC.
2. Choose Advanced Web Search in the list.
3. Click Force Quit button.

Here is a manual step-by-step tutorial for full Advanced Web Search removal from your computer. This works 99% and was checked with the latest versions of Advanced Web Search installer on operating systems with the latest updates and browser versions.

Remove Advanced Web Search from Applications

Remove Advanced Web Search from Mac:

1. In the Finder sidebar, click Applications.
2. Advanced Web Search might have an Uninstaller. If you see Uninstall Advanced Web Search or Advanced Web Search Uninstaller, double-click it and follow the onscreen instructions.
3. Otherwise, drag Advanced Web Search from the Applications folder to the Trash (located at the end of the Dock).
4. Then choose Finder > Empty Trash.

Cannot uninstall Advanced Web Search

If you can’t uninstall Advanced Web Search using instructions above, or it keeps coming back, you can use free AppCleaner for Mac to remove all residual data and libraries of Advanced Web Search. Follow instructions below:

1. Download free AppCleaner.
2. Drag Advanced Web Search from Applications folder to AppCleaner window.
3. Choose files and folders you want to remove along with Advanced Web Search.
4. Click Delete button.

Remove Advanced Web Search add-on from your browsers

Removing Advanced Web Search from Applications often does not bring the desired effect. It is a browser extension and it may still be active in Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Here are instructions on how to remove the Advanced Web Search extension from your browsers manually.

Safari:

1. Start Safari on your Mac, click Safari to open drop-down menu and choose Preferences
2. Click Extensions tab.
3. Find Advanced Web Search extension.
4. Click Uninstall button to remove it.

Google Chrome:

1. Start Google Chrome browser
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) chrome://extensions.
3. Find Advanced Web Search extension.
4. Click the trash can icon to remove it.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Start Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) about:addons.
3. Choose Advanced Web Search extension.
4. Click Disable or Remove button.

Reset browser settings

To finish Advanced Web Search removal reset your browser settings to make sure, there are no leftover items in browser folders.

Reset Safari:

1. Start Safari on your Mac, click Safari to open drop-down menu and choose Preferences
2. Go to the Privacy section of Safari’s preferences.
3. Click Remove All Website Data button.
4. In opened window click Remove Now button to remove data stored by websites in Safari.
5. Go to the Advanced section of Safari’s preferences.
6. Click the Show Develop menu in menu bar option.
7. In the menu click Develop and select Empty Caches from this menu.
8. Again, go to Safari menu and choose Clear History….
9. Choose to clear all history and click Clear History button.

Reset Google Chrome:

1. Start Google Chrome browser
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) chrome://settings.
3. Scroll down and find Show advanced settings link.
4. Click on it and scroll down to the bottom again.
5. Click Reset settings button and click Reset to confirm.

Reset Mozilla Firefox:

1. Start Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) about:support.
3. Click Refresh Firefox… button.
4. Click Refresh Firefox to confirm.

Remove following files and folders of Advanced Web Search


~/Library/Application Support/.[random_string]/Services/com.Advanced Web Search.service.app
~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.Advanced Web Search.service.plist
/Library/Application Support/.[random_string]/System/com.Advanced Web Search.system
/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.Advanced Web Search.system.plist


Download AdGuard for Mac to block malicious pop-ups, that promote Advanced Web Search

AdGuard is the best ad-blocker, internet filtering, and internet security application for macOS. It can cut out unwanted banners from site pages, block pop-ups, stop redirects, and prevent users from visiting potentially dangerous resources. Use it to stop ads promoting Advanced Web Search in browsers.

Download AdGuard for Mac

How to protect Mac OSX from adware, like Advanced Web Search

Mac OSX is known to be one of the safest operating systems, and for a long time, there was no need for antivirus products for Mac. But with the growing popularity of Mac computers and notebooks and evolving technology, viruses, trojans, adware, toolbars, hijackers, and other malware paved the way for Mac users. We recommend you to use one of the best anti-malware for Mac available – Malwarebytes for Mac.

Download Malwarebytes for Mac