What Is Search-Gol Toolbar
Search-Gol Toolbar is the name of a domain that may be associated with multiple different unwanted programs that could set it as a home, new tab page, and default search engine on your web browser. The main objective of applications, from the likes of Search-Gol toolbar is to allegedly get you to see different kinds of ads, because this is often how these apps make a profit, using pay-per-click schemes. Read this article to learn more about the consequences of having Search-Gol Toolbar installed on your Mac and how you can remove this software completely.
Search-Gol Toolbar Summary
| Name | Search-Gol Toolbar |
| Type | Browser Hijacker / PUP |
| Short Description | Aims to modify the settings on your web browser in order to get it to cause browser redirects and display different advertisements. |
| Symptoms | Your web browser begins to display various types of online advertisements, which results in slowing down of your computer. |
| Distribution Method | Bundled downloads. Web pages which may advertise it. |
| Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Search-Gol Toolbar. |
Search-Gol Toolbar – More Information
Search-Gol Toolbar is very similar to other browser hijackers for Mac, such as FunctionLogInput, Fireseerch and Web Search City.
Search-Gol Toolbar is the type of software that has been created so that it could display different kinds of ads. This software may end up being installed on your Mac by being optionally included in the software setups of other free software, like file converters, media player apps etc. It is easy to miss such adware because they are often hidden in the “Custom” install mode.
Once added to your computer, Search-Gol Toolbar may begin to modify the settings of your web browsers and change their new, home and default search pages. The result of this is you may start seeing the following types of ads:
- Pop-ups on your browser.
- Redirections.
- Banners.
- Ads on your search results.
- Text link ads.
- Push notification content.
Search-Gol Toolbar may be using various kinds of trackers to determine information concerning how you browse online. These could be cookies, pixels, tags, and other tracking technologies, like
- Geo-location trackers.
- LSOs (Locally Shared Objects, also known as flash cookies).
These trackers could be used to deteremine the following information about your browsing activity:
- Last Pages you visited.
- Your search history.
- Where you click with your mouse.
- Bookmarks.
- Your browsing history.
Search-Gol Toolbar is not mainly risky due to the trackers it could use. The main problem with these apps are the ads they show and they could take you to some very problematic websites, for example:
- Fake websites made for phishing.
- Scammer web oages.
- Virus URL.
- Fake Tech Support.
- Download of rogue and scammy software.
- Endless redirect via long URLs.
- Survey fraud.
This is the reason why it is a good idea to focus on deleting Search-Gol Toolbar ASAP.
Remove Search-Gol Toolbar from Your Device
Search-Gol Toolbar can be removed from your Mac if you follow the instruction guides that have been posted beneath this article. They have been set up to best help you get rid of this software and they should work for Mac and your web browsers on it. For the removal with maximum effectiveness, however, security experts strongly recommend that you download and run a scan of your computer using anti-malware. Such software has been created with the main purpose to help you delete any adware or Mac malware by fully scanning for its module files and deleting them.
Ventsislav Krastev
Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.
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Steps to Prepare Before Removal:
Before starting to follow the steps below, be advised that you should first do the following preparations:
- Backup your files in case the worst happens.
- Make sure to have a device with these instructions on standy.
- Arm yourself with patience.
- 1. Scan for Mac Malware
- 2. Uninstall Risky Apps
- 3. Clean Your Browsers
Step 1: Scan for and remove Search-Gol Toolbar files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Search-Gol Toolbar, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Quick and Easy Mac Malware Video Removal Guide
Bonus Step: How to Make Your Mac Run Faster?
Mac machines maintain probably the fastest operating system out there. Still, Macs do become slow and sluggish sometimes. The video guide below examines all of the possible problems that may lead to your Mac being slower than usual as well as all of the steps that can help you to speed up your Mac.
Step 2: Uninstall Search-Gol Toolbar and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
2. Find Activity Monitor and double-click it:
3. In the Activity Monitor look for any suspicious processes, belonging or related to Search-Gol Toolbar:
4. Click on the "Go" button again, but this time select Applications. Another way is with the ⇧+⌘+A buttons.
5. In the Applications menu, look for any suspicious app or an app with a name, similar or identical to Search-Gol Toolbar. If you find it, right-click on the app and select “Move to Trash”.
6. Select Accounts, after which click on the Login Items preference. Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to Search-Gol Toolbar. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
7. Remove any leftover files that might be related to this threat manually by following the sub-steps below:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove Search-Gol Toolbar via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
1. Click on "Go" and Then "Go to Folder" as shown underneath:
2. Type in "/Library/LauchAgents/" and click Ok:
3. Delete all of the virus files that have similar or the same name as Search-Gol Toolbar. If you believe there is no such file, do not delete anything.
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 3: Remove Search-Gol Toolbar – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
Search-Gol Toolbar-FAQ
What is Search-Gol Toolbar on your Mac?
The Search-Gol Toolbar threat is probably a potentially unwanted app. There is also a chance it could be related to Mac malware. If so, such apps tend to slow your Mac down significantly and display advertisements. They could also use cookies and other trackers to obtain browsing information from the installed web browsers on your Mac.
Can Macs Get Viruses?
Yes. As much as any other device, Apple computers do get malware. Apple devices may not be a frequent target by malware authors, but rest assured that almost all of the Apple devices can become infected with a threat.
What Types of Mac Threats Are There?
According to most malware researchers and cyber-security experts, the types of threats that can currently infect your Mac can be rogue antivirus programs, adware or hijackers (PUPs), Trojan horses, ransomware and crypto-miner malware.
What To Do If I Have a Mac Virus, Like Search-Gol Toolbar?
Do not panic! You can easily get rid of most Mac threats by firstly isolating them and then removing them. One recommended way to do that is by using a reputable malware removal software that can take care of the removal automatically for you.
There are many Mac anti-malware apps out there that you can choose from. SpyHunter for Mac is one of the reccomended Mac anti-malware apps, that can scan for free and detect any viruses. This saves time for manual removal that you would otherwise have to do.
How to Secure My Data from Search-Gol Toolbar?
With few simple actions. First and foremost, it is imperative that you follow these steps:
Step 1: Find a safe computer and connect it to another network, not the one that your Mac was infected in.
Step 2: Change all of your passwords, starting from your e-mail passwords.
Step 3: Enable two-factor authentication for protection of your important accounts.
Step 4: Call your bank to change your credit card details (secret code, etc.) if you have saved your credit card for online shopping or have done online activiites with your card.
Step 5: Make sure to call your ISP (Internet provider or carrier) and ask them to change your IP address.
Step 6: Change your Wi-Fi password.
Step 7: (Optional): Make sure to scan all of the devices connected to your network for viruses and repeat these steps for them if they are affected.
Step 8: Install anti-malware software with real-time protection on every device you have.
Step 9: Try not to download software from sites you know nothing about and stay away from low-reputation websites in general.
If you follow these reccomendations, your network and Apple devices will become significantly more safe against any threats or information invasive software and be virus free and protected in the future too.
More tips you can find on our MacOS Virus section, where you can also ask any questions and comment about your Mac problems.
About the Search-Gol Toolbar Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Search-Gol Toolbar how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific macOS issue.
How did we conduct the research on Search-Gol Toolbar?
Please note that our research is based on an independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware definitions, including the various types of Mac threats, especially adware and potentially unwanted apps (PUAs).
Furthermore, the research behind the Search-Gol Toolbar threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.