What Is Fire Search Mac
Fire Search for Mac is a potentially unwanted software that is classified as a browser hijacker. The main purpose of applications, like Fire Search are to enter your Mac and start to perform various modifications on your web browsers, like set a custom page instead of your new tab, search and home pages. The main idea this is done is to display to you various different advertisements. Seeing these ads may result in the criminals behind this unwanted software generating profit per seen ad. So the more ads they show on your Mac, the more money they will make. And since those ads could end up being scam or viruses eventually, it is strongly reccomended that you focus on removing Fire Search completely from your Mac.
Fire Search Summary
| Name | Fire Search |
| Type | Browser Hijacker for Mac |
| 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 machine. |
| Distribution Method | Bundled downloads. Web pages which may advertise it. |
| Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Fire Search Mac. |
Fire Search Mac – What Does It Do?
Fire Search Mac is a potentially unwanted program from the browser redirection kind. Others like it include Info Search, Searchlee, and Firesear.ch.
Once Fire Search is added to your Mac, it could start to show the following types of ads:
- Pop-ups.
- Browser redirects.
- Push notifications.
- Banners.
- Highlighted texts.
- Ad-supported searches.
So far it is not exactly clear how Fire Search can end up on your Mac, but we believe it has been bundled to the setup of another app you may have recently added on your Mac. Such apps often include free converters, ad-supported search results and other types of software. The main idea of Fire Search getting installed is to likely be featured in the installers of those apps where it could be advertised as a free extra or an optional offer of some kind. Such install prompt is usually in the form of an installation step that is located in the “Custom” or “Advanced” options for install. Since many users tend to click on the “Express” installation, they often end up missing such applications from getting added.
Fire Search is not an app that is directly a malware or dangerous in such ways. But it could employ different trackers, like:
- Pixels.
- Cookies.
- Tags.
- Geo-location cookies.
These trackers could be used to obtain the following information concerning your browsing activities:
- Your search history.
- Browsing history.
- Online clicks.
- Bookmarks.
- What you type.
But these cookies are not the main danger that is related to Fire Search. If it ends up on your Mac, Fire Search could lead you to websites that could be dangerous through the ads it shows. Such could lead to the following sites:
- Virus websites.
- Scam domains.
- Tech support fraud.
- Fake online surveys.
- Phishing.
Remove Fire Search from Your Mac
In order for you to get rid of Fire Search from your Mac completely, our reccomendations are to follow the removal instructions which we have posted underneath this article. They are tailor made to help delete Fire Search from your web browser and Mac. For best results and if you want to delete all trackers and other leftover objects by Fire Search, we recommend to scan your Mac with anti-malware software. Such a professional app is designed to detect and remove any virus applications that could be plaguing your Mac.
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 Fire Search Mac files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Fire Search Mac, 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 Fire Search Mac 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 Fire Search Mac:
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 Fire Search Mac. 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 Fire Search Mac. 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 Fire Search Mac 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 Fire Search Mac. 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 Fire Search Mac – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
Fire Search Mac-FAQ
What is Fire Search Mac on your Mac?
The Fire Search Mac 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 Fire Search Mac?
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 Fire Search Mac?
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 Fire Search Mac Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Fire Search Mac 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 Fire Search Mac?
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 Fire Search Mac threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.