What Is MainSearchAdvise Mac
MainSearchAdvise is the name of software for Mac that has been the reason for a number of reports ousting it as a PUP (Potentially unwanted program). Apps, like MainSearchAdvise have been created with the main purpose to display multiple forms of ads on your computer. These ads are mainly monetized via pay-per-click and other such schemes. The main problem they have is they could sometimes lead to sites that may be risky as they often go unchecked and unverified. This is why it is advisable to remove MainSearchAdvise from your Mac.
Read this article to learn how to remove MainSearchAdvise from your Mac completely.
MainSearchAdvise Summary
| Name | MainSearchAdvise |
| Type | Browser Hijacker / PUP / Scam Redirect |
| 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 MainSearchAdvise. |
MainSearchAdvise Mac Redirect Activity Report
MainSearchAdvise is a very similar software to some other Mac adware, like SkilledMarketing, WebBoostSearch and AdminRemote. These programs typically find their way on your Mac by being automatically included in the setups of other free software you may have recently downloaded. Such freeware does include apps, like media players, image editing software and others of these kinds.
Once MainSearchAdvise is already set up on your Mac, it may begin to modify it extensively. Among the modifications that are performed is changing the home page, new tab and other aspects of your online browsing process. The main outcome of this is you could start seeing the following kinds of ads:
- Ads linked on the text of the sites you read from.
- New banners that replace legitimate ones on the sites you visit.
- Search result advertisements.
- Push notificaitons.
- Pop-up promotion.
- Third-party website transfers.
These ads may contain different trackers. These are often small files dropped on your Mac and used to obtain information concerning what you do online. Such information includes:
- Your last pages seen.
- Bookmarked sites.
- Your location and language.
- Your browsers’ history.
- What you search.
- Your mouse clicks, scrolls and movements.
The most often used trackers are cookies, tags, geo-locators, and others of this kind. While these trackers are a problem because they obtain information without your consent, they are not as problematic as the ads are shown.
Since these advertisements often go unchecked, they could lead you to the following risky websites:
- Scam pages.
- Virus websites that infect your device with malware.
- Fake tech support.
- Software download sites that are fraud.
- Redirects to other adware and risky domains.
- Survey scams that are phishing.
- Fake websites designed to steal information.
This is the main reason why MainSearchAdvise is reported to be a problem for your Mac and should be removed from it ASAP.
Remove MainSearchAdvise from Your Device
If you are preparing to delete MainSearchAdvise from your Mac, then we suggest following the guides below. They are created to best suit your removal needs as they contain steps towards manual and automatic removal of apps, like MainSearchAdvise from your Mac and your browsers. For the most effective removal, security professionals often advise removing MainSearchAdvise automatically using expert anti-malware software. Such a program has been created with the main idea to scan your Mac and delete any malware, adware, and other runwanted software that may be residing in it.
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 MainSearchAdvise files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as MainSearchAdvise, 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 MainSearchAdvise 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 MainSearchAdvise:
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 MainSearchAdvise. 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 MainSearchAdvise. 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 MainSearchAdvise 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 MainSearchAdvise. 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 MainSearchAdvise – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
MainSearchAdvise-FAQ
What is MainSearchAdvise on your Mac?
The MainSearchAdvise 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 MainSearchAdvise?
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 MainSearchAdvise?
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 MainSearchAdvise Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this MainSearchAdvise 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 MainSearchAdvise?
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 MainSearchAdvise threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.