What is VirtualToolboxSearch?
VirtualToolboxSearch is a potentially unwanted app (PUA) belonging to the Adware category. It can cause problems for your Apple Mac. Virtual Toolbox Search can show intrusive ads from various third-party ad networks so that your cannot block them, reroute your browser to shady web sites, and it can cause unwanted web sites to pop up on your web browser. VirtualToolboxSearch might end up on your MAC system after you download and install free programs from a questionable source.
Unwanted ads
Another reason why you need to uninstall VirtualToolboxSearch is its online data-tracking activity. Virtual Toolbox Search can analyze the location and which Internet websites you visit, and then present ads to the types of content, goods or services featured there. Adware makers can collect and sell your browsing information and behavior to third parties.
Threat Summary
| Name | VirtualToolboxSearch, Virtual Toolbox Search 1.0 app |
| Type | adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), pop up advertisements, pop-ups, pop up virus |
| Symptoms |
|
| Removal | VirtualToolboxSearch removal guide |
How does VirtualToolboxSearch get on your MAC OS
Many of the free programs out there install unwanted web-browser toolbars, hijackers, adware and PUAs along with them without your knowledge. One has to be attentive while installing freeware in order to avoid accidentally installing third-party programs. It is important that you pay attention to the EULA (End User License Agreements) and select the Custom, Manual or Advanced installation option as it will typically disclose what third-party applications will also be installed.
If you are unfortunate have VirtualToolboxSearch, you can follow the step-by-step instructions below that will allow you to delete adware software and thus remove unwanted ads from your browser.
How to remove VirtualToolboxSearch app from Mac (Adware virus removal guide)
In the few simple steps below, we’ll try to cover the Safari, Firefox and Google Chrome and provide general advice to remove VirtualToolboxSearch adware. You may find some minor differences in your Apple Mac install. No matter, you should be okay if you follow the steps outlined below: uninstall all suspicious and unknown software, reset internet browsers settings, use free malicious software removal utilities. Certain of the steps below will require you to exit this web site. So, please read the few simple steps carefully, after that bookmark it or open it on your smartphone for later reference.
To remove VirtualToolboxSearch, use the steps below:
- How to get rid of VirtualToolboxSearch without any software
- Automatic Removal of VirtualToolboxSearch adware software
- How to stay safe online
- To sum up
How to get rid of VirtualToolboxSearch without any software
The most common adware software can be uninstalled manually, without the use of antivirus or other removal tools. The manual steps below will show you how to remove VirtualToolboxSearch adware step by step. Although each of the steps is very easy and does not require special knowledge, but you are not sure that you can finish them, then use the free utilities, a list of which is given below.
Delete dubious applications using the Finder
Some potentially unwanted apps, browser hijacking applications and adware can be deleted by uninstalling the free applications they came with. If this way does not succeed, then looking them up in the list of installed programs in Finder. Use the “Move to Trash” command in order to get rid of them.
Make sure you have closed all internet browsers and other programs. Next, uninstall any unrequested and suspicious apps from computer using the Finder.
Open Finder and click “Applications”.
Look around the entire list of programs installed on your MAC OS. Most probably, one of them is the Virtual Toolbox Search, which reroutes your browser to intrusive ad webpages. Select the questionable program or the program that name is not familiar to you and delete it.
Drag the dubious program from the Applications folder to the Trash.
Most important, don’t forget, select Finder -> Empty Trash.
Remove VirtualToolboxSearch from Chrome
Reset Chrome settings to delete VirtualToolboxSearch . If you’re still experiencing issues with Virtual Toolbox Search removal, you need to reset Google Chrome browser to its default state. This step needs to be performed only if adware software has not been removed by the previous steps.
Open the Google Chrome menu by clicking on the button in the form of three horizontal dotes (
). It will open the drop-down menu. Choose More Tools, then press Extensions.
Carefully browse through the list of installed addons. If the list has the plugin labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following guidance: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy otherwise, just go to the step below.
Open the Chrome main menu again, press to “Settings” option.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the “Advanced” link. Now scroll down until the Reset settings section is visible, as displayed below and click the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
Confirm your action, press the “Reset” button.
Remove VirtualToolboxSearch from Safari
If you find that Safari internet browser settings such as home page, search provider by default and new tab page having been modified by VirtualToolboxSearch adware, then you may revert back your settings, via the reset web-browser procedure.
Run Safari web-browser. Next, choose Preferences from the Safari menu.
First, click the “Security” tab. Here, choose “Block pop-up windows”. It will block some types of popups.
Now, click the “Extensions” icon. Look for dubious addons on left panel, choose it, then press the “Uninstall” button. Most important to get rid of all suspicious extensions from Safari.
Once complete, check your home page and search engine settings. Click “General” tab. Make sure that the “Homepage” field contains the website you want or is empty.
Make sure that the “Search engine” setting shows your preferred search provider. In some versions of Safari, this setting is in the “Search” tab.
Remove VirtualToolboxSearch adware from Mozilla Firefox
If the Firefox web-browser program is hijacked by Virtual Toolbox Search, then resetting its settings can help. The Reset feature is available on all modern version of Firefox. A reset can fix many issues by restoring Mozilla Firefox settings such as home page, search provider by default and new tab page to their default values. When using the reset feature, your personal information like passwords, bookmarks, browsing history and web form auto-fill data will be saved.
First, open the Firefox. Next, press the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (
). It will open the drop-down menu. Next, click the Help button (
).
In the Help menu click the “Troubleshooting Information”. In the upper-right corner of the “Troubleshooting Information” page click on “Refresh Firefox” button as displayed on the image below.
Confirm your action, click the “Refresh Firefox”.
Automatic Removal of VirtualToolboxSearch adware software
The adware can hide its components which are difficult for you to find out and remove completely. This can lead to the fact that after some time, the VirtualToolboxSearch adware again infect your computer. Moreover, We want to note that it is not always safe to remove adware manually, if you don’t have much experience in setting up and configuring the operating system. The best way to detect and remove adware software is to use free malicious software removal applications.
Automatically delete VirtualToolboxSearch adware with MalwareBytes AntiMalware
If you are still having problems with the VirtualToolboxSearch removal or just wish to check your Apple Mac occasionally for adware and other malicious software, then download MalwareBytes. It is free for home use, and detects and removes various unwanted software that attacks your MAC system or degrades Apple Mac performance. MalwareBytes Free can remove hijacker, adware software, PUPs as well as malicious software, including ransomware and trojans.
- Please go to the following link to download MalwareBytes Free.
Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
20841 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: September 10, 2020
- Once the downloading process is finished, close all programs and windows on your machine. Open a file location. Run the downloaded file and follow the prompts.
- Click the “Scan” button for checking your MAC for the Virtual Toolbox Search adware that causes multiple annoying ads and pop ups. Depending on your machine, the scan may take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. When a malware, adware or PUPs are found, the count of the security threats will change accordingly.
- As the scanning ends, MalwareBytes Anti-Malware will display a list of found items. Next, you need to click “Remove Selected Items”.
How to stay safe online
The AdGuard is a very good ad blocker application for the Firefox, Safari and Chrome, with active user support. It does a great job by removing certain types of intrusive advertisements, popunders, popups, annoying new tabs, and even full page ads and web page overlay layers. Of course, the AdGuard can stop malicious websites automatically or by using a custom filter rule.
- AdGuard can be downloaded from the following link.
AdGuard for Mac download
3677 downloads
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: January 17, 2018
- When the downloading process is finished, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
- After the installation is finished, click “Skip” to close the install program and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial which will assist you get to know AdGuard better.
- In most cases, the default settings are enough and you don’t need to change anything. Each time, when you launch your computer, AdGuard will start automatically and stop intrusive ads, block harmful or misleading websites.
To sum up
After completing the step-by-step instructions outlined above, your computer should be clean from this adware and other malware. The Safari, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox will no longer display intrusive VirtualToolboxSearch ads when you surf the Internet. Unfortunately, if the tutorial does not help you, then you have caught a new adware software, and then the best way – ask for help.
Please create a new question by using the “Ask Question” button in the Questions and Answers. Try to give us some details about your problems, so we can try to help you more accurately. Wait for one of our trained “Security Team” or Site Administrator to provide you with knowledgeable assistance tailored to your problem with the VirtualToolboxSearch adware.
