OptimumSearch is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) that belongs to the category of Adware. How does adware work? Adware is a type of malicious software. When the OptimumSearch adware hijacks your MAC OS, it might carry out various harmful tasks. Some of the more common acts on computers include: adware can display various popup deals and/or annoying adverts;adware software can reroute your internet browser to shady websites; adware software can slow down your MAC system; adware software can modify web browser settings.
Unwanted ads
Does adware software steal your confidential information? The OptimumSearch adware can collect lots of personal information about you to get profit. Adware can analyze your browsing, and gain access to your confidential data and, subsequently, can share it with third-parties. Thus, there are more than enough reasons to remove adware software from your computer.
Threat Summary
| Name | OptimumSearch, Optimum Search 1.0 app |
| Type | adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), pop-ups, pop-up ads, pop up virus |
| Symptoms |
|
| Removal | OptimumSearch removal guide |
How does the OptimumSearch adware get on your machine
The most popular way to get adware is free programs setup file. Most commonly, a user have a chance to disable all included ‘offers’, but some setup files are developed to confuse the average users, in order to trick them into installing PUPs and adware. Anyway, easier to prevent adware software rather than clean up your MAC system after one. So, keep your web-browser updated (turn on automatic updates), run good antivirus programs, double check free applications before you run it (do a google search, scan a downloaded file with VirusTotal), avoid malicious and unknown web-sites.
Thus, the OptimumSearch adware is a potentially unwanted program and should not be used. If you realized any of the symptoms mentioned above, we recommend you to follow step-by-step guidance below to remove the OptimumSearch adware and get rid of unwanted ads from your internet browser.
How to Remove OptimumSearch adware (removal guide)
Fortunately, we have an effective way which will assist you manually or/and automatically remove OptimumSearch from your internet browser and bring your browser settings, including start page, newtab page and default search provider, back to normal. Below you will find a removal guide with all the steps you may need to successfully delete adware and its components. Certain of the steps will require you to restart your MAC or exit this web page. So, read this guidance carefully, then bookmark this page or open it on your smartphone for later reference.
To remove OptimumSearch, execute the steps below:
- Manual OptimumSearch adware software removal
- Automatic Removal of OptimumSearch adware
- Ho to stay safe online
- Finish words
Manual OptimumSearch adware software removal
The most common adware can be deleted manually, without the use of antivirus or other removal tools. The manual steps below will guide you through how to remove OptimumSearch adware step by step. Although each of the steps is very simple and does not require special knowledge, but you are not sure that you can finish them, then use the free tools, a list of which is given below.
Uninstall questionable apps using the Finder
One of the first things to attempt for removal of adware is to check your computer installed programs screen and look for unwanted and questionable programs. If there are any programs you do not recognize or are no longer using, you should remove them. If that doesn’t work, then you may need to run adware removal tool such as MalwareBytes Free.
Open Finder and click “Applications”.
It will display a list of all software installed on your computer. Scroll through the all list, and remove any dubious and unknown software. Right click to dubious program and select “Move to Trash”. Another method is drag the program from the Applications folder to the Trash.
Most important, scroll through the all list, and move to trash any unknown applications. Don’t forget, select Finder -> Empty Trash.
Remove OptimumSearch from Google Chrome
Annoying OptimumSearch ads or other symptom of having adware software in your internet browser is a good reason to reset Chrome. This is an easy method to restore the Google Chrome settings and not lose any important information.
- First, run the Chrome and press the Menu icon (icon in the form of three dots).
- It will open the Google Chrome main menu. Select More Tools, then click Extensions.
- You will see the list of installed extensions. If the list has the plugin labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following guide: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
- Now open the Google Chrome menu once again, click the “Settings” menu.
- Next, click “Advanced” link, which located at the bottom of the Settings page.
- On the bottom of the “Advanced settings” page, press the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
- The Chrome will display the reset settings dialog box as shown on the image above.
- Confirm the browser’s reset by clicking on the “Reset” button.
- To learn more, read the post How to reset Google Chrome settings to default.
Get rid of OptimumSearch adware from Safari
If you find that Safari browser settings such as homepage, new tab and default search engine having been modified by OptimumSearch adware, then you may return your settings, via the reset web-browser procedure.
Click Safari menu and choose “Preferences”.
It will open the Safari Preferences window. Next, click the “Extensions” tab. Look for unknown and suspicious extensions on left panel, select it, then click the “Uninstall” button. Most important to remove all unknown addons from Safari.
Once complete, click “General” tab. Change the “Default Search Engine” to Google.
Find the “Homepage” and type into textfield “https://www.google.com”.
Remove OptimumSearch from Mozilla Firefox by resetting browser settings
If Mozilla Firefox settings are hijacked by the OptimumSearch adware, your internet browser shows unwanted pop-up ads, then ‘Reset Mozilla Firefox’ could solve these problems. It’ll save your personal information like saved passwords, bookmarks, auto-fill data and open tabs.
First, start the Firefox. Next, press the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (
). It will show 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 press on “Refresh Firefox” button as displayed below.
Confirm your action, click the “Refresh Firefox”.
Automatic Removal of OptimumSearch adware
Is your Mac OS MAC OS affected by adware? Then don’t worry, in the steps listed below, we’re sharing best malicious software removal tools that can be used to get rid of OptimumSearch ads from the Safari, Firefox and Google Chrome and your machine.
How to automatically get rid of OptimumSearch with MalwareBytes Anti Malware
You can remove OptimumSearch adware automatically with a help of MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM). We suggest this free malicious software removal tool because it may easily remove hijacker, adware, PUPs and toolbars with all their components such as files, folders and registry entries.
- MalwareBytes can be downloaded from the following link.
Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
20842 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: September 10, 2020
- When the downloading process is done, please close all software and open windows on your Apple Mac. Run the downloaded file. Follow the prompts.
- The MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) will launch and show the main window.
- Further, click the “Scan” button . MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) tool will start scanning the whole MAC OS to find out OptimumSearch adware. This procedure can take some time, so please be patient. When a threat is detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly.
- When the scan get finished, MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) will prepare a list of unwanted software and adware software.
- Review the report and then click the “Remove Selected Items” button.
- Close the Anti Malware and continue with the next step.
How to stay safe online
The AdGuard is a very good adblocker program for the Firefox, Safari and Chrome, with active user support. It does a great job by removing certain types of unwanted advertisements, popunders, pop ups, unwanted new tabs, and even full page advertisements and webpage overlay layers. Of course, the AdGuard can block malicious websites automatically or by using a custom filter rule.
Please go to the link below to download the latest version of AdGuard for Mac.
3677 downloads
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: January 17, 2018
When downloading is finished, run the downloaded file. The “Setup Wizard” window will show up on the computer screen.
Follow the prompts. AdGuard will then be installed. A window will show up asking you to confirm that you want to see a quick instructions. Press “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick guidance which will allow you get to know AdGuard better.
Each time, when you start your MAC system, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop unwanted pop ups, block harmful or misleading web-sites.
Finish words
Now your Apple Mac should be free of the OptimumSearch adware. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted advertisements and annoying harmful web-pages) and MalwareBytes Free (to periodically scan your MAC for new malicious software, browser hijackers and adware software). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Mac OS. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new hijackers, malicious software and adware software are released.
If you are still having problems while trying to get rid of OptimumSearch ads from your internet browser, then ask for help here.
