SimpleGuideSearch is a nasty PUP (potentially unwanted program) that belongs to the Adware category. What is Adware? Adware software’s basic purpose is to display advertisements. These advertisements are often presented as advertising banners, unclosable windows or different offers and deals. Clicks on the ads produce a monetary payoff for the software makers. Adware software may work like Spyware, since it sends user information such as searches and trends to advertisers.
Unwanted ads
Another reason why you need to delete the SimpleGuideSearch adware is its online data-tracking activity. It can collect your Internet browsing activity by saving URLs visited, IP addresses, browser version and type, cookie information, Internet Service Provider (ISP) and web sites visited. Such kind of behavior can lead to serious security problems or privacy data theft. This is another reason why the SimpleGuideSearch adware should be removed as quickly as possible.
Threat Summary
| Name | SimpleGuideSearch, Simple Guide Search 1.0 app |
| Type | adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), popups, pop-up ads, pop-up virus |
| Symptoms |
|
| Removal | SimpleGuideSearch removal guide |
How does SimpleGuideSearch get on your computer
Adware spreads with a simple but quite effective way. It is integrated into the installer of various freeware. Thus on the process of installation, it will be added onto your MAC system and/or web browser. In order to avoid adware, you just need to follow a few simple rules: carefully read the Terms of Use and the license, select only a Manual, Custom or Advanced install option, which enables you to make sure that the program you want to install, thereby protect your MAC system from adware.
We strongly recommend that you perform the steps below that will help you to remove SimpleGuideSearch adware software using standard Mac features and free malware removal tools.
How to Remove SimpleGuideSearch adware
There present several free adware removal utilities. Also it is possible to delete SimpleGuideSearch manually. But we recommend to combine all these methods below into the one removal algorithm. Follow the steps of the tutorial. Certain of the steps below will require you to shut down this web page. So, please read the steps carefully, after that bookmark it or open it on your smartphone for later reference.
To remove SimpleGuideSearch, execute the steps below:
- How to delete SimpleGuideSearch without any software
- Automatic Removal of SimpleGuideSearch adware
- How to stay safe online
- Finish words
How to delete SimpleGuideSearch without any software
In this section of the article, we have posted the steps that will help to delete SimpleGuideSearch adware manually. Although compared to removal utilities, this method loses in time, but you don’t need to install anything on the Apple Mac. It will be enough for you to follow the detailed guidance with pictures. We tried to describe each step in detail, but if you realized that you might not be able to figure it out, or simply do not want to change the Microsoft Windows and web browser settings, then it’s better for you to run tools from trusted developers, which are listed below.
Remove adware through the Finder
The process of adware software removal is generally the same across all versions of Mac operating system. To start with, it’s necessary to check the list of installed apps on your MAC and delete all unused, unknown and suspicious applications.
- Open the Finder.
- Click “Applications”.
- It will open a list of all software installed on the computer.
- Scroll through the all list, and uninstall suspicious and unknown apps. Pay maximum attention to the application you installed last.
- Drag the suspicious program from the Applications folder to the Trash.
- Empty Trash.
Get rid of SimpleGuideSearch adware from Safari
By resetting Safari browser you restore your browser settings to its default state. This is good initial when troubleshooting problems that might have been caused by SimpleGuideSearch adware.
Click Safari menu and choose “Preferences”.
It will open the Safari Preferences window. Next, click the “Extensions” tab. Look for unknown and suspicious add-ons on left panel, select it, then press the “Uninstall” button. Most important to remove all unknown extensions 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 SimpleGuideSearch from Google Chrome
The adware can alter your Google Chrome settings without your knowledge. You may see an undesired web page as your search engine or homepage, additional extensions and toolbars. Reset Chrome browser will help you to delete SimpleGuideSearch ads and reset the unwanted changes caused by adware software. It’ll keep your personal information like browsing history, bookmarks, passwords and web form auto-fill data.
First open the Google Chrome. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal dots (
).
It will open the Chrome menu. Choose More Tools, then press Extensions. Carefully browse through the list of installed extensions. If the list has the add-on signed with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following guidance: Remove Google Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
Open the Chrome menu once again. Further, click the option called “Settings”.
The web browser will open the settings screen. Another way to open the Chrome’s settings – type chrome://settings in the web-browser adress bar and press Enter
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and press the “Advanced” link. Now scroll down until the “Reset” section is visible, as displayed in the figure below and click the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
The Google Chrome will show the confirmation dialog box as shown on the screen below.
You need to confirm your action, press the “Reset” button. The browser will start the task of cleaning. When it’s finished, the web browser’s settings including default search engine, new tab page and startpage back to the values which have been when the Chrome was first installed on your machine.
Delete SimpleGuideSearch adware software from Firefox
Resetting Mozilla Firefox browser will reset all the settings to their original state and will remove SimpleGuideSearch ads, malicious add-ons and extensions. Your saved bookmarks, form auto-fill information and passwords won’t be cleared or changed.
First, open the Firefox and press 
button. It will open the drop-down menu on the right-part of the internet browser. Further, press the Help button (
) as on the image below.
In the Help menu, select the “Troubleshooting Information” option. Another way to open the “Troubleshooting Information” screen – type “about:support” in the internet browser adress bar and press Enter. It will open the “Troubleshooting Information” page similar to the one below. In the upper-right corner of this screen, press the “Refresh Firefox” button.
It will open the confirmation dialog box. Further, press the “Refresh Firefox” button. The Firefox will start a process to fix your problems that caused by the SimpleGuideSearch adware. Once, it’s complete, click the “Finish” button.
Automatic Removal of SimpleGuideSearch adware
If you’re unsure how to remove SimpleGuideSearch adware software easily, consider using automatic adware removal software that listed below. It will identify SimpleGuideSearch and get rid of it from your MAC for free.
Run MalwareBytes to remove SimpleGuideSearch
You can get rid of SimpleGuideSearch adware software automatically with a help of MalwareBytes. We recommend this free malicious software removal utility because it can easily remove browser hijacker infection, adware software, potentially unwanted apps and toolbars with all their components such as files, folders and registry entries.
MalwareBytes Anti Malware can be downloaded from the following link.
20841 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: September 10, 2020
After the download is done, close all windows on your machine. Further, run the saved file. Follow the prompts.
The MalwareBytes Free will automatically start and you can see its main window as shown on the screen below.
Next, click the “Scan Now” button to start checking your MAC OS for the SimpleGuideSearch adware. A system scan can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your MAC. While the utility is checking, you can see how many objects and files has already scanned.
Once the system scan is done, MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) will display a scan report. When you’re ready, press “Remove Selected Items” button.
The MalwareBytes will remove SimpleGuideSearch adware and move the selected items to the program’s quarantine.
How to stay safe online
Run an ad blocker utility like AdGuard will protect you from harmful advertisements and content. Moreover, you can find that the AdGuard have an option to protect your privacy and stop phishing and spam web-sites. Additionally, adblocker software will help you to avoid intrusive advertisements and unverified links that also a good way to stay safe online.
- Please go to the following link to download the latest version of AdGuard for Apple Mac.
AdGuard for Mac download
3677 downloads
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: January 17, 2018
- After the download is done, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
- When the installation is complete, press “Skip” to close the install program and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial which will allow you get to know AdGuard better.
- In most cases, the default settings are enough and you do not need to change anything. Each time, when you start your Apple Mac, AdGuard will start automatically and stop unwanted ads, block harmful and misleading websites.
Finish words
After completing the steps outlined above, your computer should be free from SimpleGuideSearch adware and other malware. The Google Chrome, Safari and Firefox will no longer display the SimpleGuideSearch ads. Unfortunately, if the steps does not help you, then you have caught a new adware, and then the best way – ask for help here.
