SearchModule is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) that belongs to the Adware family. Adware is considered by many to be synonymous with ‘malicious software’. It’s a malicious application that serves unwanted ads to computer users. Some examples include pop up ads, different offers and deals or unclosable windows. Adware can be installed onto your computer via infected webpages, when you open email attachments, anytime you download and install free software.
Unwanted ads
The worst is,the SearchModule adware can collect a wide variety of your confidential info to get profit. Adware software can analyze your browsing, and gain access to your confidential info and, afterwards, can sell it to third party companies. Thus, there are more than enough reasons to remove adware software from your machine.
Threat Summary
| Name | SearchModule, Search Module 1.0 app |
| Type | adware software, potentially unwanted application (PUA), pop-ups, popup virus, popup ads |
| Symptoms |
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| Removal | SearchModule removal guide |
How does SearchModule get on your MAC
Adware software is bundled within some free software. So always read carefully the setup screens, disclaimers, ‘Terms of Use’ and ‘Software license’ appearing during the install procedure. Additionally pay attention for optional programs which are being installed along with the main application. Ensure that you unchecked all of them! Also, use an ad blocking program that will help to stop dubious and illegitimate web sites.
Thus, it’s clear that the presence of adware on your MAC system is not desirable, and you need to clean up your MAC OS ASAP. Follow the steps below in order to remove SearchModule ads.
How to Remove SearchModule adware (removal instructions)
There are several steps to removing the SearchModule adware, because it installs itself so deeply into the Mac OS. You need to delete all suspicious and unknown apps, then remove malicious extensions from the Google Chrome, Safari and Mozilla Firefox and other browsers you have installed. Finally, you need to reset your internet browser settings to remove any changes the adware has made, and then scan your machine with MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) to ensure the adware is fully removed. It will take a while.
To remove SearchModule, complete the steps below:
- How to manually remove SearchModule
- Automatic Removal of SearchModule adware
- How to stay safe online
- Finish words
How to manually remove SearchModule
The step-by-step guidance designed by our team will help you manually remove SearchModule ads from the web-browser. If you have little experience in using computers, we recommend that you use the free tools listed below.
Uninstall potentially unwanted apps using the Finder
In order to remove PUPs such as this adware, open the Finder and click on “Applications”. Check the list of installed apps. For the ones you do not know, run an Internet search to see if they are adware software, browser hijackers or potentially unwanted apps. If yes, delete them off. Even if they are just a applications that you do not use, then removing them off will increase your MAC OS start up time and speed dramatically.
Open Finder and click “Applications”.
It will show a list of all programs installed on your MAC OS. Scroll through the all list, and uninstall any suspicious and unknown software. Right click to suspicious program and choose “Move to Trash”. Another way is drag the application 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.
Delete SearchModule from Safari
By resetting Safari web browser you restore your web-browser settings to its default state. This is good initial when troubleshooting problems that might have been caused by SearchModule adware.
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, choose it, then click 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 SearchModule adware from Mozilla Firefox
If your Mozilla Firefox browser is affected by SearchModule, then it may be time to perform the web-browser reset. When using the reset feature, your personal information such as passwords, bookmarks, browsing history and web form auto-fill data will be saved.
Click the Menu button (looks like three horizontal lines), and press the blue Help icon located at the bottom of the drop down menu as on the image below.
A small menu will appear, click the “Troubleshooting Information”. On this page, click “Refresh Firefox” button as shown in the following example.
Follow the onscreen procedure to return your Mozilla Firefox internet browser settings to their original settings.
Remove SearchModule adware software from Google Chrome
Resetting Chrome to original state is helpful in removing the SearchModule ads from your internet browser. This method is always advisable to complete if you have trouble in removing changes caused by adware software.
- First run the Chrome and press Menu button (small button in the form of three dots).
- It will open the Chrome main menu. Select More Tools, then click Extensions.
- You’ll see the list of installed add-ons. If the list has the addon labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following tutorial: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
- Now open the Google Chrome menu once again, click the “Settings” menu.
- You will see the Google Chrome’s settings page. Scroll down and click “Advanced” link.
- Scroll down again and click the “Reset” button.
- The Chrome will show the reset profile settings page as shown on the screen above.
- Next click the “Reset” button.
- Once this process is done, your web browser’s homepage, new tab page and search provider by default will be restored to their original defaults.
- To learn more, read the article How to reset Chrome settings to default.
Automatic Removal of SearchModule adware
Use malware removal utilities to remove SearchModule adware automatically. The freeware utilities specially developed for browser hijackers, adware software and other potentially unwanted apps removal. These tools may delete most of adware from Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Safari. Moreover, it can remove all components of adware from Windows registry and system drives.
How to remove SearchModule with MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM)
Delete SearchModule manually is difficult and often the adware is not fully removed. Therefore, we suggest you to use the MalwareBytes that are fully clean your MAC system. Moreover, this free program will help you to remove malicious software, potentially unwanted applications, toolbars and hijacker that your MAC may be infected too.
MalwareBytes Anti Malware can be downloaded from the following link.
20842 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: September 10, 2020
Once the download is complete, close all windows on your MAC system. Further, start the saved file. Follow the prompts.
The MalwareBytes Anti-Malware will automatically run and you can see its main window like below.
Next, click the “Scan Now” button . MalwareBytes Anti-Malware program will scan through the whole MAC OS for the SearchModule adware. While the tool is scanning, you can see number of objects and files has already scanned.
Once the scan is finished, a list of all threats detected is produced. Make sure all items have ‘checkmark’ and click “Remove Selected Items” button.
The MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) will get rid of SearchModule adware and move the selected items to the Quarantine.
How to stay safe online
By installing an ad-blocker application such as AdGuard, you are able to block malicious websites, stop autoplaying video ads and delete a large amount of distracting and intrusive ads on web sites.
- 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
- When the download is complete, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
- When the installation is complete, click “Skip” to close the setup application and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial that will help 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 run your computer, AdGuard will start automatically and stop intrusive advertisements, block malicious and misleading web-pages.
Finish words
Once you have done the step-by-step tutorial outlined above, your MAC should be clean from this adware and other malware. The Firefox, Safari and Google Chrome will no longer show unwanted SearchModule ads when you surf the Internet. Unfortunately, if the few simple steps 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 SearchModule adware.
