What is VirtualCharacterSearch
VirtualCharacterSearch is an adware application. Adware can make big problem to your Apple Mac. Adware also known as ‘adware software’ is malicious application that shows lots of unwanted ads in form of popup windows, discount offers, promos or even fake alerts on the MAC system. Adware software can seriously affect your privacy, your computer’s performance and security. Adware can be installed onto your computer without your knowledge.
Unwanted ads
The worst is, adware can install a component that enables its creator to track which webpages you visit, which products you look at upon those pages. They are then able to select the type of ads they show you. So, if you had adware software on your computer, there is a good chance you have another that is gathering and sharing your privacy data with third parties, without your knowledge.
Do not panic because we have got the solution. Here’s a guidance on how to delete VirtualCharacterSearch adware from the MAC and free your web browser of intrusive ads.
How does VirtualCharacterSearch get on your computer
Adware usually is bundled with free programs . So, when you installing free applications, carefully read the disclaimers, choose the Custom or Advanced installation mode to watch for optional programs that are being installed, because some of the applications are potentially unwanted software and adware.
Threat Summary
| Name | VirtualCharacterSearch, Virtual Character Search 1.0 app |
| Type | adware, potentially unwanted program (PUP), pop-up advertisements, pop up virus, popups |
| Symptoms |
|
| Removal | VirtualCharacterSearch removal guide |
How to Remove VirtualCharacterSearch
To get rid of VirtualCharacterSearch adware from your Apple Mac, you must remove all suspicious software and every component that could be related to the adware. Besides, to fix your browser homepage, default search engine and new tab, you should reset the infected web-browsers. As soon as you are complete with VirtualCharacterSearch adware removal procedure, we advise you scan your computer with malicious software removal tools listed below. It’ll complete the removal process on your MAC OS.
To remove VirtualCharacterSearch, perform the steps below:
- Manual VirtualCharacterSearch removal
- Automatic Removal of VirtualCharacterSearch adware software
- How to stay safe online
- To sum up
Manual VirtualCharacterSearch removal
This part of the article is a step-by-step guide that will help you to delete VirtualCharacterSearch adware manually. You just need to carefully complete each step. In this case, you do not need to download any additional tools.
Delete potentially unwanted programs using the Finder
It is of primary importance to first identify and get rid of all potentially unwanted apps, adware applications and browser hijacker infections through the ‘Applications’ section of the Finder.
Open Finder and click “Applications”.
It will open a list of all programs installed on your Apple Mac. Scroll through the all list, and uninstall any questionable and unknown apps. Right click to questionable application and select “Move to Trash”. Another solution 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, choose Finder -> Empty Trash.
Remove VirtualCharacterSearch from Chrome
Reset Chrome settings is a easy way to get rid of VirtualCharacterSearch ads, malicious and adware extensions, browser’s newtab, search provider and home page which have been changed by adware.
Open the Google Chrome menu by clicking on the button in the form of three horizontal dotes (
). It will display the drop-down menu. Choose More Tools, then press Extensions.
Carefully browse through the list of installed add-ons. If the list has the add-on labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following steps: Remove Google Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy otherwise, just go to the step below.
Open the Chrome main menu again, click 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 on the image below and press the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
Confirm your action, press the “Reset” button.
Delete VirtualCharacterSearch adware from Safari
If you find that Safari web browser settings like newtab page, search engine and startpage having been changed by VirtualCharacterSearch adware, then you may revert back your settings, via the reset web-browser procedure.
Run Safari internet browser. Next, choose Preferences from the Safari menu.
First, click the “Security” tab. Here, choose “Block pop-up windows”. It will stop some types of popups.
Now, click the “Extensions” icon. Look for suspicious addons on left panel, select it, then click the “Uninstall” button. Most important to remove all questionable extensions from Safari.
Once complete, check your homepage and search engine settings. Click “General” icon. 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 VirtualCharacterSearch adware from Mozilla Firefox
This step will help you get rid of VirtualCharacterSearch ads, third-party toolbars, disable harmful extensions and return your default start page, newtab page and search engine settings.
First, run the Firefox and click 
button. It will open the drop-down menu on the right-part of the browser. Further, press the Help button (
) as shown below.
In the Help menu, select the “Troubleshooting Information” option. Another way to open the “Troubleshooting Information” screen – type “about:support” in the browser adress bar and press Enter. It will show the “Troubleshooting Information” page similar to the one below. In the upper-right corner of this screen, click the “Refresh Firefox” button.
It will open the confirmation prompt. Further, click the “Refresh Firefox” button. The Firefox will start a process to fix your problems that caused by the VirtualCharacterSearch adware software. After, it is done, press the “Finish” button.
Automatic Removal of VirtualCharacterSearch adware software
Manual removal is not always as effective as you might think. Often, even the most experienced users can not completely remove adware software. So, we recommend to check your MAC for any remaining harmful components with free adware removal applications below.
Use MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) to delete VirtualCharacterSearch
You can delete VirtualCharacterSearch automatically with a help of MalwareBytes. We advise this free malware removal tool because it may easily remove hijacker infection, adware, PUPs and toolbars with all their components such as files, folders and registry entries.
MalwareBytes can be downloaded from the following link.
20842 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: September 10, 2020
After the download is done, close all windows on your MAC system. Further, launch the saved file. Follow the prompts.
The MalwareBytes Free will automatically launch and you can see its main window such as the one below.
Next, press the “Scan Now” button to perform a system scan for the VirtualCharacterSearch adware. A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your Apple Mac and the speed of your MAC system. While the MalwareBytes Free application is scanning, you may see how many objects it has identified as threat.
Once MalwareBytes has completed scanning, MalwareBytes will open you the results. Once you have selected what you want to remove from your machine click “Remove Selected Items” button.
The MalwareBytes Anti-Malware will uninstall VirtualCharacterSearch adware software.
How to stay safe online
One of the worst things is the fact that you cannot block all malicious websites using only built-in Windows capabilities. However, there is a program out that you can use to stop undesired browser redirections, ads and pop-ups in any modern browsers including Firefox, Chrome and Safari. It’s named Adguard and it works very well.
AdGuard can be downloaded from the following link.
3677 downloads
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: January 17, 2018
When the downloading process 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 guidance. Click “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial which will allow you get to know AdGuard better.
Each time, when you launch your MAC OS, AdGuard will run automatically and stop unwanted pop up advertisements, block malicious and misleading websites.
To sum up
Now your MAC OS should be free of the VirtualCharacterSearch adware. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted ads and unwanted malicious websites) and MalwareBytes Anti Malware (to periodically scan your computer for new malware, browser hijackers and adware). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Mac OS. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new hijacker infections, harmful software and adware are released.
If you are still having problems while trying to get rid of VirtualCharacterSearch ads from your internet browser, then ask for help here.
