How to remove Simple Project Search from Mac (Virus removal guide)

What is Simple Project Search

Simple Project Search is supposed to be aan application that will improve the browsing experience, but it is adware. Adware is a form of software which tries to generate revenue by redirecting you to unwanted web-pages or online advertising. It has different methods of earning money including displaying up ads on the web-browser forcefully. Most of adware software gets installed when you’re downloading free programs or browser extensions.

Another reason why you need to remove Simple Project Search is its online data-tracking activity. It can collect your Internet surfing activity by saving URLs visited, IP addresses, browser version and type, cookie information, Internet Service Provider (ISP) and web-pages visited. Such kind of behavior can lead to serious security problems or sensitive information theft. This is another reason why the Simple Project Search adware should be removed ASAP.

Below we are discussing the methods which are very useful in removing adware. The instructions will also assist you to delete Simple Project Search from your Apple Mac for free.

How does Simple Project Search get on your MAC

Usually, adware gets into your machine as part of a bundle with free software, sharing files and other unsafe apps that you downloaded from the Internet. The creators of adware pays software developers for distributing adware software within their programs. So, additional software is often included as part of the installer. In order to avoid the installation of any adware: choose only Manual, Custom or Advanced installation mode and uncheck all additional applications in which you are unsure.

Threat Summary

Name	Simple Project Search
Type	adware, PUP (potentially unwanted program), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	Adware.MAC.Generic, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, ApplicUnwnt, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Adware/Adload!OSX, MacOS.Agent-MT and Osx.Adware.Cimpli
Distribution	Freeware installers, fake update tools, torrent downloads and suspicious pop up ads
Symptoms	You keep getting redirected to unfamiliar web-pages, you experience a large count of of unexpected pop-up windows, new entries appear in your Applications folder, an unexpected extension appears in your web-browser, your Mac settings are being changed without your request, slow browsing Internet.
Removal	Simple Project Search removal guide

How to remove Simple Project Search

The following steps will help you to remove Simple Project Search from the Mozilla Firefox, Chrome and Safari. Moreover, the tutorial below will help you to get rid of malware, hijackers, PUPs and toolbars that your Apple Mac may be infected. Please do the guide step by step. If you need help or have any questions, then ask for our assistance or type a comment below. Certain of the steps below will require you to close this website. So, please read the few simple steps carefully, after that bookmark it or open it on your smartphone for later reference.

To remove Simple Project Search, use the following steps:

1. Remove profiles created by Simple Project Search
2. Check the list of installed programs
3. Remove Simple Project Search related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove Simple Project Search from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. How to stay safe online
7. Finish words

Remove profiles created by Simple Project Search

Simple Project Search can install a configuration profile on the Mac system to block changes made to the browser settings. Therefore, you need to open system preferences, find and delete the profile installed by the adware software.

Click Apple menu ( ) > System Preferences.

In System Preferences, select Profiles. if there is no Profiles in the list of preferences, that means there are no profiles installed on the Mac. If there is Profiles in the list, then click on it, then select a profile related to Simple Project Search.

To delete a malicious profile, click on the minus button ( – ) located at the bottom-left of the Profiles screen.

Check the list of installed programs

Some of adware, browser hijackers and PUPs can be uninstalled using the Move to Trash tool which can be found in the Finder. So, if you’re running any version of Mac and you have noticed an unwanted application, then first try to remove it through the Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

It will open a list of all apps installed on your MAC system. Scroll through the all list, and remove any suspicious and unknown apps. Right click to questionable program and select “Move to Trash”. Another way 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, choose Finder -> Empty Trash.

Remove Simple Project Search related files and folders

Now you need to try to find Simple Project Search related files and folders, and then delete them manually. You need to look for these files in certain directories. To quickly open them, we recommend using the “Go to Folder…” command.

Simple Project Search creates several files, these files must be found and removed. Below is a list of files associated with this unwanted program.

• /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.Simple_Project_Search.system.plist
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.Simple_Project_Search.service.plist
• /Library/Application Support/.(RANDOM)/System/com.Simple_Project_Search.system
• ~/Library/Application Support/.(RANDOM)/Services/com.Simple_Project_Search.service.app

Some files created by Simple Project Search are hidden from the user. To find and delete them, you need to enable “show hidden files”. To do this, use the shortcut CMD + SHIFT + . Press once to show hidden files and again to hide them. There is another way. Click Finder -> Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal. In Terminal, paste the following text: defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES

Press Enter. Hold the ‘Option/alt’ key, then right click on the Finder icon in the dock and click Relaunch.

Click on the Finder icon. From the menu bar, select Go and click “Go to Folder…”. As a result, a small window opens that allows you to quickly open a specific directory.

Check for Simple Project Search generated files in the /Library/LaunchAgents folder

In the “Go to Folder…” window, type the following text and press Go:
/Library/LaunchAgents

This will open the contents of the “/Library/LaunchAgents” folder. Look carefully at it and pay special attention to recently created files, as well as files that have a suspicious name. Move all suspicious files to the Trash. A few examples of files: com.net-preferences.plist, search.plist, macsearch.plist, com.machelper.plist, installapp.plist, com.Simple_Project_Search.service.plist and com.google.defaultsearch.plist, . Most often, browser hijackers, potentially unwanted programs and adware software create several files with similar names.

Check for Simple Project Search generated files in the /Library/Application Support folder

In the “Go to Folder…” window, type the following text and press Go:
/Library/Application Support

This will open the contents of the “Application Support” folder. Look carefully at its contents, pay special attention to recently added/changed folders and files. Check the contents of suspicious folders, if there is a file with a name similar to com.Simple_Project_Search.system, then this folder must be deleted. Move all suspicious folders and files to the Trash.

Check for Simple Project Search generated files in the “~/Library/LaunchAgents” folder

In the “Go to Folder…” window, type the following text and press Go:
~/Library/LaunchAgents

Proceed in the same way as with the “/Library/LaunchAgents” and “/Library/Application Support” folders. Look for suspicious and recently added files. Move all suspicious files to the Trash.

Check for Simple Project Search generated files in the /Library/LaunchDaemons folder

In the “Go to Folder…” window, type the following text and press Go:
/Library/LaunchDaemons

Carefully browse the entire list of files and pay special attention to recently created files, as well as files that have a suspicious name. Move all suspicious files to the Trash. A few examples of files to be deleted: com.machelper.system.plist, com.macsearch.system.plist, com.Simple_Project_Search.system.plist, com.installapp.system.plist and com.search.system.plist. In most cases, PUPs, browser hijackers and adware create several files with similar names.

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

If you are still having problems with the Simple Project Search removal or just wish to scan your Mac device occasionally for adware and other malicious software, then download MalwareBytes Anti Malware. It’s free for home use, and detects and deletes various undesired programs that attacks your machine or degrades MAC OS performance. MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) can delete potentially unwanted programs, browser hijackers, adware and toolbars as well as malicious software, including ransomware and trojans.

Click the link below to download MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM).

After the download is complete, close all windows on your machine. Further, open the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) will automatically start and you can see its main window as displayed in the figure below.

Next, press the “Scan Now” button for scanning your Apple Mac for the Simple Project Search adware. Depending on your MAC system, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour.

When MalwareBytes AntiMalware is complete scanning your computer, you will be shown the list of all found items on your MAC. Next, you need to press the “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes will remove Simple Project Search adware and move the selected items to the Quarantine.

Remove Simple Project Search from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you’re still getting the Simple Project Search ads, then you can try to remove it by removing malicious extensions.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right corner, click on Chrome’s main menu button, represented by three vertical dots. Select ‘More tools’, then ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to remove Simple Project Search by reset Chrome settings.	Click on ‘menu’ button and select ‘Add-ons’. Go to ‘Extensions’ tab. To uninstall an add-on, click on ‘Remove’ button next to it. If you are still experiencing issues with Simple Project Search removal, you need to reset Mozilla Firefox browser.
Safari
On the top menu select ‘Safari’, then ‘Preferences’. Select ‘Extensions’ tab. Select an extension you want to delete and click ‘Uninstall’ button next to it.

How to stay safe online

One of the worst things is the fact that you cannot stop all malicious websites using only built-in MS Windows capabilities. However, there is a program out that you can use to stop intrusive internet browser redirects, advertisements and pop ups in any modern web browsers including Safari, Google Chrome and Firefox. It is called Adguard and it works very well.

1. Click the link below to download AdGuard.
   
   

   AdGuard for Mac download
   3677 downloads
   Author: © Adguard
   Category: Security tools
   Update: January 17, 2018
   
2. Once downloading is complete, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
3. When the install is finished, press “Skip” to close the setup application and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial which will assist you get to know AdGuard better.
4. In most cases, the default settings are enough and you don’t need to change anything. Each time, when you start your machine, AdGuard will start automatically and stop intrusive advertisements, block malicious and misleading webpages.

Finish words

Once you have done the few simple steps outlined above, your MAC OS should be clean from this adware software and other malicious software. The Chrome, Firefox and Safari will no longer display any unwanted ads when you browse the World Wide Web. 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 Simple Project Search adware.