How to uninstall UpgradeSearchView app/extension from Mac (Virus removal guide)

What is UpgradeSearchView

UpgradeSearchView is a malicious application that belongs to the Adware category. Adware is a part of malicious software that’s designed to display unwanted ads, modify Mac settings, download and install malicious browser extensions. All the time, while UpgradeSearchView is running, your web-browser will be fill with annoying ads.

The worst is, the UpgradeSearchView adware can be used to collect lots of information about you such as what websites you are opening, what you are looking for the Internet and so on. This information later, may be transferred third party companies.

How does UpgradeSearchView get on your MAC

In many cases, adware software gets onto MAC computers by being attached to the install packages from file sharing and torrents web sites. So, install freeware is a a good chance that you will find a bundled adware software. If you don’t know how to avoid it, then use a simple trick. During the installation, select the Custom or Advanced setup method. Next, click ‘Decline’ button and clear all checkboxes on offers that ask you to install additional software. Moreover, please carefully read Term of use and User agreement before installing any software.

Threat Summary

Name	UpgradeSearchView
Type	adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Adware.MAC.Generic, ApplicUnwnt, Adware/Adload!OSX, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, MacOS.Agent-MT and Osx.Adware.Cimpli
Distribution	Free software installers, suspicious pop up ads, fake update tools and torrent downloads
Symptoms	Your browser is redirected to web-pages you did not want, pop-ups and new tab pages are loaded without your request, unwanted program installed without your knowledge, new toolbars on your desktop, unexpected changes in your web browser such as using a new default search engine, low ping but slow Internet.
Removal	UpgradeSearchView removal guide

How to remove UpgradeSearchView from Mac computer

In the guidance below we will have a look at the adware and how to remove UpgradeSearchView from Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome browsers for Mac, natively or by using a few free removal utilities. Read it once, after doing so, please bookmark this page (or open it on your smartphone) as you may need to close your internet browser or reboot your computer.

To remove UpgradeSearchView, follow the steps below:

1. Remove profiles created by UpgradeSearchView
2. Delete UpgradeSearchView related programs through the Finder
3. Remove UpgradeSearchView related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove UpgradeSearchView from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. How to stay safe online

Remove profiles created by UpgradeSearchView

UpgradeSearchView can make changes to the Mac system such as malicious changes to browser settings, and the addition of malicious system profiles. You need to check the system preferences, find and remove malicious profiles and ensure your settings are as you expect.

Click the System Preferences icon ( ) in the Dock, or choose Apple menu ( ) > System Preferences.

In System Preferences, click Profiles, then select a profile associated with UpgradeSearchView.

Click the minus button ( – ) located at the bottom-left of the Profiles screen to remove the profile.
Note: if you do not see Profiles in the System Preferences, that means there are no profiles installed on your Mac, which is normal.

Delete UpgradeSearchView related programs through the Finder

Check out the Finder (Applications section) to see all installed programs. If you see any unknown and dubious programs, they are the ones you need to remove.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

It will open a list of all software installed on your MAC. Scroll through the all list, and delete any dubious and unknown apps. Right click to dubious application and choose “Move to Trash”. Another solution 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 UpgradeSearchView related files and folders

Now you need to try to find UpgradeSearchView 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.

UpgradeSearchView creates several files, these files must be found and removed. Below is a list of files associated with this unwanted application.

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

Some files created by UpgradeSearchView 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 UpgradeSearchView 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: installapp.plist, com.net-preferences.plist, com.google.defaultsearch.plist, , macsearch.plist, search.plist, com.UpgradeSearchView.service.plist and com.machelper.plist. Most often, PUPs, browser hijackers and adware software create several files with similar names.

Check for UpgradeSearchView 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.UpgradeSearchView.system, then this folder must be deleted. Move all suspicious folders and files to the Trash.

Check for UpgradeSearchView 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 UpgradeSearchView 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.search.system.plist, com.macsearch.system.plist, com.UpgradeSearchView.system.plist, com.installapp.system.plist and com.machelper.system.plist. In most cases, browser hijackers, adware software and PUPs create several files with similar names.

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

We recommend using MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) to scan the Mac computer for adware, browser hijackers and potentially unwanted programs. This free tool is an advanced malicious software removal application designed by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This program uses the world’s most popular antimalware technology. It’s able to help you remove PUPs and other security threats from your Mac for free.

1. MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) can be downloaded from the following link.
   
   

   Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
   20841 downloads
   Author: Malwarebytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: September 10, 2020
   
2. Once the downloading process is complete, close all apps and windows on your MAC system. Open a folder in which you saved it. Run the downloaded file and follow the prompts.
3. Press the “Scan” button to search for UpgradeSearchView . This task can take some time, so please be patient. When a malicious software, adware software or potentially unwanted programs are detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly. Wait until the the checking is complete.
4. After the scan get completed, you’ll be displayed the list of all found threats on your MAC system. Make sure to check mark the threats which are unsafe and then click “Quarantine”.

Remove UpgradeSearchView from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

Annoying UpgradeSearchView adware software or other symptoms of adware in your browser is a good reason to find and remove malicious extensions. This is an easy way to recover internet browsers settings and not lose any important information.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right corner, click on Google Chrome’s main menu button, represented by three vertical dots. When the drop-down menu appears, select ‘More tools’ and click on ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to delete UpgradeSearchView adware software 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 problems with UpgradeSearchView removal, you need to reset 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

Use ad-blocker program such as AdGuard in order to block ads, malvertisements, pop-ups and online trackers, avoid having to install harmful and adware browser plug-ins and add-ons which affect your MAC system performance and impact your MAC security. Browse the Web anonymously and stay safe online!

Download AdGuard on your MAC OS by clicking on the following link.

After the downloading process is complete, launch the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen. Follow the prompts.

Each time, when you run your computer, AdGuard will run automatically and stop annoying pop up ads, block malicious and misleading web-sites.

Finish words

Now your Apple Mac should be free of the UpgradeSearchView adware. We suggest that you keep MalwareBytes AntiMalware (to periodically scan your MAC OS for new adware softwares and other malicious software) and AdGuard (to help you block unwanted pop-up ads and harmful web pages). Moreover, to prevent any adware, please stay clear of unknown and third party programs.

If you need more help with UpgradeSearchView adware related issues, go to here.