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

What is WebSearchBoard

According to security professionals, WebSearchBoard is an adware application that targets Mac computers. Adware is a form of malware that’s developed just to display various pop-ups and/or unwanted adverts using intrusive and at times dangerous ways. Adware software can also include other forms of malware. It can steal sensitive information from the MAC and pass it on to third parties. Adware software has also been the basis for hacking to gain access to the MAC OS.

Another reason why you need to remove the WebSearchBoard adware is its online data-tracking activity. It can have spyware and keyloggers built into itself leading to greater damage to your MAC and possible invasion of your privacy information.

If you are unfortunate have adware or malicious software running on your machine, you can follow the suggestions here to uninstall WebSearchBoard from your Apple Mac and get rid of unwanted ads from your web-browser.

How does WebSearchBoard get on your MAC

Most of unwanted advertisements and popups come from internet browser toolbars and/or extensions, BHOs (browser helper objects) and additional programs. Most often, these items claim itself as software that improve your experience on the Internet by providing a fast and interactive startpage or a search provider that does not track you. Remember, how to avoid the unwanted apps. Be cautious, run only reputable applications which download from reputable sources. NEVER install any unknown and questionable apps.

Threat Summary

Name	WebSearchBoard
Type	adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	Osx.Adware.Cimpli, ApplicUnwnt, Adware/Adload!OSX, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, MacOS.Agent-MT, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Adware.MAC.Generic and Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload
Distribution	Freeware installers, fake update tools, torrent downloads and malicious pop up advertisements
Symptoms	You keep getting redirected to questionable web sites, you experience lots of of unwanted advertising pop-ups, unwanted program installed without your consent, new toolbars on your desktop, your Apple Mac settings are being altered without your request, your internet browser slows to a crawl.
Removal	WebSearchBoard removal guide

How to remove WebSearchBoard adware

To remove WebSearchBoard from your Apple Mac, you must delete all suspicious software and every component that could be related to the adware software. Besides, to fix your internet browser newtab page, startpage and search engine, you should reset the affected internet browsers. As soon as you are done with WebSearchBoard removal procedure, we suggest you scan your MAC system with malicious software removal utilities listed below. It’ll complete the removal process on your machine.

To remove WebSearchBoard, complete the steps below:

1. Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device
2. Check the list of installed software
3. Remove WebSearchBoard related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove WebSearchBoard from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. How to stay safe online

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

WebSearchBoard 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.

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 associated with WebSearchBoard.

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

Check the list of installed software

Check the list of installed software and remove all unknown or questionable apps. This is an important step, it so often happens that PUPs, browser hijackers and adware are built into free software, so by removing these programs you can get rid of browser redirects and unwanted ads.

1. Open the Finder.
2. Click “Applications”.
3. It will show a list of all applications installed on the computer.
4. Scroll through the all list, and delete questionable and unknown apps. Pay maximum attention to the program you installed last.
5. Drag the suspicious program from the Applications folder to the Trash.
6. Empty Trash.

Remove WebSearchBoard related files and folders

Now you need to try to find WebSearchBoard 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

If you carefully followed the previous steps, then you should be able to delete WebSearchBoard. Of course, very often potentially unwanted programs, adware software and browser hijackers hides on a Mac, disguising itself as legitimate apps and files. Therefore, in some cases, it is difficult for an inexperienced user to decide whether a particular file is part of PUPs, adware and browser hijackers. Therefore, we recommend you to use MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) to scan the Mac device.

MalwareBytes Anti-Malware can be downloaded from the following link.

Once the downloading process is finished, close all apps and windows on your machine. Open a directory in which you saved it. Run the saved file and follow the prompts.

Once installation is complete, you will see window like below.

Now press the “Scan” button . MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) program will scan through the whole MAC system for the WebSearchBoard adware that causes internet browsers to open unwanted popups. This process can take some time, so please be patient. While the tool is scanning, you may see how many objects and files has already scanned.

When MalwareBytes is finished scanning your Apple Mac, MalwareBytes Free will prepare a list of unwanted applications and adware. All detected items will be marked. You can delete them all by simply click “Quarantine” button.

The Malwarebytes will now get rid of WebSearchBoard adware which redirects your web-browser to unwanted ad web-sites.

Remove WebSearchBoard from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

This step will show you how to remove harmful plugins. This can remove WebSearchBoard adware and fix some surfing problems, especially after adware infection.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top-right corner, expand the Chrome menu. In the menu go to ‘More tools’, then ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to remove WebSearchBoard adware by reset Google 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 WebSearchBoard adware software 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

By installing an ad blocker program like AdGuard, you are able to block malicious web-pages, stop autoplaying video ads and get rid of a huge count of distracting and annoying ads on web sites.

Click the following link to download AdGuard.

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

Each time, when you start your Apple Mac, AdGuard will start automatically and stop intrusive pop-up advertisements, block harmful and misleading web pages.

To sum up

We suggest that you keep MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) (to periodically scan your machine for new adware and other malicious software) and AdGuard (to help you block annoying pop up ads and malicious web-sites). Moreover, to prevent any adware, please stay clear of unknown and third party apps.

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