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

What is GeneralProjectSearch

According to security experts, GeneralProjectSearch is an adware application that targets Mac platform. Adware also known as ‘ad-supported’ software is a malicious application that shows lots of ads in form of pop ups, discount offers, banners or even fake alerts on the web-browser. Adware software can seriously affect your privacy, your computer’s performance and security.

Does GeneralProjectSearch steal your privacy data? The adware can monetize its functionality by gathering confidential information from your browsing sessions. This sensitive information, later, can be easily transferred third party companies. This puts your user info at a security risk.

Adware is usually written in ways common to malicious software, spyware and browser hijackers. In order to remove GeneralProjectSearch adware, you will need perform the steps below or use free adware removal utility listed below.

How does GeneralProjectSearch get on your MAC system

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

Threat Summary

Name	GeneralProjectSearch, “General Project Search”, “GeneralProjectSearch 1.0”
Type	adware software, PUP (potentially unwanted program), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, MacOS.Agent-MT, Adware.MAC.Generic, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, Adware/Adload!OSX, OSX.Trojan.Gen and ApplicUnwnt
Distribution	Free software installers, torrent downloads, fake update tools and shady pop up advertisements
Symptoms	Your web browser is redirected to web pages you did not want, internet browser pop ups appear and recommend fake Flash updates, unexpected program installed without your say-so, unwanted icons on your desktop, your Mac settings are being altered without your request, slow browsing Internet.
Removal	GeneralProjectSearch removal guide

How to Remove GeneralProjectSearch adware (removal guide)

The following tutorial will help you to get rid of GeneralProjectSearch ads from Mozilla Firefox, Safari and Google Chrome. Moreover, the steps below will help you to remove malicious software, browser hijackers, potentially unwanted applications and toolbars that your computer may be infected. Please do the tutorial step by step. If you need help or have any questions, then ask for our assistance or type a comment below. Read it once, after doing so, please bookmark this page (or open it on your smartphone) as you may need to close your web-browser or reboot your MAC.

To remove GeneralProjectSearch, use the steps below:

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

Remove profiles created by GeneralProjectSearch

GeneralProjectSearch 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 related to GeneralProjectSearch.

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 Apple computer, which is normal.

Delete GeneralProjectSearch associated software by using the Finder

Go to the Finder and remove questionable programs, all applications you don’t remember installing. It’s important to pay the most attention to apps you have recently installed. If you do not know what a program does, look for the answer on the Net.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

It will display a list of all apps installed on your Apple Mac. Scroll through the all list, and remove any dubious and unknown applications. Right click to dubious application and choose “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 GeneralProjectSearch related files and folders

Now you need to try to find GeneralProjectSearch 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

If you carefully followed the previous steps, then you should be able to remove GeneralProjectSearch. Of course, very often PUPs, 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 potentially unwanted programs, browser hijackers and adware software. Therefore, we advise you to run MalwareBytes AntiMalware to scan the Mac device.

Installing the MalwareBytes is simple. First you’ll need to download MalwareBytes by clicking on the link below.

After the download is finished, run it and follow the prompts. Click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan with this tool for the GeneralProjectSearch . A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your machine and the speed of your computer. While the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware is checking, you can see how many objects it has identified either as being malware. Review the report and then click the “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes Anti-Malware is a free program that you can use to delete all detected folders, files, malicious services and so on.

Remove GeneralProjectSearch from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

This step will show you how to remove harmful plugins. This can remove GeneralProjectSearch adware and fix some browsing issues, especially after adware infection.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right hand corner, click on ‘three vertical dots’, and this will open up the main menu on Google Chrome. 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 delete GeneralProjectSearch 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 issues with GeneralProjectSearch 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

It is important to run adblocker programs like AdGuard to protect your MAC system from harmful web pages. Most security experts says that it is okay to block ads. You should do so just to stay safe! And, of course, the AdGuard can to block misleading and other unwanted web pages.

1. Please go to the following link to download AdGuard.
   
   

   AdGuard for Mac download
   3677 downloads
   Author: © Adguard
   Category: Security tools
   Update: January 17, 2018
   
2. After the downloading process is complete, run the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
3. After the installation is finished, click “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial that 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 run automatically and stop unwanted ads, block harmful and misleading web-pages.

To sum up

Once you have removed the GeneralProjectSearch adware using the guide, Chrome, Safari and Firefox will no longer display any unwanted ads when you browse the Web. Unfortunately, if the step-by-step guide 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 GeneralProjectSearch adware.