How to remove AccessibleSearchEngine (Mac)

What is AccessibleSearchEngine

AccessibleSearchEngine is a potentially unwanted application (PUA) that falls under the category of browser hijackers. It is designed to promote a fake search engine, typically search.operativeeng.com, by altering the settings of your browser. This software operates by running intrusive advertisement campaigns and promoting fake search engines through modifications to browser settings. It also likely has data tracking abilities. It’s important to note that the removal of the AccessibleSearchEngine app is crucial before you can remove the search.operativeeng.com address from your browser settings. It’s important to be cautious when installing new software and to always opt for the custom installation to avoid inadvertently installing unwanted software. If your Mac is infected with AccessibleSearchEngine, follow the steps outlined below to remove it and restore your browser settings.

How AccessibleSearchEngine infects Mac computers

Once installed, AccessibleSearchEngine can modify settings such as the address of a default search engine, new tab URL, and homepage to its own. It can also add the “Managed by your organization” feature to hijacked Chrome browsers. The AccessibleSearchEngine adware can display various banners, pop-ups, coupons, surveys, and other types of ads. It can also redirect users to various sponsored websites, sales platforms, and unfamiliar domains. A change in the browser’s homepage or the main search engine is also possible, as this is one of the ways to automatically reroute user searches to some pre-determined pages

1. Download AccessibleSearchEngine Removal Tool
2. Remove AccessibleSearchEngine from Login Items
3. Remove/Uninstall AccessibleSearchEngine from Applications
4. Remove AccessibleSearchEngine from browsers
5. Reset browser settings
6. Remove AccessibleSearchEngine files and folders
7. Block AccessibleSearchEngine ads and pop-ups
8. How to protect from threats, like AccessibleSearchEngine

Remove AccessibleSearchEngine manually for free

Note: AccessibleSearchEngine sets up to start on macOS startup. Therefore, before starting the removal, perform these steps:

1. Open System Preferences, choose Users & Groups.
2. Choose your account (set up as Current User).
3. Click Login Items tab.
4. Find “AccessibleSearchEngine” entry. Select it, and click the “-“ (minus) button to remove it.

Note 2: AccessibleSearchEngine won’t quit just by closing it, therefor use Force Quit to end the process.

1. Press 3 buttons at the same time: Option, Command, and Esc (Escape). This is similar to Control-Alt-Delete on a Windows PC.
2. Choose AccessibleSearchEngine in the list.
3. Click Force Quit button.

Here is a manual step-by-step tutorial for full AccessibleSearchEngine removal from your computer. This works 99% and was checked with the latest versions of AccessibleSearchEngine installer on operating systems with the latest updates and browser versions.

Remove AccessibleSearchEngine from Applications

Remove AccessibleSearchEngine from Mac:

1. In the Finder sidebar, click Applications.
2. AccessibleSearchEngine might have an Uninstaller. If you see Uninstall AccessibleSearchEngine or AccessibleSearchEngine Uninstaller, double-click it and follow the onscreen instructions.
3. Otherwise, drag AccessibleSearchEngine from the Applications folder to the Trash (located at the end of the Dock).
4. Then choose Finder > Empty Trash.

Cannot uninstall AccessibleSearchEngine

If you can’t uninstall AccessibleSearchEngine using instructions above, or it keeps coming back, you can use free AppCleaner for Mac to remove all residual data and libraries of AccessibleSearchEngine. Follow instructions below:

1. Download free AppCleaner.
2. Drag AccessibleSearchEngine from Applications folder to AppCleaner window.
3. Choose files and folders you want to remove along with AccessibleSearchEngine.
4. Click Delete button.

Remove AccessibleSearchEngine add-on from your browsers

Removing AccessibleSearchEngine from Applications often does not bring the desired effect. It is a browser extension, and it may still be active in Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Here are instructions on how to remove the AccessibleSearchEngine extension from your browsers manually.

Safari:

1. Start Safari on your Mac, click Safari to open drop-down menu and choose Preferences
2. Click Extensions tab.
3. Find AccessibleSearchEngine extension.
4. Click Uninstall button to remove it.

Google Chrome:

1. Start Google Chrome browser
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) chrome://extensions.
3. Find AccessibleSearchEngine extension.
4. Click the trash can icon to remove it.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Start Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) about:addons.
3. Choose AccessibleSearchEngine extension.
4. Click Disable or Remove button.

Reset browser settings

To finish AccessibleSearchEngine removal, reset your browser settings to make sure, there are no leftover items in browser folders.

Reset Safari:

1. Start Safari on your Mac, click Safari to open drop-down menu and choose Preferences
2. Go to the Privacy section of Safari’s preferences.
3. Click Remove All Website Data button.
4. In opened window click Remove Now button to remove data stored by websites in Safari.
5. Go to the Advanced section of Safari’s preferences.
6. Click the Show Develop menu in menu bar option.
7. In the menu click Develop and select Empty Caches from this menu.
8. Again, go to Safari menu and choose Clear History….
9. Choose to clear all history and click Clear History button.

Reset Google Chrome:

1. Start Google Chrome browser
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) chrome://settings.
3. Scroll down and find Show advanced settings link.
4. Click on it and scroll down to the bottom again.
5. Click Reset settings button and click Reset to confirm.

Reset Mozilla Firefox:

1. Start Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) about:support.
3. Click Refresh Firefox… button.
4. Click Refresh Firefox to confirm.

Remove following files and folders of AccessibleSearchEngine


~/Library/Application Support/.[random_string]/Services/com.AccessibleSearchEngine.service.app
~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.AccessibleSearchEngine.service.plist
/Library/Application Support/.[random_string]/System/com.AccessibleSearchEngine.system
/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.AccessibleSearchEngine.system.plist


Download AdGuard for Mac to block malicious pop-ups, that promote AccessibleSearchEngine

AdGuard is the best ad-blocker, internet filtering, and internet security application for macOS. It can cut out unwanted banners from site pages, block pop-ups, stop redirects, and prevent users from visiting potentially dangerous resources. Use it to stop ads promoting AccessibleSearchEngine in browsers.

How to protect Mac OSX from adware, like AccessibleSearchEngine

Mac OSX is known to be one of the safest operating systems, and for a long time, there was no need for antivirus products for Mac. But with the growing popularity of Mac computers and notebooks and evolving technology, viruses, trojans, adware, toolbars, hijackers, and other malware paved the way for Mac users. We recommend you to use one of the best anti-malware for Mac available — Malwarebytes for Mac.