How to remove Io-search.com (Mac)

What is Io-search.com

Io-search.com copies a number of traits from authentic browser hijackers – it assigns new search engines, generates low-sort ads, adds new widgets, and changes values in the Mac profile so that users could not remove it manually. This search engine does nothing extraordinary that could make it better than legitimate platforms like Google, Yahoo, Safari, Firefox, and others available on Mac-oriented systems. In fact, it is designed to enable data-tracking capabilities and collect confidential data (passwords, IP-addresses, geolocations, etc.) to supposedly sell it to cybercriminals. Thus, Io-search.com can lead to privacy issues and should be removed from your computer once and for all.

How Io-search.com infected your computer

Browser hijackers are usually promoted by potentially unwanted programs. This category of suspicious applications can appear on your system due to the negligent installation of freeware software. To prevent this, people should uncheck additional offers in “Advanced” or “Custom” options. Sometimes it is impossible to detect any presence of unwanted programs because they are hidden inside the main installation. Therefore, the most secure way is downloading software only from trusted and official resources, purchasing licensed programs instead of pirated, and so forth. Scroll down to the next block of the article to start the uninstallation of Io-search.com.

Remove Io-search.com manually for free

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

Important update: Io-search.com hijacker installs malicious Device Profile called AdminPrefs on MacOS, that won’t allow users to make changes to browser search engine and homepage settings. Follow instructions below to remove this profile.

Remove Io-search.com profile

1. Go to System Preferences and click on Profiles.
2. In the list of profiles on the left side choose AdminPrefs and click on “-” button to remove it.
3. In your case it can be named differently, in this case remove all visible profiles. Check the picture below to see how it looks like.

Remove Io-search.com from Applications

Remove Io-search.com from Mac:

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

Cannot uninstall Io-search.com

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

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

Remove Io-search.com add-on from your browsers

Removing Io-search 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 Io-search 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 Io-search 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 Io-search 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 Io-search extension.
4. Click Disable or Remove button.

Reset browser settings

To finish Io-search.com 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 Io-search.com


~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.Io-search.plist
~/Library/Safari/Extensions/Io-search.safariextz
~/Library/Application Support/Io-search


How to protect Mac OSX from hijackers, like Io-search.com

Mac OSX is known to be one of the safest operating systems, and for a long time there was no need in 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.