What is PrimaryServiceSearch

PrimaryServiceSearch is an adware application promoted via fake Adobe Flash Player installers. Although adware is usually categorized as unwanted software (not malware), its presence can still cause enough damage to the privacy and integrity of users’ computers. Upon installation, apps with advertising abilities can start inserting dubious ads on various websites using “virtual layers”. The promoted content is usually designed to spread online scams, phishing pages, adult websites, fake software installers, or even malware infections. Software like PrimaryServiceSearch may also be capable of tracking browser-related information (e.g., history, IP-addresses, geolocations, passwords, etc.) and can then share it with third parties for revenue purposes. Letting PrimaryServiceSearch run on your Mac or other operating systems can be dangerous for your data and system as well. This is why we advise you to use our instructions below and remove it from your computer – as soon as possible. Remove it from Safari, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox browsers in our guide below.

primaryservicesearch mac

How PrimaryServiceSearch infected your computer

As mentioned, PrimaryServiceSearch is mainly distributed through fake Flash Player installers. Deceptive pages attempt to lure inexperienced users into downloading forged software by claiming their system is outdated or lacks some software. Such pages are usually visited inadvertently – after clicking on some dubious ads, buttons, or links on third-party websites. Infiltrations of unwanted programs can also occur via third-party software installers. As a rule, it is cracked or pirated program installers that get downloaded from Peer-to-Peer (torrent) pages. Creators of unofficial installers often seek monetary gains by collaborating with other dubious vendors and helping them share their software. Such dubious software may be included inside the installer and presented as an additional offer. However, because many users neglect reading the “Terms & Conditions” and also do not check all settings of the installation (“Custom”, “Advanced”, etc.), they end up infected with unwanted software eventually. Sometimes the installer may offer to choose between “Recommended” or “Manual” types of installations, which could be your case as well. In other instances, it may also be that information about third-party offers will not be disclosed at all, meaning it is impossible to prevent its installation.

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

Download PrimaryServiceSearch Removal Tool

Download Spyhunter for Mac

To remove PrimaryServiceSearch completely, we recommend you to use Spyhunter for Mac. It can help you remove files, folders, and registry keys of PrimaryServiceSearch and uninstall hijackers, toolbars, and unwanted add-ons from the Safari browser. The trial version of Spyhunter for Mac offers virus scan and 1-time removal for FREE.

Alternative Removal Tool

Download CleanMyMac

To remove PrimaryServiceSearch completely, we recommend you to use CleanMyMac. It can help you remove files, folders, and registry keys of PrimaryServiceSearch and uninstall hijackers, toolbars, and unwanted add-ons from the Safari browser.

Remove PrimaryServiceSearch manually for free

Note: PrimaryServiceSearch sets up to start on Mac OS 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 “PrimaryServiceSearch” entry. Select it, and click the “-“ (minus) button to remove it.

Note 2: PrimaryServiceSearch 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 PrimaryServiceSearch in the list.
  3. Click Force Quit button.

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

Remove PrimaryServiceSearch from Applications

Remove PrimaryServiceSearch from Mac:

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

Cannot uninstall PrimaryServiceSearch

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

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

Remove PrimaryServiceSearch add-on from your browsers

Removing PrimaryServiceSearch 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 PrimaryServiceSearch 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 PrimaryServiceSearch 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 PrimaryServiceSearch 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 PrimaryServiceSearch extension.
  4. Click Disable or Remove button.

Reset browser settings

To finish PrimaryServiceSearch 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 PrimaryServiceSearch


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

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

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 PrimaryServiceSearch in browsers.

adguard for mac

Download AdGuard for Mac

How to protect Mac OSX from adware, like PrimaryServiceSearch

malwarebytes for mac

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.

Download Malwarebytes for Mac
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