What is Search.scalableadmin.com

Search.scalableadmin.com (ScalableAdmin) is a fake search engine promoted by unwanted software that combines traits of browser hijackers and adware. As a rule, search engines installed by browser hijackers are considered fake because they are unable to generate their own results. Instead, the entered search queries usually get redirected through intermediary pages and end up on legitimate engines like Yahoo, Google, Bing, and so forth. This way, cybercriminals generate fake traffic and earn money without significant development efforts. Another way unwanted software can capitalize on users financially is by getting commissions from displayed ads that try to sell low-quality programs, promote online scams, lead users to explicit (18+) pages, and then some. Beware of clicking on such content to prevent financial losses or infections with malware. One more feature activated by many browser hijackers and adware is data-tracking abilities. In other words, developers may get access to live monitoring of various data entered/generated (passwords, IP-addresses, geolocations, etc. ) during browser sessions. If you see search.scalableadmin.com and its changes surface inside your browser, we advise you to take immediate action in order to delete it from your system. Follow our step-by-step instructions below to do so and restore safety on your Mac.

search.scalableadmin.com mac hijacker

How Search.scalableadmin.com infected your computer

Many drive-by (stealth) installations of potentially unwanted programs often occur when users download fake Adobe Flash Player updates or third-party software installers. Users may be accidentally redirected to a fake website claiming their software is outdated or completely absent and encouraging to install/update it. Browser hijackers and adware can also be distributed via free software installers (usually cracked or pirated). Such installers tend to conceal additional offers, often disguised as something “useful” or “worth having installed”. During the installation of the main program, such offers get oftentimes skipped, allowing unwanted software like browser hijackers/adware get installed without consent. Many cybercriminals use the Pay-Per-Install (PPI) scheme, which brings money to the promoters upon each successful installation. Users should always be careful and look out for extra program offers to deselect their installation. It is also worth avoiding various ads and notifications that want you to click on or download something. Beware of dubious and unverified pages and download software only from official resources. Read our guide below to benefit from some protection tips against unwanted software.

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

Download Search.scalableadmin.com Removal Tool

Download Spyhunter for Mac

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

Remove Search.scalableadmin.com manually for free

Note: Search.scalableadmin.com 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 “Search.scalableadmin.com” entry. Select it, and click the “-“ (minus) button to remove it.

Note 2: Search.scalableadmin.com 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 Search.scalableadmin.com in the list.
  3. Click Force Quit button.

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

Remove Search.scalableadmin.com from Applications

Remove Search.scalableadmin.com from Mac:

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

Cannot uninstall Search.scalableadmin.com

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

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

Remove Search.scalableadmin.com add-on from your browsers

Removing Search.scalableadmin.com 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 Search.scalableadmin.com 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 Search.scalableadmin.com 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 Search.scalableadmin.com 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 Search.scalableadmin.com extension.
  4. Click Disable or Remove button.

Reset browser settings

To finish Search.scalableadmin.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 Search.scalableadmin.com


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

Download AdGuard for Mac to block malicious pop-ups, that promote Search.scalableadmin.com

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 Search.scalableadmin.com in browsers.

adguard for mac

Download AdGuard for Mac

How to protect Mac OSX from adware, like Search.scalableadmin.com

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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