How to remove SearchSystem (Mac)

What is SearchSystem

SearchSystem is a type of adware that affects Mac computers. Adware, short for advertising-supported software, is designed to display unwanted and often intrusive advertisements to the user. SearchSystem, in particular, is known for running aggressive advertisement campaigns that can be deceptive and potentially harmful to the user’s system. It also exhibits browser hijacker characteristics, such as modifying browser settings and promoting fake search engines. SearchSystem adware can significantly disrupt the user experience on a Mac by changing the default search engine and homepage of web browsers to its own or another dubious search engine, generating pop-up ads, banners, and other intrusive advertisements that may lead to untrustworthy or malicious websites and collecting user data such as browsing history, search queries, and personal information, which could be shared with third parties without the user’s consent.

How SearchSystem infects Mac computers

SearchSystem typically infiltrates Mac computers through bundled software installations or by being deceptively promoted as a useful application. Users may inadvertently install SearchSystem when it is included as an additional offer in the installation process of another program. It can also be downloaded from dubious websites or through clicked links in ads. Once installed, it may create a new device profile and change browser settings to redirect searches and display ads.

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

Remove SearchSystem manually for free

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

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

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

Remove SearchSystem from Applications

Remove SearchSystem from Mac:

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

Cannot uninstall SearchSystem

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

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

Remove SearchSystem add-on from your browsers

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

Reset browser settings

To finish SearchSystem 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 the 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 SearchSystem


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


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

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 SearchSystem in browsers.

Download AdGuard for Mac

How to protect Mac OSX from adware, like SearchSystem

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