Although all Macs have built-in security features, still, there is a risk your computer can get infected with malware if it’s connected to the internet. One example of such malware is Search Pulse that can change settings in your browsers and will redirect your searches. It can also collect your data, so you should delete it as soon as you notice it in Google Chrome or Safari.
What Is Search Pulse?
Search Pulse is a potentially unwanted program (PUP). Specifically, it’s a browser hijacker that modifies browsers’ settings without your permission. As a result, you’ll see a lot of unwanted annoying ads in your browser, and the existing home page will be replaced with a hijacker’s page. The idea is to make you visit certain websites no matter whether you want it or not. Then a hijacker gets higher advertising revenue. Besides, browser hijackers may also feature spyware to get user sensitive data, including passwords, full names, addresses, banking information, and more.
Search Pulse looks like other search engines and was developed using the Microsoft .NET coding language. Besides, it has a .net URL, so it may appear legitimate. But in fact, it hijacks your browsers, changing its settings and bombarding you with intrusive ads and pop-ups as you browse the web. It also redirects all your searches to search.searchpulse.net and then to Yahoo and shows irrelevant search results. These activities can make your browsing experience really frustrating but you can’t reconfigure this until you remove this extension and reset your browser. Besides, the Search Pulse files take up storage space and slow down processing speeds on your Mac computer.
How to Tell if Your Mac Was Infected with Search Pulse
There are some warning signs that you should always pay attention to. These symptoms will help you determine that your system was attacked by a hijacker:
- You see a lot of unexpected ads as you visit different websites.
- The system displays unexpected warnings about your Mac being infected with dangerous software.
- Your browsing experience is interrupted by lots of pop-ups that suggest you should click different links.
- Different types of ads appear when you are online; they may redirect you after you enter a password or fill out a form.
Search Pulse can get to your computer if you click a link in an ad or come bundled with other software. That’s why you should be cautious when you install free third-party apps and always choose the custom installation. Always check the download settings of any program you want to install. This way, you’ll reduce the chances of unwanted apps making their way onto your computer. Make sure you deselect all options that are not familiar to you. And of course, you should never install unknown software from suspicious websites. You should download apps only from official sources, using direct links.
How to Remove Search Pulse from Mac
If you notice that your Mac is infected with Search Pulse, you can remove it manually or automatically. If you decide to do it manually, you should remove Search Pulse from Google Chrome and other browsers. It’s better to start with a browser that you think is infected and then move to other browsers and make sure they are clean from this malware. To delete Search Pulse from browsers, you need to look for suspicious extensions and remove them.
Here is how you can do it for the Safari browser:
- Launch Safari and go to Preferences.
- Then click the Extensions tab.
- Look through the list and seek extensions that you don’t remember installing.
- When you find one, choose it, and click Uninstall to delete it.
You should repeat these actions with all the browsers that are on your computer. If these steps don’t help, you’ll need to reinstall your browsers.
The easiest way to remove Search Pulse is using good antivirus software. If you install it on your Mac, you’ll be able to protect your device from different types of malware and prevent the Search Pulse infection. You can run a scan with an antivirus tool and automatically eliminate all browser hijackers. If you do such scans regularly, you’ll avoid a lot of problems with any adware, browser hijackers, or viruses and ensure your Mac is safe.
