How to remove SearchPrimaryData

SearchPrimaryData browser extension for Mac changes your search settings

SearchPrimaryData claims to improve your browsing experience by personalizing search results^[1] and extending overall functionality. Computer security experts categorized it as a potentially unwanted program which belongs to Adload adware family.

Usually, this extension appears in the browser by clicking on shady websites, which trick you into adding it or comes together with free software without you noticing. This makes it an uninvited guest operating on its own accord. 

The adware functionality of this program makes it able to shove deceiving ads on your screen even when the browser is shut down. Closing the pop-up windows will not fix the problem as it is laying deeper. Promotions shown by this extension are unfiltered, so among legitimate advertisers, scammers hide with their social engineering attacks trying to get you to act based on emotions.

You may get redirected to sites containing fake error messages^[2], system updates, prize announcements, etc. For this reason, it is recommended not to keep the SearchPrimaryData browser extension because it can bring more problems while trying to use your computer.

Adware can track your browsing activity

Adware, or more clearly, advertising-supported software, first appeared in about 1995 and was considered spyware^[3], later classified as a potentially unwanted program. It can display advertising pop-ups, banners, videos, and full-screen ads on a computer screen or mobile device and redirect search results to advertising websites, and collect user data for marketing purposes.

Most adware is legitimate and safe to use, but some can have malicious intent. The main purpose of this application is to generate revenue by serving internet users with advertising material. Users sometimes are able to change the settings and manage the frequency of adware or what kinds of downloads they allow, but it is still not recommended to keep it in your system.

To distinguish a legitimate ad and the one shown because of adware action, you should be on the lookout for spelling and grammar mistakes, unprofessional-looking images, and styling, as well as weird-looking domain names.

Browser cookies and cache is a gateway between you and advertisers

Cookies and cache store specific information about the websites you visit. Because of them, sites can “remember” if you have previously visited them, what you clicked, and decide what best to suggest to you next, to keep you as long as possible. Even if you decline cookies when you come on a new site, there are other ways your activity can be tracked. If you have an account with Facebook or Google, it means you allow them to track what you do and save this information.

Malicious programs can also track your internet activity, in which case you should be more worried because it can attract even more shady websites your way with clever techniques to get you to do whatever they want. 

On normal occasions, data collected with the help of cookies and cache is then given to third-party advertisers, who use it to personalize the ads you see. If you do not enjoy knowing that websites collect information about you, you should limit cookie tracking on your device as much as possible and clear your browsers frequently. You can do this automatically by using a trusted tool FortectIntego. If you want to read more about how cookies and cache work you can read an article we have written about it previously.

Eliminating unnecessary search engine extensions manually is quite easy if you follow instructions step by step and do not miss anything.

Potentially unwanted programs disguise as handy tools

Just like the SearchPrimaryData browser extension, other PUAs try as hard as they can to lure people in. They try to sell themselves as valuable applications to have which will make your life much easier. This could be antivirus programs, video and image editing tools, video games, and so on. In fact, most of them do not work as advertised. They just pretend to. Their main work is to collect data about you and spread its agenda by changing important settings.

If you want to minimize the risk of giving PUPs a welcome visit into your machine, you should incorporate some behavior habits. Most PUAs get spread by bundled software, so keep downloads from third-party sites as minimal as possible. Even in those rare instances, do not skip through the installation process. Check if any other programs are trying to sneak their way in by including themselves as a package. If you notice something suspicious, do not proceed and uncheck the boxes next to them.

To scan your system for malware, viruses, or potentially unwanted programs automatically and add another layer of safety, you can use professional security tools SpyHunterCombo Cleaner and MalwarebytesMalwarebytes.

Also, remember not to click on random links and be careless about it, as they can lead to suspicious sites that have malicious intent.

If you think you have a PUP installed that is causing erratic behavior, you can try and remove it manually by following the steps below.

Remove items from Applications folder:

1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
2. In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
3. Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)

To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:

1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
2. Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
3. In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
4. Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.

 Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
4. Click Clear data.

Change your homepage:

1. Click menu and choose Settings.
2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
3. Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.