Search Light Pro Mac Removal

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Search Light Pro

Search Light Pro is an unwanted app that redirects the browsers of Mac users to unknown sites that fill the screen with ads. Search Light Pro starts doing this after getting installed in the browser and after it changes the browser’s homepage, toolbar buttons, or search engine.

The main reason for apps like Safebrowse.io, Search Marquis to do this is financial gain. Through their ads, page redirects, pop-up offers, and other similar forms of web advertisement, the owners of software apps like Search Light Pro are able to accumulate substantial profits, especially if they manage to distribute their advertising software to a big enough number of users. In addition, the fact that most such apps can be installed in nearly any browser (Firefox, Chrome, Safari, and more) further helps get this type of software to more and more users. And the bigger the number of people who are exposed to the ads and page redirects coming from such applications, the greater the end profit earned from this form of unwanted software.

Search Light Pro for Mac

Search Light Pro for Mac is a potentially unwanted add-on for browser programs that targets Mac computers. Apps like Search Light Pro are categorized as browser hijackers because they tend to take over the settings of the main browser and change them without the Admin’s permission.

While most of the changes made to the browser’s settings are unlikely to cause actual harm to the browser or to the Mac’s system, they will probably make your online experience quite frustrating. The new search engine imposed by the hijacker, for example, would probably not show you the most relevant results in its searches and would instead favour sites that have paid to get advertised. Also, the homepage address that the hijacker has added to your browser would likely be of a site that tries to aggressively advertise different products on your screen. Additionally, some hidden elements in the browser that have been installed by the hijacker will probably cause automatic redirects to various sites while you are using your browser. All of this is bound to induce frustration within most users and make them search for ways they could make the hijacker disappear.

What is Search Light Pro?

Search Light Pro is a form of undesirable software that belongs the the widespread browser hijacker category. Search Light Pro can establish control over your browser in order to redirect your searches to sites that advertise different products and services in an aggressive way.

The activities of the hijacker will not directly damage your Mac but they might get it exposed to various roe serious threats, including Trojans and Ransomware viruses.

The Search Light Pro app

The Search Light Pro app is an unwanted Mac application that resembles a browser add-on but, instead of helping the user, it keeps getting them redirected to ad-heavy sites. The Search Light Pro app doesn’t give you any control options and the only way to stop it is through uninstallation.

The good news is that you can remove this app on your own, without the need to get your Mac to a specialist. Simple take a look at the uninstallation steps on this page and complete them exactly as they are shown.

SUMMARY:

NameSearch Light Pro
TypeBrowser Hijacker
Danger LevelMedium (nowhere near threats like Ransomware, but still a security risk)
SymptomsThe one symptom that is present in almost all cases of a browser hijacker infection is the replacement of the starting page and the default search engine of the browser.
Distribution MethodThe methods used to spread these apps typically involve some form of file bundling.
Detection Tool

OFFER *Free Remover allows you, subject to a 48-hour waiting period, one remediation and removal for results found. SpyHunter's EULA, Privacy Policy, and more details about Free Remover.

Remove Search Light Pro from Mac

The first thing you need to do is to Quit Safari (if it is opened). If you have trouble closing it normally, you may need to Force Quit Safari:

You can choose the Apple menu and click on Force Quit.

Alternatively you can simultaneously press (the Command key situated next to the space bar), Option (the key right next to it) and Escape (the key located at the upper left corner of your keyboard).

If you have done it right a dialog box titled Force Quit Applications will open up.

In this new dialog window select Safari, then press the Force Quit button, then confirm with Force Quit again.

Close the dialog box/window.

WARNING! READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING!

Start Activity Monitor by opening up Finder, then proceed to

Once there, look at all the processes: if you believe any of them are hijacking your results, or are part of the problem, highlight the process with your mouse, then click the “i” button at the top. This will open up the following box:

Now click on Sample at the bottom:

Do this for all processes you believe are part of the threat, and run any suspicious files in our online virus scanner, then delete the malicious files:

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    The next step is to safely launch Safari again. Press and hold the Shift key while relaunching Safari. This will prevent Safari’s previously opened pages from loading again. Once Safari is opened up, you can release the Shift key.

    On the off chance that you are still having trouble with scripts interrupting the closing of unwanted pages in Safari, you may need to take some additional measures.

    First, Force Quit Safari again.

    Now if you are using a Wi-Fi connection turn it off by selecting Wi-Fi off in you Mac’s Menu. If you are using a cable internet (Ethernet connection), disconnect the Ethernet cable.

    Re-Launch Safari but don’t forget to press and hold the Shift button while doing it, so no previous pages can be opened up. Now, Click on Preferences in the Safari menu,

    and then again on the Extensions tab,

    Select and Uninstall any extensions that you don’t recognize by clicking on the Uninstall button. If you are not sure and don’t want to take any risks you can safely uninstall all extensions, none are required for normal system operation.

    The threat has likely infected all of your browsers. The instructions below need to be applied for all browsers you are using.

    Again select Preferences in the Safari Menu, but this time click on the Privacy tab,

    Now click on Remove All Website Data, confirm with Remove Now. Keep in mind that after you do this all stored website data will be deleted. You will need to sign-in again for all websites that require any form of authentication.

    Still in the Preferences menu, hit the General tab

    Check if your Homepage is the one you have selected, if not change it to whatever you prefer.

    Select the History menu this time, and click on Clear History. This way you will prevent accidentally opening a problematic web page again.

     How to Remove Search Light Pro From Firefox in OSX:

    Open Firefoxclick on  (top right) ——-> Add-onsHit Extensions next.

    The problem should be lurking somewhere around here –  Remove it. Then Refresh Your Firefox Settings.


    How to Remove Search Light Pro From Chrome in OSX:

     Start Chrome, click  —–>More Tools —–> Extensions. There,  find the malware and  select  .

     Click  again, and proceed to Settings —> Search, the fourth tab, select Manage Search Engines.  Delete everything but the search engines you normally use. After that Reset Your Chrome Settings.

    If the guide doesn’t help, download the anti-virus program we recommended or try our free online virus scanner. Also, you can always ask us in the comments for help!


    About the author

    Brandon Skies

    Brandon is a researcher and content creator in the fields of cyber-security and virtual privacy. Years of experience enable him to provide readers with important information and adequate solutions for the latest software and malware problems.

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