What is SearchPulse?

SearchPulse is a browser hijacker that influences only macOS devices. This program sets search.searchpulse.net or home.searchpulse.net as a primary homepage/search provider and prevents them from changing. In most cases, it affects Safari but can also be noticed on other browsers. Looking at first sight as a usual search program, SearchPulse, however, can be really dangerous for your computer. It often spreads around as a fake update for Adobe Flash Player. Just as this hijacker infiltrates the system, it changes the primary homepage, takes control of your browser and starts sending unwanted advertisements. The URL may look like not only “search.searchpulse.net” or “home.searchpulse.net” but also can be anything that contains the phrase «searchpulse». Follow this guide to remove SearchPulse from your macOS device.

How SearchPulse gets on your Mac?

Usually, SearchPulse appears on users’ Macbooks after users get redirected to rogue sites claiming that an Adobe Flash Player update needs to be installed, and end up installing it. As a result, several pieces of adware, malware and potentially unwanted software, including SearchPulse, get installed on their Macs. Other ways for SearchPulse and other browser hijackers to end up on users’ machines are users installing free software and not opting out of extra programs that are also offered for installation, or users opening files downloaded from shady websites. If that had happened and SearchPulse took over your browser, you may follow our tutorial to remove SearchPulse from your Mac.

Recommended Anti-malware tools:

The easiest and most modern way of removing hijackers, pop-ups, Trojans, ransomware or other viruses is to use automatic removal tools. See our Anti-malware tools below for further instructions.

Also, you can try to remove SearchPulse manually.

Alternative solution. Step 1: Remove SearchPulse from Mac

SearchPulse may not have the app associated with it in Applications. However, we recommend you to inspect the list of installed applications and remove unknown or suspicious ones. Look for SearchPulse or SearchPulse.app.

Mac OSX:

1. Open Finder
2. In the Finder sidebar, click Applications
3. If you see Uninstall SearchPulse or SearchPulse Uninstaller, double-click it and follow instructions
4. Drag unwanted application SearchPulse from the Applications folder to the Trash (located on the right side of the Dock)

Learn more about uninstallation of programs in Mac OSX

Step 2: Remove Admin Preferences from Mac

1. Open System Preferences.
2. Click on Profiles.
3. Click on AdminPrefs on the left panel.
4. Click the minus button below to delete rogue settings.

Step 3: Remove SearchPulse from browsers

Safari:

1. Open Safari
2. Click Safari menu.
3. Choose Extensions.
4. Find SearchPulse or other suspicious extensions.
5. Click Uninstall button to remove it.

Learn more about removing extensions from Safari.

Google Chrome:

1. Open Google Chrome
2. Push Alt + F.
3. Click Tools.
4. Choose Extensions.
5. Find SearchPulse or other suspicious extensions.
6. Click the trash can icon to remove it.

Learn more about removing extensions from Chrome.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Open Firefox.
2. Push Shift + Ctrl + A.
3. Choose SearchPulse or other suspicious extensions.
4. Click Disable or Remove button.

Learn more about removing extensions from Firefox.

Step 4: Resetting your browser search and homepage settings

Reset browser setting in Safari:

1. Open Safari.
2. Click on the Safari menu.
3. Choose Reset Safari….
4. Click Reset button.

Learn more about resetting browser settings in Safari.

Reset browser setting in Google Chrome:

1. Click the Chrome menu (3 bar button) in the top right corner.
2. Choose Settings.
3. Click Show advanced settings.
4. Go to Reset browser settings section.
5. Click Reset browser settings.
6. In the dialog that appears, click Reset.

Learn more about resetting browser settings in Google Chrome.

Reset browser setting in Mozilla Firefox:

1. Open Mozilla Firefox.
2. Go to Help.
3. Go to Troubleshooting information.
4. Click Reset Firefox… button.

Learn more about resetting browser settings in Mozilla Firefox.