LookUpLauncher Adware - How to remove

LookUpLauncher is an adware trojan that infects Macs through fake software updates. Once LookUpLauncher is installed, it takes over the web browser, modifies network settings, and burrows into the system so deep that it can’t even be removed normally. LookUpLauncher is not the most dangerous malware, but it is annoying and disruptive and should be removed as soon as it’s discovered.

In short about LookUpLauncher:

Type of threat	Adware, browser hijacker, trojan.
Hijacking symptoms	LookUpLauncher changes browser settings, shows pop-up ads and forces browser redirects.
Installation	Bundled with free apps, offered as a fake software update.
Removing LookUpLauncher	Scan with antivirus apps (like Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, or others), delete the LookUpLauncher profiles, app, extension, restore browser and network settings.

What is LookUpLauncher

LookUpLauncher is much like QuickLookSearchesDaemon, NetFunctionSearch, ResultSearchManager, and other malicious apps. These things have been attacking Macs for many months now. They’re grouped with Adload of Shlayer trojans – macOS trojans that have become very widespread. Usually, a simple antivirus program is enough to stop these infections, but a lot of people don’t use antivirus apps on their Macs.

Adware

LookUpLauncher is an adware program – a malicious app that seeks to influence its victims to visit affiliated sites and to see advertisements delivered by LookUpLauncher. If LookUpLauncher infected your Mac, you can expect some of these signs:

• system pop-ups appear where LookUpLauncher asks to access network settings,
• web browser searches are redirected,
• pop-up ads start appearing on your screen,
• internet connection is slower than normal,
• apps crash and freeze.

LookUpLauncher hijacks the browser and network settings. All so that it can force more people to interact with some advertisements.

Trojan

Sometimes, LookUpLauncher infects Macs through deceptive and malicious ads. Ads that simply tell you to update your Adobe Flash Player, macOS, or another important piece of software – and offer a file to be downloaded. The file is full of malware. The ads are made by malicious actors who rip logos and design off of trusted companies in order to gain your trust. This sort of site copying is known as spoofing. And LookUpLauncher being downloaded inside of fake software updates is very trojan-like.

LookUpLauncher can also come bundled with junkware. Some free apps take money in exchange for bundling LookUpLauncher in their app’s installer. LookUpLauncher then gets offered as an optional add-on and gets installed by default. So, if you download a free app that happens to bundle LookUpLauncher, it gets installed right under your nose, and you might not even notice.

How to remove LookUpLauncher

You can get rid of LookUpLauncher by using antivirus tools, by manually finding and deleting all the items that belong to LookUpLauncher, or by combining the two methods. For example, by deleting LookUpLauncher manually and then checking over your Mac with a security program.

Start your Mac in safe mode by restarting it and then holding the Shift key up until the screen shows your login screen or the Apple logo. This mode stops unnecessary programs, like LookUpLauncher, from running.

To automatically remove LookUpLauncher, you can scan your Mac with an anti-malware app, like Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, or any program that you trust.

To manually delete LookUpLauncher is a bit more work but absolutely doable.

First, remove configuration profiles that LookUpLauncher installed. Open System Preferences and find a section called Profiles. Then click on it and you should see at least a couple of suspicious profiles (named “LookUpLauncher” or similar, text includes browser search settings). Select them and click the minus button at the bottom.

Delete the LookUpLauncher app from your Applications, the browser extension from your browser (detailed instructions for restoring browser settings are below).

Open System Preferences, Network settings, go to Advanced, and click on Proxies. If a Socks proxy is set and you didn’t set it yourself, deselect it. LookUpLauncher hijacks traffic like this, so this setting needs to be fixed.

Restart your Mac and see if LookUpLauncher is gone. Scan your computer again to be sure.

If LookUpLauncher refuses to go away, you may also need to delete its files that could be lurking in these folders:

• /Library/LaunchDaemons
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents
• /Library/LaunchAgents
• ~/Library/Application Support

You can go to these folders by using the Go to Folder dialog, which can be found in Finder’s Go menu or by right-clicking Finder’s icon in the Dock.

Automatic Malware removal tools

How to remove LookUpLauncher Adware from Safari:Top

Remove malicious extensions

• Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences.
  
• Select Extensions and uninstall LookUpLauncher Adware and other suspicious extensions.
  
• If your homepage was changed, click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences and choose General tab. Enter preferable URL to the homepage field.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings(older versions) If you are still experiencing any issues related to LookUpLauncher, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Reset Safari…
  
• Select which options you want to reset (usually all of them come preselected) and click on the Reset button.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

TopHow to remove LookUpLauncher Adware from Google Chrome on Mac:

• Open Chrome browser.
• Enter in the url field “chrome://extensions” address and hit Enter.
• Find LookUpLauncher Adware on the extensions list and click on the recycle bin icon next to it.
• Click on 'Chrome' button at the top left corner. Select 'Preferences' on a drop-down menu box.
• Find 'Search' options on Settings tab. If your search engine is changed, click 'Manage Search Engines' and set your preferred search engine.
• On the same page find 'Show home button' checkbox and change your homepage.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to LookUpLauncher, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• On the 'Preferences' menu window, scroll down to the bottom and find 'Reset settings' button. Click it.
• Confirm your selection and click 'Reset' on the following window.

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program. Top

How To remove LookUpLauncher Adware from Firefox on Mac OS:

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla window and select the “Add-ons” icon (Or press cmd+Shift+A on your keyboard).
• Go through Extensions list, remove everything LookUpLauncher Adware related and items you do not recognise. If you do not know the extension and it is not made by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft, Oracle or Adobe then you probably do not need it.
• Enter “about:preferences” in URL bar and hit enter.
• Open Search settings tab.
• If your search engine is changed, click 'Default Search Engines' and set your preferred search engine.
• If your homepage was changed, click on the Firefox menu in the top right corner, select Preferences-> General. Enter a preferable URL to the home page field.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to LookUpLauncher Adware, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla Firefox window. Click on the Help button.
• Choose Troubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
• Click on the Refresh Firefox button.
• Click on the Refresh Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.

If the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program to identify malicious entries.