How safe and secure is malwarebytes? I am infected with search.pollicare and want to get rid

It's not in the App Store because it installs a kernel extension. Something that is not allowed for any app if the vendor wants it in the App Store.

Fellow forum user Thomas Reed, author of this app (originally as AdwareMedic), noted in an email between us that it took a long time just to get permission from Apple to include the kernel extension. You have to prove why it's necessary. Apple finally gave it their blessing and allowed MalwareBytes to be code signed in that state.

So yes, it's safe to use. Pretty much any experienced user here will recommend it. Apple themselves use it in the Apple Stores and suggest it to users via phone support. It's very easily uninstalled from one of it's menu options when you're done with it.

Most people (including Apple) approve of Malwarebytes. It certainly won't do any harm and may well fix your issue.

I suspect because Malwarebytes needs to access areas of the disk that the app store doesn’t allow. The iOS version of Malwarebytes is in the store. Apple has actually recommended Malwarebytes to me in the past.

Just download it from the Developer, being in the App Store is no guarantee of an apps credibility or Apples approval,

they do not test the apps.

https://www.malwarebytes.com/mac/

Precisely. :)