How to remove LinkSet from Mac

Complete tips to delete LinkSet virus

LinkSet is an ad-supporting application designed to show various deceptive and annoying ads. It also changes the browsers’ settings to promote a fake search engine. Majority of apps of this kind are installed inadvertently.

The LinkSet app displays ads in any forms including pop-ups, banners, coupons, surveys, in-text ads and so on. These ads could open pages designed to trick people into paying money for unnecessary services, apps, providing personal data, installing PUAs and so on.

It is also possible for those ads to cause unwanted download/ installation by running certain scripts –upon being clicked on. Also, the app is likely to alter the web browsers’ settings such as browsers’ homepage, new tab pages and search engine options to a fake search engine.

A fake search engine can promote questionable sites and/or show results generated by other untrustworthy search engines. Usually’ the users can’t restore the changes made to the browsers’ settings as the hijacker viruses are there to reassign any changes that they attempt to do so.

Therefore, the victims are forced to visit the promoted URLs all the time when they open their browsing tab and enter any queries on the URL search bar. Furthermore, like other adware and browser hijacker viruses, LinkSet poses data tracking capability as well.

It can track the web browsing session and collect the data related to the users’ web browsing activities. The list of the collected data include IP addresses, Search queries, Viewed pages, URLs visited, ISPs, Geo-locations and etc.

These data could be shared with and/or sold to third parties/ potent crooks. Thus, the presence of the potentially unwanted app on system can cause serious system infections, privacy issues, identity theft, monetary loss and even more severe consequences.

To prevent any such issues from happening in future, it is strongly recommended to run a full system scan using some reputable antivirus tool and remove LinkSet from the system immediately. You can perform the removal process manually as well- check the manual instructions provided below the post.

How did LinkSet enter my system?

Adware gets installed alongside other software, through certain ads, or fake installers. Downloaders and installers for software can contain optional downloads or installations.  The infection occurs when users install the bundled software without changing Advanced/ Custom or other settings available in the installer.

Ads can download or install PUAs only when the users click on them and when these are designed to run certain scripts that require their clicking as initiation. Fake installers get downloaded from various deceptive pages.

How to avoid PUAs installation?

Deselect optional downloads/ installations before downloading/ installing software bundled with PUAs. Use official websites and direct links to download files and apps. Avoid using other sources for that. Also, do not click on any ads appear on shady pages.

Have a reputable antivirus tool installed and kept updated. Also, use this software to run a full system scan and to remove any detected threats/ issues. If the system is already infected, we recommend you run a full system scan to remove LinkSet virus automatically.

Remove Files and Folders Related to LinkSet

Open the “Menu” bar and click the “Finder” icon. Select “Go” and click on “Go to Folder…”

Step 1: Search the suspicious and doubtful malware generated files in /Library/LaunchAgents folder

Type /Library/LaunchAgents in the “Go to Folder” option

In the “Launch Agent” folder, search for all the files that you have recently downloaded and move them to “Trash”. Few of the examples of files created by browser-hijacker or adware are as follow, “myppes.download.plist”, “mykotlerino.Itvbit.plist”, installmac.AppRemoval.plist”, and “kuklorest.update.plist” and so on.

Step 2: Detect and remove the files generated by the adware in “/Library/Application” Support folder

In the “Go to Folder..bar”, type “/Library/Application Support”

Search for any suspicious newly added folders in “Application Support” folder. If you detect any one of these like “NicePlayer” or “MPlayerX” then send them to “Trash” folder.

Step 3: Look for the files generated by malware in /Library/LaunchAgent Folder:

Go to Folder bar and type /Library/LaunchAgents

You are in the “LaunchAgents” folder. Here, you have to search for all the newly added files and move them to “Trash” if you find them suspicious. Some of the examples of suspicious files generated by malware are “myppes.download.plist”, “installmac.AppRemoved.plist”, “kuklorest.update.plist”, “mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist” and so on.

Step4: Go to /Library/LaunchDaemons Folder and search for the files created by malware

Type /Library/LaunchDaemons in the “Go To Folder” option

In the newly opened “LaunchDaemons” folder, search for any recently added suspicious files and move them to “Trash”. Examples of some of the suspicious files are “com.kuklorest.net-preferences.plist”, “com.avickUpd.plist”, “com.myppes.net-preference.plist”, “com.aoudad.net-preferences.plist” and so on.

Step 5: Use Combo Cleaner Anti-Malware and Scan your Mac PC

The malware infections could be removed from the Mac PC if you execute all the steps mentioned above in the correct way. However, it is always advised to be sure that your PC is not infected. It is suggested to scan the work-station with “Combo Cleaner Anti-virus”.

Once the file gets downloaded, double click on combocleaner.dmg installer in the newly opened window. Next is to open the “Launchpad” and press on “Combo Cleaner” icon. It is advised to wait until “Combo Cleaner” updates the latest definition for malware detection. Click on “Start Combo Scan” button.

A depth scan of your Mac PC will be executed in order to detect malware. If the Anti-virus scan report says “no threat found” then you can continue with guide further. On the other hand, it is recommended to delete the detected malware infection before continuing.

Now the files and folders created by the adware is removed, you have to remove the rogue extensions from the browsers.

Remove LinkSet from Internet Browsers

Delete Doubtful and Malicious Extension from Safari

Go to “Menu Bar” and open “Safari” browser. Select “Safari” and then “Preferences”

In the opened “preferences” window, select “Extensions” that you have recently installed. All such extensions should be detected and click the “Uninstall” button next to it. If you are doubtful then you can remove all the extensions from “Safari” browser as none of them are important for smooth functionality of the browser.

In case if you continue facing unwanted webpage redirections or aggressive advertisements bombarding, you can reset the “Safari” browser.

“Reset Safari”

Open the Safari menu and choose “preferences…” from the drop-down menu.

Go to the “Extension” tab and set the extension slider to “Off” position. This disables all the installed extensions in the Safari browser

Next step is to check the homepage. Go to “Preferences…” option and choose “General” tab. Change the homepage to your preferred URL.

Also check the default search-engine provider settings. Go to “Preferences…” window and select the “Search” tab and select the search-engine provider that you want such as “Google”.

Next is to clear the Safari browser Cache- Go to “Preferences…” window and select “Advanced” tab and click on “Show develop menu in the menu bar.“

Go to “Develop” menu and select “Empty Caches”.

Remove website data and browsing history. Go to “Safari” menu and select “Clear History and Website Data”. Choose “all history” and then click on “Clear History”.

Remove Unwanted and Malicious Plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox

Delete LinkSet add-ons from Mozilla Firefox

Open the Firefox Mozilla browser. Click on the “Open Menu” present in the top right corner of the screen. From the newly opened menu, choose “Add-ons”.

Go to “Extension” option and detect all the latest installed add-ons. Select each of the suspicious add-ons and click on “Remove” button next to them.

In case if you want to “reset” the Mozilla Firefox browser then follow the steps that has been mentioned below.

Reset Mozilla Firefox Settings

Open the Firefox Mozilla browser and click on “Firefox” button situated at the top left corner of the screen.

In the new menu, go to “Help” sub-menu and choose “Troubleshooting Information”

In the “Troubleshooting Information” page, click on “Reset Firefox” button.

Confirm that you want to reset the Mozilla Firefox settings to default by pressing on “Reset Firefox” option

The browser will get restarted and the settings changes to factory default

Delete Unwanted and Malicious Extensions from Google Chrome

Open the chrome browser and click on “Chrome menu”. From the drop down option, choose “More Tools” and then “Extensions”.

In the “Extensions” option, search for all the recently installed add-ons and extensions. Select them and choose “Trash” button. Any third-party extension is not important for the smooth functionality of the browser.

Reset Google Chrome Settings

Open the browser and click on three line bar at the top right side corner of the window.

Go to the bottom of the newly opened window and select “Show advanced settings”.

In the newly opened window, scroll down to the bottom and choose “Reset browser settings”

Click on the “Reset” button on the opened “Reset browser settings” window

Restart the browser and the changes you get will be applied

The above mentioned manual process should be executed as it is mentioned. It is a cumbersome process and requires a lot of technical expertise. And hence it is advised for technical experts only. To be sure that your PC is free from malware, it is better that you scan the work-station with a powerful anti-malware tool. The automatic malware removal application is preferred because it doesn’t requires any additional technical skills and expertise.

Download the application and execute it on the PC to begin the depth scanning. Once the scanning gets completed, it shows the list of all the files related to LinkSet. You can select such harmful files and folders and remove them immediately.