How To Remove HelperService ads From Mac OS

Proper Guide To Delete HelperService ads

If you constantly see HelperService ads appearing on your system screen, then this means that your PC is infected with an adware or a potentially unwanted program (PUP). HelperService is a notorious computer infection which silently enters the Mac devices and starts performing malicious activities in the background. It makes alterations to default browser’s settings by assigning its own perilous URL as the new home page, search engine and new tab addresses without seeking for any approval. This nasty PUP also installs multiple suspicious extensions, plug-ins, toolbars etc. on the browser to prevent the settings from being restored.

Know More About HelperService ads:

After making changes to browser’s settings, this nasty adware starts displaying annoying HelperService ads and interrupts users’ online sessions badly. These ads are in multiple formats such as coupons, banners, deals, offers, discounts etc. that make profits for the creators with each click users make on them via cost-per-click scheme. We strongly advise to avoid clicking on these adverts as they might contain vicious links and redirect users to potentially dangerous sites that are filled with malevolent contents. At some domains, users are presented with fake security alerts, error messages, update notifications etc. and then tricked into installing rogue software.

HelperService inserts various tracking cookies on the affected browser and keeps monitoring users’ web activities all the time. It collects several browsing-related data such as URLs of visited sites, entered search queries, viewed pages and so on and also gathers personal information like IP addresses, geolocations, banking and credit card details. The stolen data is later on sold to third-parties for monetary purposes and can be misused for deceptive transactions or purchases. And therefore, presence of this nasty adware in your work-station may lead to severe privacy issues, identity theft and huge financial loss for you.

Appearance of HelperService ads slows down the internet speed and significantly diminishes users’ overall browsing experience. Due to this, browser takes more than usual time to open even simplest of sites. In order to get automatically activated with each PC startup and to remain persistent, this notorious threat makes vicious entries in registry editors and alters its default settings. It messes with vital system files which assure efficient PC functioning and prevents many running apps as well as drivers from working normally. And thus, a quick HelperService ads virus removal is highly recommended.

Threat Specification 

Name: HelperService ads

Type: Mac virus, adware, Potentially unwanted program

Short Description: Displays intrusive ads, makes changes to default browser’s settings, Redirects Mac users to third-party pages, promotes sponsored products, services and programs and make online revenues for the creators.

Symptoms: Constant appearance of annoying adverts, Fake pop-up messages, identity theft. Users are enforced to visit hijacker’s website and search the Internet using their search engines, slowness of infected system’s performance.

Distribution methods: Free software installers (bundling), Deceptive emails, malicious pop-ups ads, fake flash player installers.

Damage: Web browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), exhibition of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites.

Removal: To get rid of this infection and other malware threats, our security researchers recommend scanning your device with an effective anti-malware tool is recommended.

How Does This PUP Enter Your System?

Some PUPs have official sites from where they can be downloaded. Nonetheless, they are most often downloaded/installed along with regular software when they are combined added to a single package. This deceptive marketing technique is known as “bundling” that takes place when people download a freeware from unreliable site and then carelessly install the application (ignoring terms, using “Quick/Express” options etc.). This way, they take risk of unintentionally installing unwanted threats in their PC systems.

So, you must select the right configuration settings to install freeware. The ‘Custom’ or ‘Advanced’ options provide you complete control over the incoming downloads and allow you to opt out all the contents that you don’t want to be installed in your PC. Additionally, choose only reliable sources and direct links to download apps and stay away from unofficial pages, third-party downloaders, peer-to-peer sharing networks etc. as much as you can. But at the moment, you must remove HelperService ads virus from the Mac system without wasting any time.

Remove Files and Folders Related to HelperService ads

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 HelperService ads 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 HelperService ads 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 HelperService ads. You can select such harmful files and folders and remove them immediately.