How to remove AboutExtended from Mac

Complete tips to delete AboutExtended adware

AboutExtended displays various intrusive ads and changes web browsers’ settings to promote a fake search engine. It has both adware and browser hijacker characteristics. Users often download/ install apps like this inadvertently. Therefore, this app and other similar apps fall into a category of potentially unwanted apps.

The AboutExtended ads appear in any forms including pop-ups, banners, coupons, surveys, in-text ads and so on. These ads are more than just nuisance as they could open download pages for PUAs, various scam pages used to trick people into providing personal information, purchasing questionable software or services or other potentially malicious pages.

The AboutExtended app also alters browsers’ settings such as homepage, new tab pages and search engine options of installed web browsers, like other hijacker viruses do. Such changes made it mandate for the users to visit the promoted URL all the time when they open their browsing tab and enter any queries on the URL search bar.

Fake web searchers can’t generate search results. So, they tend to redirect to some legit web searchers to display search results. Despite that, the result pages are untrustworthy as they are often manipulated and various sponsored ads and links are included with each search result on the top. The hijacker virus can add persistence ensuring that returning to the previous browser’s setting option is not possible till it presents inside.

Furthermore, this app, like any other PUAs, can be designed to collect browsing data. It can target the visited pages, IP addresses and other browsing based data and even the personal details like passwords and credit cards. Therefore, this app should not be trusted. If it is already installed, employ a reputable antivirus tool or follow our below manual guide to delete AboutExtended virus ASAP.

How did AboutExtended enter my system?

Adware and other PUAs are often distributed through fake installers, advertisements, downloaders and installers for other programs. Fake installers are promoted on deceptive pages, for example, on pages suggesting that your computer is infected, some software needs to be updated and so on. Ads can cause unwanted download when they are designed to run certain scripts and users click on those ads.

PUAs get downloaded/ installed together with downloaders/ installers for other programs when they rush the installation steps. Usually, PUAs are hidden with them in the Custom/Advanced settings. The moment the users rush the installation process, they leave those settings unchecked and unchanged and lead to the inadvertent installation of unwanted apps.

How to prevent PUAs installation?

Downloads from any unreliable sources can be used to distribute unwanted and malicious files. Thus, you should require downloading any apps from legitimate, official pages. Downloaders/ installers with Custom/Advanced and similar settings should be checked for optional downloads/ installations. It is also recommended not to click on any ads displayed on questionable pages.

Get AboutExtended removal tips

If your system is already infected, we recommend you run a full system scan using some reputable antivirus tool to find the unwanted app and all associated files and remove them all at once. Alternatively, you can use manual method of the PUA removal – the complete steps are provided below the post.

Remove Files and Folders Related to AboutExtended

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