How to remove DeskProduct (Mac)

Complete guide for DeskProduct removal

DeskProduct is an adware that serves various intrusive advertisements. However, it functions as browser hijackers too. These apps alter the browsers settings to promote fake search engines. Additionally, it is likely that the application also bears the potential to track users’ browsing session and gather their browsing based data, like other apps of same kind do. Most often, people download/ install the applications like such unknowingly, unintentionally, the reasons the adware and browser hijackers are collectively called potentially unwanted applications.

Ads from DeskProduct annoy users during their web browsing session since these advertisements have third party graphical content in them – the feature downgrades the browsing speed and limits the websites’ visibility due to which they can’t access to the relevant pages during web session. Also, these ads are dangerous as well. Upon clicking those ads, the users allow them to open some questionable pages. In some cases, they are designed to run certain scripts upon that to trigger unwanted downloads.

Furthermore, DeskProduct promotes an address of a fake search engine on the installed web browsers. It does this by doing certain modifications to the browsers’ settings that users can easily observed through their homepage, new tab page and search engine options of the browsers – all these options are replaced with the URL address of the promoted browsing tool. Fake web searchers are not capable of display their own search results. So, they redirect to some legit web searchers to display search results. The results appear in such a case often have various sponsored and affiliated links included in them.

 Usually, any changes to the browsers’ settings are not possible without DeskProduct removal. It resets any changes made by the users to return to the previous browser settings option. Another reason to perform the PUA removal is the application can track users’ browsing session and collect the data related to their web browsing activities. The list of the collected data includes IP addresses, Search queries, Viewed pages, URLs visited, ISP, Geo-locations and so on. These data could be shared and/or sold to potent crooks who misuse them to generate illicit revenue. Thus, the data tracking issue can create the trouble related to privacy and cause identity exposure risk. To prevent such things from happening in future, immediately remove DeskProduct from the system.

How did DeskProduct infiltrate my computer?

It is known that users download/ install DeskProduct app unknowingly. They might get installed it when clicking on certain ads displayed on some unprotected pages. Intrusive ads cause the unwanted downloads by running certain scripts, upon being clicked. However, most commonly, people download/ install unwanted applications with freeware or shareware download. The PUAs developers hide their creations with such apps as additional offers. While such offers can be declined using Custom/Advanced option, users won’t do that – they simply rush the download and skip most of the installation steps. In the process of doing that, they lead to the inadvertent installation of unwanted applications.

How to prevent PUAs installation?

Download any software from official websites and direct links. Since untrustworthy downloading channels such as p2p networks, free file hosting sites and third party downloaders/ installers often offer dubious and/or bundled content. During download/ installation, use Custom/Advanced option and manually opt out all additionally attached apps. Do not click on any ads appear on any questionable pages. If you see any such ads/ redirects, check the system for unwanted apps and/or malicious extensions, plug-ins and add-ons for their removal.

Remove Files and Folders Related to DeskProduct

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