How to remove DiscoveryHandler Adware Mac
Easy methods to delete DiscoveryHandler Adware in Mac computer
DiscoveryHandler is rough application considered as both adware and browser hijacker. This rough application operates by modifying your browser’s settings without your knowledge in order to promote address of some fake search engine, installing fake BHOs, extensions, plug-ins, toolbars or add-ons, monitoring your online activities and collecting your browsing-related data or other sensitive information. In sort, this rough application can’t be trusted. It is strongly recommended not to install and use this kind of malicious application in your Mac.
DiscoveryHandler PUA mostly targets MacOS based device and attempts to affect browsing experience by making several unwanted modifications in browser’s settings and/or system settings. It is capable of hijacking your main browser including Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Opera, and other browsers. It modifies the default homepage, new tab URLs, and search engines of your browser with addresses of some fake search engines. This fake search engine shows always sponsored or malicious results, and tricks you into installing PUAs, third-party applications or malware in your Mac computer.
DiscoveryHandler as adware is designed to deliver malicious advertisements campaigns in the form of banners, coupons, offers, commercial ads, fake security alert, fake software update alert and other types of advertisements. It is not easy task for you to close or delete all these advertisements one-by-one in computer. Clicking advertisements by this rough application may lead to severe privacy issues, malware or viruses infections in computer, or even identity theft. Some advertisements by this rough application are designed to redirect you to shady/scam websites while some can run certain codes/scripts to download or install PUAs, adware or malware in computer.
DiscoveryHandler Browser Hijacker is also designed to monitor your online habits and collect your browsing-related data or other sensitive information. They can collect your some information such as IP address, URL search, login ID & password of your various online accounts, banking information and more details. They can share these collected data to other attackers or third-party to generate some income from them. In other words, this rough application is unsafe at all. So, it is important to find and remove DiscoveryHandler related files in computer.
How did you get DiscoveryHandler in Mac computer?
You open or install this type of rough application by clicking malicious advertisements, visiting shady/scam websites, or other PUAs already installed in your computer. PUAs or malware are distributed through other software package as additional offers. If you choose ‘Recommended/Quick/Express’ settings instead of choosing ‘Custom/Advanced/Manual’ settings in software package setup installation, you install all additional programs included in software package into computer and this way, all malicious additions can also be installed.
How to protect your system against PUAs, adware, Mac Virus or malware?
It is strongly recommended you to double-research the software before download/installation or purchase. You should always try to download any applications from official/verified sources or via direct links, and choose always ‘Custom/Advanced/Manual’ installation if you want to avoid all malicious additions included in software package setup. You should have some powerful antivirus software installed in your computer with latest updates that could help you to find and remove all types of malware or viruses in computer.
Special Offer (For Macintosh)
DiscoveryHandler can be creepy computer infection that may regain its presence again and again as it keeps its files hidden on computers. To accomplish a hassle free removal of this malware, we suggest you take a try with a powerful antimalware scanner to help you getting rid of this virus
Remove Files and Folders Related to DiscoveryHandler
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”.
Special Offer (For Macintosh)
DiscoveryHandler can be creepy computer infection that may regain its presence again and again as it keeps its files hidden on computers. To accomplish a hassle free removal of this malware, we suggest you take a try with a powerful antimalware scanner to help you getting rid of this 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 DiscoveryHandler 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 DiscoveryHandler 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.
Special Offer (For Macintosh)
DiscoveryHandler can be creepy computer infection that may regain its presence again and again as it keeps its files hidden on computers. To accomplish a hassle free removal of this malware, we suggest you take a try with a powerful antimalware scanner to help you getting rid of this virus
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 DiscoveryHandler. You can select such harmful files and folders and remove them immediately.
