How to remove HandlerRotator from Mac

Complete tips to delete HandlerRotator virus

HandlerRotator displays various intrusive ads and promotes a fake web searcher by changing the settings of the affected web browsers. In other words, it has both adware as well as browser hijacker characteristic. People rarely download/ install such apps on purpose.

The ads from HandlerRotator can be designed to open various untrustworthy sites that attempt to extract personal data, money and expose to untrustworthy and even malware-laden pages to cause other potentially unwanted apps and malware infections.

Some of these ads can even cause stealthy download/ installation by running certain scripts – once being clicked on. Another detail about the HandlerRotator app is that it modifies the browsers’ settings in order to promote a fake search engine.

It alters the browsers’ homepage, new tab pages and search engine options and sets the promoted URL to these options. The users are thus forced to visit that URL all the time when they open their browsing tab and enter any queries on the URL search bar.

The fake web search engine could generate misleading results, redirect users to shady pages or show results generated by shay searching tools. Therefore, these web searchers are worthless and harmful and so should never be trusted.

The browser hijacker uses persistence-ensuring technique in order to prevent users to restore those settings to the default. Therefore, without removing HandlerRotator from the system, you can’t return to the previous browsers’ settings option.

Till the potentially unwanted app presents, you are continually tracked on during the web browsing operation. This is very common feature of any potentially unwanted app. The list the data targeted by their authors include IP addresses, Search queries, Viewed pages, URLs visited and etc.

These data are used in designing customized ads to make maximum users’ extension. But, the developers might share these data to third parties/ potent crooks for quick revenue. Thus, the presence of the unwanted app can result into serious system infection, privacy issues, and even identity theft.

To prevent any such issues from happening in future, we recommend you remove HandlerRotator from the system right away. For this, you can run a full system scan using some reputable antivirus tool or follow our below mentioned step-by-step manual instructions.

How did HandlerRotator enter my system?

Adware often is distributed with other programs. Users download or install ad-supporting apps when they do not change Advanced/ Custom or other settings available in the downloaders/ installers for the programs bundled with them.

In other cases, users download/ install adware by clicking on advertisements that are designed to run certain scripts or using fake installers downloaded from untrustworthy web pages. There is also a case where people download these apps intentionally by thinking that these are some useful applications/ extensions.

How to prevent PUAs installation?

Download apps from trustworthy pages. Avoid using other sources for downloading apps and files and clicking on any ads that appear on any dubious pages. Also, de-select any unwanted download/ installation if any of them are included in the downloaders/ installers before finalization of the installation steps.

Remove Files and Folders Related to HandlerRotator

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