How to remove PathPanel from Mac

Complete tips to delete PathPanel

PathPanel poses both adware and browser hijacker characteristic. This means, it delivers intrusive ads and also changes the browser’s settings to promote a fake search engine.  Most users download and install apps of this kind inadvertently. Thus, this app and all apps similar to this are also called PUAs and potentially unwanted applications.

The PathPanel adware displays various ads in the form of pop-ups, banners, coupons and so on. If clicked, these ads could open various sites that are designed to trick users into downloading/ installing other unwanted apps, providing their personal and sensitive information, paying for fake services and so on. Also, these ads can run certain scripts to cause unwanted download/ installation.

The app also performs changes to the browsers’ settings such as homepage, new tab pages and search engine options and sets a rogue URL address in this place. The users are forced to visit this URL all the time when they open their browsing tab and enter any queries on the URL search bar. This URL may or may not have the capability to generate search results.

It is usually observed that the promoted URLs by hijacker viruses take the help of some legit web searchers to display search results. The search results are not to be trusted as they are manipulated and always contain various sponsored ads and links to suspicious pages. Some of them can display results but the result pages are often inaccurate.

Another problem with adware, browser hijacker and other PUAs is that they bear the data tracking potential. They can track the users’ browsing session and collect the data related to the users’ web browsing activities. These data include IP addresses, Search queries, Viewed pages, URLs visited, ISPs, Geo-locations and etc.

These data could be shared with and/or sold to third parties/ potent crooks. Thus, the presence of the potentially unwanted apps on system can cause severe privacy issues, identity theft, monetary loss and even more severe consequences. To prevent any such issues from happening in future, you should remove all suspicious apps right away upon detection.

How did PathPanel enter in?

PUAs are often distributed through certain ads that can execute scripts that can execute specific scripts, fake installers and downloaders/ installers for other programs. The last distribution method is known as bundling. Users download/ install PUAs alongside other programs when they do not check and change the settings available in downloaders or installers for those programs.

How to avoid PUAs installation?

Download software and files from official websites and direct links and avoid using other sources. Check the downloaders/ installers for optional download/ installation and de-select them. You should not trust on any ads appear on questionable pages. Perform any software update using tools/functions from official software developers’ tools/ functions. Use some security software for adequate protection.

Get PathPanel removal tips

 If the system is already infected with PathPanel, we recommend you use some reputable antivirus tool and run a full system scan using it to perform its easy and effective removal. PUA is not so dangerous infection and so you can perform the removal process manually as well – the complete manual instruction is provided below the post.

Remove Files and Folders Related to PathPanel

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