How to remove StartEssentials from Mac

Complete tips to delete StartEssentials

StartEssentials is a rogue application categorized as adware. It also has browser hijacker’s functionality. After the successful installation, this app operating by running various intrusive ad-based campaigns and promoting an address of a fake search engine by modifying the browsers’ settings. It also has dangerous data tracking potential that it uses in spying users’ browsing activity. Since users often download/ install this app unwillingly, it is deemed to be potentially unwanted app and PUA in short.

StartEssentials virus in detail

StartEssentials, like other adware-type applications, enables the placement of third party graphical content on any visited pages. It delivers pop-ups, surveys, banners, coupons, and full-page and other intrusive ads that have the feature to limit the browsing speed and websites’ visibility. Thus, they will significantly diminish the browsing experience. These ads also pose a threat to the device/ system safety. They promote various sale-based, misleading, deceptive/ scam, compromised and malicious websites.

Furthermore, some of the ads can be designed to run certain malicious scripts to cause stealthy download/ installation without users’ consent. That’s’ being said, StartEssentials also poses browser hijacker’s characteristic. So, its victims would likely to encounter much more than those annoying, misleading, deceptive and dangerous ads. Browser hijackers assign fake web searchers to browsers’ default homepage, new tab pages and search engine options.

Thereby, the users always get redirected to the promoted search engine all the time when they open their browsing tab and enter any queries on the URL search engine from the affected web browsers. Fake web searchers seldom generate search results and so they tend to redirect to Google, Yahoo, Bing and other genuine search engines. Despite the redirection being caused to legit web searchers, they often include suspicious ads and links to promote sponsored and affiliated pages.

Browser hijackers can gain persistence by restricting the users’ access to the browsers’ settings. Thus, without their removal, making changes to the browsers’ settings option to the default is not possible. As already said, StartEssentials has the dangerous data tracking potential. If it stays for anytime longer, it might collect the enough browsing based data to cause privacy based issues such as financial loss and identity theft. If you want avoid such a thing from happening in future, perform StartEssentials removal right away upon detection.

How did StartEssentials enter my system?

PUAs are often spread via downloaders/ installers of other programs. Bundling is the term given to the deceptive marketing method use to pack regular software with unwanted and malicious ones. By rushing the download/ installation process – users often increase the risk such bundled apps to get in with regular download. Intrusive ads can sometimes cause PUAs infection as well. Once clicked on, these ads execute certain scripts to make stealthy download/ installations.

How to prevent PUAs installation?

Perform any type of downloads from official and verified sources. Untrustworthy downloading channels such as unofficial and free file hosting sites, p2p networks, and other third party downloders/ installers often offer dubious and/or bundled content. Download/ installation should also be approached with caution. It is advised to read all terms, study possible options, use Custom/Advanced settings and decline download/installation of any supplementary apps.

Intrusive ads appear ordinary and harmless. However, they often redirect to various questionable pages such as gambling, adult dating and pornography and similar. Thus, when you encounter any such ads/ redirects, investigate your system immediately and remove all dubious apps and browser extensions/ plug-ins responsible for appearance of such ads. If StartEssentials is already running on system, we recommend you use some reputable antivirus tool and perform its removal right away.

Remove Files and Folders Related to StartEssentials

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