How to Remove Template Helper from PC

Tutorial Guide to Delete Template Helper (Removal Instruction)

Is the default homepage of your browser has been changed to htemplatehelper.co without your permission? Are you being forced to use a bogus search-engine provider that never provides relevant result for your search queries? Template Helper is a very perilous browser-hijacker that is designed by cyber-criminals to ruin your overall Online browsing experience. Further, it downloads various information tracking tools secretly in the browser in order to spy on users activities and other personal data of the users.

As mentioned earlier, the browser settings gets totally changed and you are forced to use htemplatehelper.co as default homepage, search-engine provider as well as new-tab URL. You must know that this is a bogus search-engine provider. It generates the search result from third-party such as “Yahoo Engine”. Further, it alters the original search result and display sponsored and misleading results. They are full of ads, bogus offers, deals, coupons, price-comparisons, alerts and so on. Further, they also aim to collect sensitive and personal information of users. It collects browsing related data such as IP address, geographical location, search queries and browsing pattern and so on. All these data can be misused by the third-parties in order to gain financial benefits. Your Online privacy and browsing safety gets totally messed up. So, many arbitrary files, plug-ins and add-ons are added in the PC that consumes a very high PC resource and slows down the overall performance.

A Quick Glance

Name:  Template Helper

Type: Browser-Hijacker, Adware

Claimed Functionality: It is supposed to boost the overall Online browsing experience

Symptoms: Significant changes in the browser settings, forces the victims to visit particular group of websites

Distribution: Social engineering, software bundling, aggressive ads and pop-ups interactions

Damages: Online browsing activities and security is ruined, redirection to unsafe webpage, continuous ads and pop-ups bombarding

Removal: It is advised to clean the browser, remove all the unwanted plug-ins and add-ons and scan the PC with a powerful anti-malware tool

How Template Helper Gets Inside the PC?

In general, this kind of adware is distributed through software bundling. Its payloads and scripts are hidden under download or installation setup. Most of the users don’t use advance or custom installation method in order to complete the download process quickly. It is very unsafe to use default or basic installation method because you will not be able to see the hidden files that are getting installed along with the main program. Also, the PUPs are distributed through spam email campaigns. Tons of emails are bombarded in the inbox. They have attached files that trigger malware attack. Trojans are used to create chain infection. Deceptive ads and hyperlinks are designed to triggers unsafe scripts and payloads.

Some Precautionary Measures to Avoid PUPs Attack:

 You should be very careful about any type of program or application you install in the work-station. Don’t use any kind of shared networks, third-party downloader or installer and so on. Use direct download links and choose advance or custom download option. Don’t click on aggressive and highly lucrative ads. Unwanted extensions, plug-ins or add-ons should be uninstalled immediately. If you notice any kind of vulnerabilities or symptoms of an adware infection then immediately scan the work-station with a powerful anti-malware tool having strong scanning algorithm and programming logics.

Remove Files and Folders Related to Template Helper

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