Remove AddSystem Hijacker From Mac

AddSystem: Complete Delete Process

AddSystem is a malicious software piece that initiates page redirects and generates different advertisements in web browsers. This browser-based app can be classified as both browser hijacker as well as adware. It has ability to integrate with your browser and hijack it by interfering with some of its settings. For example, you may have noticed that the default search engine of your browser has been altered. Additionally, it has likely also set a new homepage, apart from adding its own toolbar and plugin. And the worst part is that, you won’t be able to change those settings back to your preferred ones, no matter how much you try.

AddSystem Carries Out Several Evil Deeds:

AddSystem mainly targets Mac devices and has the ability to integrate with all the most popular browsing apps, be it Chrome, Safari or Firefox. Moreover, it generates large amounts of online ads during the web browsing. In fact, the first thing victims notice when infected such potentially unwanted programs is that unusual quantity of pop-ups, banners, and other types of ads in their browsers. It is also very common for such intruders to reroute your searches to various affiliated web domains, which, too, can be rather intrusive.

AddSystem performs all these annoying activities in order to generate revenue for its developers. In general, it does this through Pay Per Click and Pay Per View payment techniques. Thus, the advertising methods of such PUPs tend to be quite aggressive. This advertising tool is used to promote certain service, products, websites, etc. It cannot harm your system in any way unlike Ransomware, Trojans and other real viruses. The nastiest you can expect from AddSystem is a potential slowdown in the device due to the regular background activity that takes its charge on your system’s CPU and RAM.

Another thing to look out when dealing with such intruders are the advertising materials they deliver. You really don’t want to be interacting with them as you risk being exposed to insecure webpages and potentially bringing an infection of some sort in the machine. Presence of such adware in your work-station may result in more malware infections. This is actually why we recommend performing AddSystem removal from the Mac, and for that we have a delegated removal guide available just below this article.

How Does This PUP Intrude Your System?

This notorious program may have ended up being installed on your Mac alongside a different application. PUPs like this can be distributed with the help of software bundles that can be downloaded for free. This is a common distribution method for browser hijackers and adware, as the installation can go unnoticed. When you download a freeware from third-party site and then install it using the Quick or Default configuration setting, you end up installing unwanted apps in your work-station.

But there is an easy way of protecting yourself from such intrusions. All you have to do is opt for the Advanced or Custom setup of any new application and uncheck the boxes opposite any unwanted optional components. This way you can avoid potentially unwanted programs from intruding your machine and install only the one you wanted at the start. If your Mac has already been intruded by this parasite, remove AddSystem from it without wasting any time.

Remove Files and Folders Related to AddSystem

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