Remove AssistiveRecord Browser Hijacker From Mac OS

Simple Steps To Delete AssistiveRecord From PC

AssistiveRecord is a deceptive search engine that provides results related to shady advertisers and other PUPs. It’s a browser hijacker that also promotes and even spreads web browser add-ons related to shady online searches. This fraudulent search tool is not used intentionally; Mac users generally install the malicious software by accident when promotional content gets clicked on or some ads trick them into believing that it’s a useful tool. Thousands of users complain about useless and not valuable features or the questionable material that this search engine redirects them to. There is no benefit in using this extension or engine because it aims to record information about users’ browsing habits or reroute them to malicious advertising sites.

Depth Analysis of AssistiveRecord:

AssistiveRecord is the precarious application that gets installed on your Mac device without permission or knowledge. Once this nasty PUA successfully gets installed on the computer, it immediately starts triggering unwanted changes in the registry and on your internet browsing tools. You need to consider those alterations and react as soon as you possibly can, so that the device is thoroughly cleaned, and any hijackers, adware, shady tools, or browser-based programs get terminated.

The most common symptoms of the AssistiveRecord infection:

• browser setting alterations;
• additional pop-ups, banners;
• redirects to shady, unknown pages;
• installations that happen behind your back;
• speed and performance issues and so on.

AssistiveRecord is one of many hijackers that focus on injecting search results with sponsored content. You can also receive pop-ups or redirects to identical engines like Google or Yahoo. When the homepage, search engine, new tab settings, and other preferences on your Chrome, Firefox, Explorer, Safari, and other browsers get altered, this means that the PUP is rooted in your system already. You need to completely clean the work-station from any traces and related programs, so that there is no way for the intruder to repeat its activities. The best way for that is the anti-malware program.

When you decide to remove this hijacker from the Mac system, you need to pick the appropriate tool that can collect multiple files and programs related with the threat or even other viruses, infections. AssistiveRecord removal should always involve professional antivirus or security tools, as experts suggest. It is important because it can collect data, inject other hazardous programs, and browser-based applications to keep the persistence up.

Intrusion of AssistiveRecord In Mac PCs:

If you get rerouted to a similar site like the search engine or a promotional domain, advertising page, you can get exposed to malicious material too. Cyber actors use hacked sites or vicious copies of the known domains. And thus, users who are not paying close attention to the page they end up surfing on. Those freeware promoting, spreading sites, and peer-to-peer sharing platforms can directly spread useless programs and browser-based PUPs. When the person who is downloading anything from the web skips through steps and allows all the additional installs, PUPs freely get injected on the computer.

How To Prevent PUP Infiltration?

Unwanted installations often take place when you choose Quick or Recommended options during the installation. It is the method that’s allows everything to get installed along with the carrier software but is not saving your time at all. If you install freeware using Advanced or Custom methods, you can control all the features and deselect unwanted components from the list. In addition, choose only reliable source and direct links to download any program and avoid untrustworthy channels like peer-to-peer sharing platforms, third-party installers and so on. In case you are already infected with this hijacker, you must remove AssistiveRecord from the Mac system as early as possible.

Quick Glance

Name: AssistiveRecord

Type: Mac virus, Browser Hijacker, Potentially unwanted program

Symptoms: Changes to default browser’s settings, default Internet search engine, Tons of intrusive ads, Fake pop-up messages, identity theft, new tab settings. Users are enforced to visit hijacker’s website and search the Internet using their search engines, slowness of infected system’s performance.

Short Description: Aims to redirects Mac users to affiliated sites, promotes sponsored products, services and programs and make online revenues for the creators, Also steals users’ personal and confidential information and share them with hackers for evil purposes.

Distribution methods: Free software installers (bundling), Deceptive emails, malicious pop-ups ads, fake flash player installers.

Damage: Web browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites.

Removal: To get rid of this infection and other malware threats, our security researchers recommend scanning your computer with a powerful anti-malware tool.

Remove Files and Folders Related to AssistiveRecord

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