Comprehensive Guide to Removing ElementBrowser Adware on macOS

In this contemporary digital era, the safety of our online environment is paramount. Unfortunately, unwanted software like ElementBrowser, a notorious adware, can compromise our digital lives. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the removal process of ElementBrowser, ensuring you regain control of your macOS device.

 

Unmasking ElementBrowser

ElementBrowser, a malicious software, is notorious for hijacking your browser’s homepage and search engine. It bombards you with unwanted advertisements unrelated to your browsing sites by leveraging a browser extension or program.

Once installed on your computer, ElementBrowser redirects your search queries via ElementBrowser Search, subsequently redirecting to search results from search.yahoo.com. This is likely a strategy to generate ad revenue using Yahoo Search for search results. Moreover, ElementBrowser opens new browser tabs showcasing ads promoting software, pushing counterfeit software updates, and tech support scams.

How can you tell if ElementBrowser has hijacked your computer? Look out for these signs:

• Your default search engine has changed to ElementBrowser Search
• Your search queries are redirected via ElementBrowser Search
• The “ElementBrowser” browser extension or program is installed on your Mac

ElementBrowser Installation: How did it land on your computer?

ElementBrowser usually finds its way onto users’ computers either knowingly or unknowingly. Oftentimes, these programs are offered via advertisements or bundled with other software, leaving users baffled about the software’s origin.

Regretfully, some free downloads fail to disclose that additional software will be installed, and you might discover that you’ve installed ElementBrowser without realizing it.

 

If you’re unsure about how ElementBrowser was installed, or you suspect other unwanted programs or extensions may be installed on your Mac, the removal guide below will come in handy.

Eliminating ElementBrowser Browser Hijacker: A Step-by-Step Guide

This malware removal guide might seem overwhelming due to the number of steps and numerous programs involved. However, it’s written in a clear, detailed, and easy-to-understand manner that anyone can follow to remove malware for free.

Here’s how to remove ElementBrowser from your Mac:

STEP 1: Exterminate Malicious Profiles

Profiles are tools utilized by IT administrators in businesses to control the behavior of their Macs. These profiles can configure a Mac to perform various functions, some of which aren’t ordinarily possible.

For home users, adware and browser hijackers use the configuration profile to deter users from removing malicious programs from the computer. This also prevents the user from altering that behavior in the browser’s settings.

To check if any configuration profiles are installed on your computer, follow these steps:

1. Open “System Preferences”

From the Apple menu, select System Preferences.

2. Search for “Profiles”

Once the System Preferences window opens, search for the Profiles icon.

3. Remove the malicious profiles

If there’s a Profile icon, click on it, select any suspicious profile you want to remove, and then press the – (minus) button. Click Remove to eliminate the profile.

STEP 2: Delete Malicious Apps

In this step, we’ll identify and remove any malicious apps and files that might be installed on your computer.

1. Quit the malicious programs

On the Apple menu bar, in the top-right corner, if you spot any unknown or suspicious icon, click on it and then select Quit.

2. Open “Finder”

Click the Finder application on your dock.

3. Click on “Applications”

In the Finder left pane, click on “Applications“.

4. Find and remove the malicious app.

Identify the malicious app on the “Applications” screen, right-click it, and then click “Move to Trash“.

5. Click “Empty Trash”

On the dock, right-click on the trash icon and select “Empty Trash”.

6. Find and remove the malicious files

1. Click the desktop to ensure you're in the **Finder**, choose "**Go**" then click on "**Go to Folder**".

2. Type or copy/paste each of the below paths into the window that opens, then click **Go**. 
  * /Library/LaunchAgents
  * ~/Library/LaunchAgents
  * /Library/Application Support
  * /Library/LaunchDaemons

 

3. Look out for any suspicious files that could be behind all the drama - anything you don't remember downloading or that doesn't sound like a genuine program. These are some known malicious files: "com.adobe.fpsaud.plist" "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", or "com.myppes.net-preferences.plist". When you find a malicious file move it to the Trash.

STEP 3: Reset Browsers Back to Default Settings

In this step, we’ll remove spam push notifications and malicious extensions, and revert any settings that might have been altered by malware.
For each browser installed on your computer, follow the steps below to reset that browser.

Safari Browser

Remove Malicious Extensions and Settings from Safari

To remove malware from Safari, we’ll check if there are any malicious extensions installed on your browser and what settings have been changed by this malicious program.

1. Go to Safari’s “Preferences”.

On the menu bar, click the “Safari” menu and select “Preferences”.

2. Check Homepage.

This will open a new window with your Safari preferences, opened to the “General” tab. Some browser hijackers may change your default homepage, so in the Homepage field make sure it’s a web page you want to use as your start-up page.

3. Click “Extensions”

Next, click on the “Extensions” tab.

4. Find and uninstall malicious extensions.

The “Extensions” screen will be displayed with a list of all the extensions installed on Safari. Look out for any suspicious browser extension that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine extension. By default, there are no extensions installed on Safari so it’s safe to remove an extension.

5. Remove spam notifications ads

Click Preferences, click Websites, then click Notifications. Deselect “Allow websites to ask for permission to send push notifications”.

6. Remove all data stored by websites on your computer.

In the Safari menu, choose “Preferences…”, select “Privacy” at the top of the new window that appears, and then click the “Manage Website Data” button. In the dialog box that appears next, click “Remove All”.

7. Empty Safari Caches.

From your Safari menu bar, click Safari and select Preferences, then select the Advanced tab. Enable the checkbox to “Show Develop menu in menu bar”. From the menu bar select Develop, then click on Empty Caches.

Chrome for Mac Browser

Remove Malware from Chrome for Mac

To remove malware from Chrome for Mac we will reset the browser settings to their default.

1. Click on the three dots at the top right and go to Settings.

2. In the left sidebar, click on the “Reset and Cleanup” option.

3. Click “Reset settings to their original defaults”.

4. Click “Reset Settings” button.

5. (Optional) Reset Chrome Data Sync.

Firefox for Mac Browser

Remove Malware from Firefox for Mac

To remove malware from Firefox for Mac we will reset the browser settings to its default.

1. Go to the “Help” menu.

2. Click “Troubleshooting Information”.

3. Click on “Refresh Firefox”

4. Confirm.

5. Click on “Finish”.

STEP 4: Run a Scan with Automated tool for Mac to Remove Malware

Your computer should now be free of the ElementBrowser browser hijacker and other malware.