Q. Help me remove MatchKnowledge! I can’t do anything! I’ve searched the Net on this. I also believe it is adware. Thanks for any help you might be able to provide me.
A. Cyber threat analysts has determined that MatchKnowledge is a adware (also known as ‘adware software’) or potentially unwanted application (PUA). Some third-party download web-pages might add programs that you don’t want with the software that you install.
How can Adware be dangerous to your machine? Adware is considered by many to be synonymous with ‘malware’. It is a harmful program which serves unwanted ads to computer users. Some examples include pop-up ads, different offers and deals or unclosable windows. Adware can be installed onto your MAC via infected web-sites, when you open email attachments, anytime you download and install free applications.
Another reason why you need to get rid of adware is its online data-tracking activity. Adware software can gather lots of confidential data about you to get profit. Adware can analyze your surfing, and gain access to your user information and, subsequently, can share it with third-parties. Thus, there are more than enough reasons to remove adware from your MAC.
Probably adware get installed onto your MAC when you have installed certain free programs like E-Mail checker, PDF creator, video codec, etc. Because, most commonly, adware may be bundled within the installation packages from Softonic, Cnet, Soft32, Brothersoft or other similar webpages which hosts free programs. So, you should launch any files downloaded from the Net with great caution! Always carefully read the ‘User agreement’, ‘Software license’ and ‘Terms of use’. In the procedure of installing a new program, you need to select the ‘Manual’, ‘Advanced’ or ‘Custom’ setup mode to control what components and third-party software to be installed, otherwise you run the risk of infecting your MAC OS with adware or potentially unwanted application (PUA)
Threat Summary
| Name | MatchKnowledge |
| Type | adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), pop-ups, pop-up advertisements, pop up virus |
| Symptoms |
|
| Removal | MatchKnowledge removal guide |
So, if you happen to encounter MatchKnowledge, then be quick and take effort to get rid of adware sooner. Follow the few simple steps below to remove MatchKnowledge adware. Let us know how you managed by sending us your comments please.
How to Remove MatchKnowledge adware from Mac (virus removal guide)
Fortunately, it is not hard to get rid of MatchKnowledge adware that causes multiple undesired advertisements and pop-ups. In the following tutorial, we will provide two solutions to clean your computer of this adware software. One is the manual removal method and the other is automatic removal method. You can choose the way that best fits you. Please follow the removal tutorial below to get rid of MatchKnowledge adware software right now!
To remove MatchKnowledge, complete the following steps:
- Manual MatchKnowledge adware software removal
- Scan your Apple Mac and remove MatchKnowledge adware with free utilities
- How to block MatchKnowledge adware software
- Finish words
Manual MatchKnowledge adware software removal
If you perform exactly the steps below you should be able to get rid of the MatchKnowledge ads from the Firefox, Google Chrome and Safari web browsers.
Delete MatchKnowledge related software through the Finder
First of all, check the list of installed apps on your MAC OS and remove MatchKnowledge, other unknown and recently installed apps. If you see an unknown program with incorrect spelling or varying capital letters, it have most likely been installed by malicious software and you should clean it off first with malware removal utility like MalwareBytes Anti Malware.
Open Finder and click “Applications”.
It will open a list of all software installed on your MAC OS. Scroll through the all list, and remove any dubious and unknown applications. Right click to suspicious program and choose “Move to Trash”. Another solution is drag the program from the Applications folder to the Trash.
Most important, scroll through the all list, and move to trash any unknown applications. Don’t forget, select Finder -> Empty Trash.
Remove MatchKnowledge from Safari
If you find that Safari internet browser settings like new tab page, default search provider and home page having been replaced by MatchKnowledge adware software that causes internet browsers to show annoying pop-ups, then you may revert back your settings, via the reset web browser procedure.
Click Safari menu and select “Preferences”.
It will open the Safari Preferences window. Next, click the “Extensions” tab. Look for unknown and suspicious add-ons on left panel, select it, then click the “Uninstall” button. Most important to get rid of all unknown extensions from Safari.
Once complete, click “General” tab. Change the “Default Search Engine” to Google.
Find the “Homepage” and type into textfield “https://www.google.com”.
Remove MatchKnowledge adware from Chrome
The adware software can alter your Chrome settings without your knowledge. You may see an undesired web site as your search engine or startpage, additional extensions and toolbars. Reset Chrome internet browser will help you to get rid of MatchKnowledge adware and reset the unwanted changes caused by adware. However, your themes, bookmarks, history, passwords, and web form auto-fill information will not be deleted.
First run the Google Chrome. Next, press the button in the form of three horizontal dots (
).
It will open the Google Chrome menu. Select More Tools, then click Extensions. Carefully browse through the list of installed extensions. If the list has the extension signed with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following instructions: Remove Google Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
Open the Chrome menu once again. Further, press the option called “Settings”.
The web-browser will show the settings screen. Another way to show the Google Chrome’s settings – type chrome://settings in the web browser adress bar and press Enter
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the “Advanced” link. Now scroll down until the “Reset” section is visible, as shown in the figure below and click the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
The Google Chrome will display the confirmation prompt as shown in the following example.
You need to confirm your action, click the “Reset” button. The web browser will start the process of cleaning. When it is done, the browser’s settings including new tab, start page and search provider by default back to the values which have been when the Chrome was first installed on your Apple Mac.
Get rid of MatchKnowledge adware from Firefox
If the Firefox web browser application is hijacked, then resetting its settings can help. The Reset feature is available on all modern version of Firefox. A reset can fix many issues by restoring Firefox settings such as search provider by default, start page and newtab to their original settings. Your saved bookmarks, form auto-fill information and passwords won’t be cleared or changed.
Click the Menu button (looks like three horizontal lines), and press the blue Help icon located at the bottom of the drop down menu as shown on the image below.
A small menu will appear, click the “Troubleshooting Information”. On this page, click “Refresh Firefox” button like below.
Follow the onscreen procedure to revert back your Mozilla Firefox web browser settings to their default values.
Scan your Apple Mac and remove MatchKnowledge adware with free utilities
If you’re unsure how to get rid of MatchKnowledge adware software easily, consider using automatic adware software removal applications which listed below. It will identify the MatchKnowledge adware and remove it from your MAC OS for free.
Get rid of MatchKnowledge adware software with MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM)
We recommend using the MalwareBytes AntiMalware that are completely clean your MAC OS of the adware. This free tool is an advanced malicious software removal application created by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This program uses the world’s most popular anti malware technology. It’s able to help you delete unwanted MatchKnowledge ads from your internet browsers, potentially unwanted software, malware, hijacker infection, toolbars, ransomware and other security threats from your machine for free.
Installing the MalwareBytes AntiMalware is simple. First you’ll need to download MalwareBytes by clicking on the link below.
20851 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: September 10, 2020
Once the downloading process is finished, close all apps and windows on your computer. Run the saved file. Follow the prompts.
The MalwareBytes Anti Malware will automatically start and you can see its main screen as displayed in the figure below.
Now press the “Scan” button to detect MatchKnowledge adware. A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your machine and the speed of your computer. While the utility is scanning, you can see how many objects and files has already scanned.
As the scanning ends, a list of all items detected is produced. Once you have selected what you want to remove from your MAC OS click “Remove Selected Items” button. The MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) will remove MatchKnowledge adware that causes web browsers to display undesired pop up advertisements.
How to block unwanted ads
The AdGuard is a very good ad blocker program for the Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome, with active user support. It does a great job by removing certain types of unwanted advertisements, popunders, pop-ups, intrusive new tab pages, and even full page ads and web-site overlay layers. Of course, the AdGuard can stop unwanted ads automatically or by using a custom filter rule.
Click the link below to download AdGuard.
3687 downloads
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: January 17, 2018
Once downloading is done, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen. Follow the prompts.
Each time, when you launch your MAC, AdGuard will run automatically and stop unwanted advertisements, as well as block harmful or misleading web-pages.
Finish words
Now your Apple Mac should be free of the MatchKnowledge that causes browsers to open intrusive pop-up ads. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted advertisements and undesired malicious web-sites) and MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) (to periodically scan your computer for new adwares and other malicious software).
If you are still having problems while trying to get rid of MatchKnowledge adware from the Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Safari, then ask for help here here.
