How to uninstall HelpFeature app/extension on Mac – Removal guide

What is HelpFeature?

HelpFeature is a PUP (potentially unwanted program) belonging to the category of Adware. What is Adware? Adware is a type of malware. When adware software gets inside your MAC OS, it might carry out various harmful tasks. Some of the more common acts on Apple Macs include: adware can present constant pop up windows and/or unwanted adverts;adware can redirect your web browser to misleading web sites; adware software can slow down your machine; adware can change internet browser settings.

Does adware steal your data? The HelpFeature adware be able to gather lots of sensitive info about you (your ip address, what is a webpage you are viewing now, what you are looking for on the Internet, which links you are clicking), which can later transfer to third parties.

Threat Summary

Name	HelpFeature, Help Feature 1.0 app
Type	adware software, potentially unwanted application (PUA), popups, pop-up virus, pop up ads
Symptoms	ads appear in places they shouldn’t be every time you perform an Internet search, your web-browser is re-directed to another web page your computer starts automatically installing unexpected software undesired toolbars your MAC OS settings are being modified without your request your browser slows to a crawl your computer starts performing very slowly
Removal	HelpFeature removal guide

How does the HelpFeature adware get on your MAC

The most popular way to get adware is free programs setup file. Most commonly, a user have a chance to disable all bundled modules, but some setup packages are made to confuse the average users, in order to trick them into installing potentially unwanted software and adware. Anyway, easier to prevent adware software rather than clean up your Apple Mac after one. So, keep your web browser updated (turn on automatic updates), run good antivirus programs, double check free software before you run it (do a google search, scan a downloaded file with VirusTotal), avoid dubious and unknown web-sites.

You probably want to know how to remove adware as well as remove HelpFeature ads. In the step-by-step guide below we will tell you about how to solve your issues.

How to Remove HelpFeature adware

Fortunately, it is not hard to get rid of HelpFeature . In the following tutorial, we will provide two methods to clean your MAC of this adware. One is the manual removal way and the other is automatic removal way. You can choose the solution that best fits you. Please follow the removal guidance below to get rid of HelpFeature right now!

To remove HelpFeature, use the steps below:

1. How to manually get rid of HelpFeature
   • Delete dubious apps using the Finder
   • Remove HelpFeature adware from Google Chrome
   • Remove HelpFeature adware from Safari
   • Get rid of HelpFeature from Firefox by resetting web-browser settings
2. Automatic Removal of HelpFeature adware
   • How to automatically remove HelpFeature with MalwareBytes Anti-Malware
3. How to stay safe online
4. Finish words

How to manually get rid of HelpFeature

First try to remove HelpFeature adware manually; to do this, follow the steps below. Of course, manual removal of adware requires more time and may not be suitable for those who are poorly versed in system settings. In this case, we recommend that you scroll down to the section that describes how to remove HelpFeature using free utilities.

Delete dubious apps using the Finder

Check out the Finder (Applications section) to see all installed programs. If you see any unknown and dubious applications, they are the ones you need to remove.

Open Finder and click “Applications” like below.

You will see a list of apps installed on your Apple Mac. We recommend to pay maximum attention to the program you installed last. Most probably, it is the HelpFeature adware. If you’re in doubt, you can always check the program by doing a search for her name in Google, Yahoo or Bing. After the program which you need to uninstall is found, simply right click on its name, and choose “Move to Trash”.

Don’t forget, choose Finder, then “Empty Trash”.

Remove HelpFeature adware from Google Chrome

If adware, other application or extensions replaced your Google Chrome settings without your knowledge, then you can get rid of HelpFeature ads and return your internet browser settings in Google Chrome at any time. Essential information like bookmarks, browsing history, passwords, cookies, auto-fill data and personal dictionaries will not be removed.

1. First start the Chrome and click Menu button (small button in the form of three dots).
2. It will show the Google Chrome main menu. Choose More Tools, then click Extensions.
3. You’ll see the list of installed extensions. If the list has the extension labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following guide: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
4. Now open the Chrome menu once again, press the “Settings” menu.
5. You will see the Chrome’s settings page. Scroll down and press “Advanced” link.
6. Scroll down again and click the “Reset” button.
7. The Google Chrome will open the reset profile settings page as shown on the image above.
8. Next press the “Reset” button.
9. Once this procedure is finished, your web-browser’s search engine by default, start page and new tab will be restored to their original defaults.
10. To learn more, read the post How to reset Chrome settings to default.

Remove HelpFeature adware from Safari

If you find that Safari web-browser settings such as homepage, search engine and newtab having been replaced by HelpFeature adware software, then you may return your settings, via the reset browser procedure.

Run Safari internet browser. Next, choose Preferences from the Safari menu.

First, click the “Security” icon. Here, choose “Block pop-up windows”. It will block some types of popups.

Now, click the “Extensions” icon. Look for questionable add-ons on left panel, choose it, then click the “Uninstall” button. Most important to remove all questionable plugins from Safari.

Once complete, check your homepage and search engine settings. Click “General” icon. Make sure that the “Homepage” field contains the website you want or is empty.

Make sure that the “Search engine” setting shows your preferred search engine. In some versions of Safari, this setting is in the “Search” tab.

Get rid of HelpFeature from Firefox by resetting web-browser settings

Resetting Firefox browser will reset all the settings to their original settings and will remove HelpFeature ads, malicious add-ons and extensions. However, your themes, bookmarks, history, passwords, and web form auto-fill information will not be deleted.

First, run the Firefox and press button. It will open the drop-down menu on the right-part of the web browser. Further, click the Help button () as on the image below.

In the Help menu, select the “Troubleshooting Information” option. Another way to open the “Troubleshooting Information” screen – type “about:support” in the browser adress bar and press Enter. It will display the “Troubleshooting Information” page as shown on the screen below. In the upper-right corner of this screen, click the “Refresh Firefox” button.

It will open the confirmation prompt. Further, press the “Refresh Firefox” button. The Mozilla Firefox will start a procedure to fix your problems that caused by the HelpFeature adware software. After, it’s complete, press the “Finish” button.

Automatic Removal of HelpFeature adware

There are not many good free anti malware applications with high detection ratio. The effectiveness of malware removal utilities depends on various factors, mostly on how often their virus/malware signatures DB are updated in order to effectively detect modern malware, adware, hijackers and other potentially unwanted programs. We suggest to run several applications, not just one. These programs that listed below will allow you remove all components of the adware software from your disk and system folders and thereby remove HelpFeature adware software.

How to automatically remove HelpFeature with MalwareBytes Anti-Malware

Manual HelpFeature adware software removal requires some computer skills. Some files that created by the adware may be not fully removed. We recommend that use the MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) that are completely clean your Apple Mac of adware. Moreover, this free utility will allow you to remove browser hijacker, malware, PUPs and toolbars that your computer can be infected too.

Please go to the link below to download MalwareBytes.

After downloading is finished, close all programs and windows on your MAC system. Run the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes Free will automatically start and you can see its main screen as on the image below.

Now press the “Scan” button to perform a system scan with this utility for the HelpFeature 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. When a threat is detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly.

As the scanning ends, a list of all threats detected is prepared. Make sure to check mark the threats that are unsafe and then click “Remove Selected Items” button. The MalwareBytes Free will start to uninstall HelpFeature adware.

How to stay safe online

Enabling an adblocker application such as AdGuard is an effective way to alleviate the risks. Additionally, ad blocking programs will also protect you from harmful ads and web pages, and, of course, stop redirection chain to malicious and similar web-pages.

Please go to the following link to download AdGuard.

Once the download is finished, run the downloaded file. The “Setup Wizard” window will show up on the computer screen.

Follow the prompts. AdGuard will then be installed. A window will show up asking you to confirm that you want to see a quick tutorial. Click “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick instructions that will allow you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you run your Apple Mac, AdGuard will start automatically and stop intrusive pop up advertisements, block malicious or misleading web-pages.

Finish words

Once you have finished the few simple steps outlined above, your MAC OS should be clean from this adware software and other malicious software. The Safari, Google Chrome and Firefox will no longer display the HelpFeature ads when you browse the Internet. Unfortunately, if the steps does not help you, then you have caught a new adware software, and then the best way – ask for help.

Please create a new question by using the “Ask Question” button in the Questions and Answers. Try to give us some details about your problems, so we can try to help you more accurately. Wait for one of our trained “Security Team” or Site Administrator to provide you with knowledgeable assistance tailored to your problem with the intrusive HelpFeature adware.