How to uninstall IdeaReference app/extension from Mac – Removal guide

IdeaReference is a PUP (potentially unwanted program) belonging to the category of Adware. What is the purpose of Adware? Adware is short for ‘ad supported’ software. Additionally, some malicious software has adware built into the program. The IdeaReference adware displays undesired advertisements that appear in unclosable windows or sponsored links on browser. In order to display unwanted adverts as often as possible adware can change your internet browser settings. You may even find that your machine settings are hijacked without your knowledge. The IdeaReference makers do so in order to generate revenue via third-party ad network. Thus every your click on the advertisements generates money for them.

Does adware steal your data? Adware can be used to gather lots of confidential information that can be later used for marketing purposes. You do not know if your home address, account names and passwords are safe.

The instructions below explaining steps to remove IdeaReference adware from your Mac. Feel free to use it for removal of adware that may attack Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Safari and other popular browsers. The step-by-step tutorial will allow you remove adware software and thereby get rid of unwanted ads from your web browser.

How does IdeaReference get on your Apple Mac

Adware is bundled within various free programs. This means that you need to be very careful when installing programs downloaded from the Internet, even from a large proven hosting. Be sure to read the Terms of Use and the Software license, choose only the Manual, Advanced or Custom setup mode, switch off all bundled web-browser extensions and applications are offered to install.

Threat Summary

Name	IdeaReference, Idea Reference 1.0 app
Type	adware, PUP (potentially unwanted program), popups, pop-up ads, popup virus
Symptoms	internet browser pop-ups appear and recommend fake Jave updates every time you perform an Internet search, your web-browser is redirected to another web-site unexpected programs installed without your knowledge unwanted toolbars on your desktop your web browser settings are being modified without your request slow Internet browsing speeds your machine became slower than normal
Removal	IdeaReference removal guide

How to Remove IdeaReference adware

Not all undesired applications like IdeaReference adware are easily uninstallable. You might see pop-ups, deals, text links, in-text advertisements, banners and other type of advertisements in the Safari, Google Chrome and Firefox and might not be able to figure out the program responsible for this activity. The reason for this is that many unwanted programs neither appear in the Finder. Therefore in order to completely get rid of IdeaReference adware software, you need to execute the following steps. Read it once, after doing so, please bookmark this page (or open it on your smartphone) as you may need to exit your web browser or restart your MAC system.

To remove IdeaReference, complete the following steps:

1. Manual IdeaReference adware software removal
   • Delete IdeaReference related applications through the Finder
   • Remove IdeaReference from Mozilla Firefox by resetting web browser settings
   • Remove IdeaReference adware from Chrome
   • Remove IdeaReference from Safari
2. Automatic Removal of IdeaReference adware software
   • Run MalwareBytes Anti-Malware to delete IdeaReference adware
3. Run AdBlocker to stay safe online
4. To sum up

Manual IdeaReference adware software removal

In most cases, it is possible to manually delete IdeaReference . This way does not involve the use of any tricks or removal utilities. You just need to recover the normal settings of the computer and browser. This can be done by following a few simple steps below. If you want to quickly remove IdeaReference , as well as perform a full scan of your computer, we recommend that you run adware software removal tools, which are listed below.

Delete IdeaReference related applications through the Finder

The process of adware removal is generally the same across all versions of Mac OS. To start with, it is necessary to check the list of installed applications on your computer and remove all unused, unknown and questionable software.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Carefully browse through the list of installed software and remove all questionable and unknown apps.

Once you’ve found anything dubious that may be the IdeaReference adware or other potentially unwanted program, then right click this application and choose “Move to Trash”. Once complete, Empty Trash.

Remove IdeaReference from Mozilla Firefox by resetting web browser settings

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

Start the Firefox and press the menu button (it looks like three stacked lines) at the top right of the web-browser screen. Next, click the question-mark icon at the bottom of the drop-down menu. It will show the slide-out menu.

Select the “Troubleshooting information”. If you’re unable to access the Help menu, then type “about:support” in your address bar and press Enter. It bring up the “Troubleshooting Information” page as shown below.

Click the “Refresh Firefox” button at the top right of the Troubleshooting Information page. Select “Refresh Firefox” in the confirmation dialog box. The Firefox will start a procedure to fix your problems that caused by the IdeaReference adware software. Once, it’s done, click the “Finish” button.

Remove IdeaReference adware from Chrome

Reset Google Chrome settings can help you solve some problems caused by adware and delete IdeaReference ads from browser. This will also disable malicious addons as well as clear cookies and site data. However, your themes, bookmarks, history, passwords, and web form auto-fill information will not be deleted.

1. First start the Chrome and click Menu button (small button in the form of three dots).
2. It will display the Chrome main menu. Select More Tools, then click Extensions.
3. You will see the list of installed extensions. If the list has the plugin 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 click “Advanced” link.
6. Scroll down again and click the “Reset” button.
7. The Chrome will display the reset profile settings page as on the image above.
8. Next press the “Reset” button.
9. Once this process is complete, your browser’s default search provider, newtab and start page will be restored to their original defaults.
10. To learn more, read the blog post How to reset Google Chrome settings to default.

Remove IdeaReference from Safari

If you find that Safari web browser settings like new tab, startpage and search provider having been modified by IdeaReference , then you may return your settings, via the reset web-browser procedure.

Run Safari web-browser. Next, select Preferences from the Safari menu.

First, click the “Security” tab. Here, select “Block pop-up windows”. It will stop some types of pop ups.

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

Once complete, check your home page 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 provider. In some versions of Safari, this setting is in the “Search” tab.

Automatic Removal of IdeaReference adware software

Run malicious software removal tools to remove IdeaReference automatically. The free applications utilities specially developed for hijackers, adware and other potentially unwanted applications removal. These tools may remove most of adware software from Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. Moreover, it can remove all components of adware from Windows registry and system drives.

Run MalwareBytes Anti-Malware to delete IdeaReference adware

Delete IdeaReference adware manually is difficult and often the adware is not fully removed. Therefore, we recommend you to run the MalwareBytes AntiMalware which are completely clean your MAC system. Moreover, this free program will allow you to remove malicious software, potentially unwanted software, toolbars and hijacker infection that your MAC system may be infected too.

Visit the page linked below to download MalwareBytes Anti-Malware.

Once downloading is done, close all windows on your machine. Further, run the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) will automatically start and you may see its main window as displayed on the screen below.

Next, click the “Scan Now” button . MalwareBytes Free utility will begin scanning the whole computer to find out the IdeaReference adware. This task may take some time, so please be patient. During the scan MalwareBytes will search for threats exist on your MAC OS.

As the scanning ends, the results are displayed in the scan report. When you’re ready, click “Remove Selected Items” button.

The MalwareBytes Free will get rid of IdeaReference .

Run AdBlocker to stop IdeaReference and stay safe online

We recommend to install an ad blocker program that can stop misleading, harmful and other unwanted webpages. The ad-blocker utility like AdGuard is a application that basically removes advertising from the Web and blocks access to malicious web pages. Moreover, security experts says that using ad blocking software is necessary to stay safe when surfing the Internet.

Visit the following page to download AdGuard.

After downloading is done, 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 instructions. Press “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick guidance that will allow you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you start your Apple Mac, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop intrusive ads, block malicious and misleading web pages.

To sum up

Now your computer should be free of the IdeaReference adware software. We suggest that you keep MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) (to periodically scan your MAC system for new adwares and other malicious software) and AdGuard (to help you stop intrusive popups and harmful web-sites). Moreover, to prevent any adware software, please stay clear of unknown and third party apps.

If you need more help with IdeaReference related issues, go to here.