According to security researchers,EssentialOptimizer is an adware program. What is Adware? Adware is form of malicious software that shows unwanted advertising on a computer, redirects search results to advertising web-pages and collects user data for marketing purposes. Adware can display banner ads, full-screen advertisements, pop ups, videos, or other varieties of online advertising. Adware can attack your MAC system’s web browsers such as the Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Chrome. Maybe you approve the idea that the ads or pop-ups is just a small problem. But these annoying advertisements eat Apple Mac resources and slow down your computer performance.
Even worse, adware can install a component that enables its author to track which web-sites you visit, which products you look at upon those pages. So, if you had adware on your computer, there is a good chance you have another that is collecting and sharing your confidential information with third parties, without your knowledge.
How does EssentialOptimizer get on your MAC OS
Adware may be spread through the use of trojan horses and other forms of malicious software, but in many cases, adware gets onto MAC system by being attached to certain free programs. Many makers of free software include additional apps in their setup file. Sometimes it’s possible to avoid the setup of any adware: carefully read the Terms of Use and the Software license, choose only Manual, Custom or Advanced setup option, disable all checkboxes before clicking Install or Next button while installing new freeware.
Threat Summary
Name | EssentialOptimizer, Essential Optimizer 1.0 app |
Type | adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), pop up ads, pop-ups, pop up virus |
Symptoms |
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Removal | EssentialOptimizer removal guide |
How to remove EssentialOptimizer adware
The adware software is a form of malware that you might have difficulty in deleting it from your MAC system. Luckily, you’ve found the effective EssentialOptimizer adware removal guidance in this article. Both the manual removal solution and the automatic removal method will be provided below and you can just choose the one that best for you. If you have any questions or need assist then type a comment below. Some of the steps will require you to reboot your machine or close this web-page. So, read this guidance carefully, then bookmark this page or open it on your smartphone for later reference.
To remove EssentialOptimizer, complete the steps below:
- How to manually remove EssentialOptimizer
- Automatic Removal of EssentialOptimizer
- How to stay safe online
- To sum up
How to manually remove EssentialOptimizer
In this section of the blog post, we have posted the steps that will allow to delete EssentialOptimizer manually. Although compared to removal utilities, this solution loses in time, but you don’t need to download anything on the MAC system. It will be enough for you to follow the detailed guide with pictures. We tried to describe each step in detail, but if you realized that you might not be able to figure it out, or simply do not want to change the Microsoft Windows and web-browser settings, then it’s better for you to use tools from trusted developers, which are listed below.
Uninstall potentially unwanted apps using the Finder
The process of adware removal is generally the same across all versions of Mac operating system. To start with, it is necessary to check the list of installed apps on your MAC OS and remove all unused, unknown and questionable applications.
- Open the Finder.
- Click “Applications”.
- It will open a list of all programs installed on the MAC.
- Scroll through the all list, and uninstall dubious and unknown software. Pay maximum attention to the program you installed last.
- Drag the questionable program from the Applications folder to the Trash.
- Empty Trash.
Remove EssentialOptimizer from Chrome
Reset Chrome settings will help you to completely reset your browser. The result of activating this function will bring Chrome settings back to its original state. This can delete EssentialOptimizer ads and disable harmful addons. However, your saved bookmarks and passwords will not be lost. This will not affect your history, passwords, bookmarks, and other saved data.
First run the Chrome. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal dots ().
It will display 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 guidance: Remove 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 method to open the Chrome’s settings – type chrome://settings in the browser adress bar and press Enter
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and press the “Advanced” link. Now scroll down until the “Reset” section is visible, as on the image below and click the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
The Google Chrome will show the confirmation dialog box as shown below.
You need to confirm your action, click the “Reset” button. The web browser will run the process of cleaning. Once it is done, the web browser’s settings including home page, new tab page and search engine by default back to the values which have been when the Google Chrome was first installed on your MAC system.
Get rid of EssentialOptimizer from Safari
If you find that Safari web-browser settings like search provider by default, new tab page and home page having been changed by the EssentialOptimizer adware, then you may return your settings, via the reset browser procedure.
Run Safari web-browser. Next, select Preferences from the Safari menu.
First, click the “Security” icon. Here, choose “Block pop-up windows”. It will stop some types of pop-ups.
Now, click the “Extensions” icon. Look for suspicious plugins on left panel, choose it, then click the “Uninstall” button. Most important to get rid of all questionable plugins 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 engine. In some versions of Safari, this setting is in the “Search” tab.
Delete EssentialOptimizer from Mozilla Firefox by resetting web-browser settings
Resetting your Firefox is first troubleshooting step for any issues with your browser application, including unwanted ads. Essential information like bookmarks, browsing history, passwords, cookies, auto-fill data and personal dictionaries will not be removed.
First, run the Mozilla Firefox. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (). It will open the drop-down menu. Next, click the Help button ().
In the Help menu click the “Troubleshooting Information”. In the upper-right corner of the “Troubleshooting Information” page click on “Refresh Firefox” button such as the one below.
Confirm your action, press the “Refresh Firefox”.
Automatic Removal of EssentialOptimizer
Manual removal tutorial does not always allow to completely delete the adware, as it’s not easy to identify and get rid of components of adware software and all malicious files from hard disk. Therefore, it is recommended that you run malicious software removal utility to completely delete EssentialOptimizer ads off your internet browser. Several free malware removal tools are currently available that can be used against the adware. The optimum way would be to run MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM).
Remove EssentialOptimizer adware with MalwareBytes
Manual EssentialOptimizer removal requires some computer skills. Some files that created by the adware software may be not completely removed. We recommend that use the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) that are fully clean your MAC system of adware software. Moreover, this free utility will allow you to get rid of browser hijacker, malicious software, potentially unwanted applications and toolbars that your machine may be infected too.
MalwareBytes Free can be downloaded from the following link.
20850 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: September 10, 2020
When the download is finished, close all programs and windows on your MAC. Run the saved file. Follow the prompts.
The MalwareBytes will automatically start and you can see its main screen like below.
Now press the “Scan” button to begin checking your MAC OS for the EssentialOptimizer adware. This procedure may take quite a while, so please be patient. While the MalwareBytes AntiMalware tool is scanning, you may see how many objects it has identified as being affected by malware.
Once the scan is complete, MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) will open a list of detected items. Once you’ve selected what you want to remove from your MAC system click “Remove Selected Items” button. The MalwareBytes will start to delete EssentialOptimizer adware.
How to stay safe online
By installing an ad blocker program such as AdGuard, you are able to block malicious ads, stop autoplaying video ads and delete lots of distracting and undesired ads on websites.
Download AdGuard on your computer by clicking on the link below.
3686 downloads
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: January 17, 2018
When 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 guide. Click “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick guide which will allow you get to know AdGuard better.
Each time, when you launch your machine, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop unwanted pop up ads, block harmful and misleading web-sites.
To sum up
Now your computer should be clean of the EssentialOptimizer adware software. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted popup ads and undesired harmful web pages) and MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) (to periodically scan your MAC system for new adware softwares and other malicious software).
If you are still having problems while trying to remove EssentialOptimizer ads from the Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari, then ask for help here here.