How to uninstall NetworkHelper app/extension from Mac

What is NetworkHelper

NetworkHelper is an adware program. Adware is a form of malware that is created to bombard you with endless ads and popup windows that could potentially be dangerous for your MAC. If you get adware software on your Mac computer, it can change browser settings and install malicious browser add-ons.

Another reason why you need to get rid of adware is its online data-tracking activity. Adware software can collect privacy data which can be later used for marketing purposes. You don’t know if your home address, account names and passwords are safe.

As evident, the NetworkHelper is a potentially unwanted program and should not be used. If you noticed any of the symptoms mentioned above, we suggest you to follow steps below to get rid of the adware software and remove unwanted advertisements from your internet browser.

How does NetworkHelper get on your Apple Mac

In many cases, adware gets on your MAC along with the installation packages from file sharing and torrents web-pages. So, install free software is a a good chance that you will find a bundled adware. If you don’t know how to avoid it, then use a simple trick. During the installation, choose the Custom or Advanced installation option. Next, press ‘Decline’ button and clear all checkboxes on offers that ask you to install additional programs. Moreover, please carefully read Term of use and User agreement before installing any programs or otherwise you can end up with another unwanted program on your MAC system such as this adware software.

Threat Summary

Name	NetworkHelper, NetworkHelper 1.0 app
Type	adware, potentially unwanted program (PUP), popup advertisements, pop ups, pop-up virus
Symptoms	pop-up advertisements won’t go away your web-browser is redirected to web-sites you did not want there is an unexpected programs in the Application section of your Finder new toolbars in your internet browser your web-browser homepage or search provider keeps changing or is not set to Google anymor slow Internet browsing speeds your MAC starts performing very slowly
Removal	NetworkHelper removal guide

How to remove NetworkHelper adware

Not all unwanted apps such as NetworkHelper are easily uninstallable. You might see pop-ups, deals, text links, in-text ads, banners and other type of ads in the Safari, Firefox and Google Chrome and might not be able to figure out the application responsible for this activity. The reason for this is that many unwanted apps neither appear in the Finder. Therefore in order to fully remove NetworkHelper adware software, you need to execute the following steps. Certain of the steps will require you to restart your computer or close this web page. So, read this tutorial carefully, then bookmark this page or open it on your smartphone for later reference.

To remove NetworkHelper, perform the steps below:

1. Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device
2. Check the list of installed programs
3. Remove NetworkHelper related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove NetworkHelper from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. How to stay safe online
7. To sum up

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

NetworkHelper can make changes to the Mac system such as malicious changes to browser settings, and the addition of malicious system profiles. You need to check the system preferences, find and remove malicious profiles and ensure your settings are as you expect.

Click Apple menu ( ) > System Preferences.

In System Preferences, select Profiles. if there is no Profiles in the list of preferences, that means there are no profiles installed on the Mac computer. If there is Profiles in the list, then click on it, then select a profile associated with NetworkHelper.

To delete a malicious profile, click on the minus button ( – ) located at the bottom-left of the Profiles screen.

Check the list of installed programs

The next step to remove adware, browser hijackers and PUPs is to delete unknown and dubious applications. Using the Finder you can do this quickly and easily. We recommend you not to skip this step, as it often helps to get rid of unwanted ads and internet browser redirects.

1. Open the Finder.
2. Click “Applications”.
3. It will show a list of all programs installed on the MAC system.
4. Scroll through the all list, and delete dubious and unknown applications. Pay maximum attention to the application you installed last.
5. Drag the questionable application from the Applications folder to the Trash.
6. Empty Trash.

Remove NetworkHelper related files and folders

Now you need to try to find NetworkHelper related files and folders, and then delete them manually. You need to look for these files in certain directories. To quickly open them, we recommend using the “Go to Folder…” command.

Click on the Finder icon. From the menu bar, select Go and click “Go to Folder…”. As a result, a small window opens that allows you to quickly open a specific directory.

Check for NetworkHelper generated files in the /Library/LaunchAgents folder

In the “Go to Folder…” window, type the following text and press Go:
/Library/LaunchAgents

This will open the contents of the “/Library/LaunchAgents” folder. Look carefully at it and pay special attention to recently created files, as well as files that have a suspicious name. Move all suspicious files to the Trash. A few examples of files: macsearch.plist, com.machelper.plist, installapp.plist, search.plist and NetworkHelper.plist. Most often, browser hijackers, potentially unwanted programs and adware software create several files with similar names.

Check for NetworkHelper generated files in the /Library/Application Support folder

In the “Go to Folder…” window, type the following text and press Go:
/Library/Application Support

This will open the contents of the “Application Support” folder. Look carefully at its contents, pay special attention to recently added/changed folder. Move all suspicious folders to the Trash.

Check for NetworkHelper generated files in the “~/Library/LaunchAgents” folder

In the “Go to Folder…” window, type the following text and press Go:
~/Library/LaunchAgents

Proceed in the same way as with the “/Library/LaunchAgents” and “/Library/Application Support” folders. Look for suspicious and recently added files. Move all suspicious files to the Trash.

Check for NetworkHelper generated files in the /Library/LaunchDaemons folder

In the “Go to Folder…” window, type the following text and press Go:
/Library/LaunchDaemons

Carefully browse the entire list of files and pay special attention to recently created files, as well as files that have a suspicious name. Move all suspicious files to the Trash. A few examples of files to be deleted: com.macsearch.plist, com.search.plist, com.machelper.plist, com.NetworkHelper.plist and com.installapp.plist. In most cases, PUPs, browser hijackers and adware create several files with similar names.

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

If you’re still having problems with the NetworkHelper removal or just wish to scan your Mac occasionally for adware and other malicious software, then download MalwareBytes Anti-Malware. It’s free for home use, and identifies and deletes various unwanted programs that attacks your machine or degrades MAC system performance. MalwareBytes can remove adware, browser hijackers, PUPs and toolbars as well as malicious software, including ransomware and trojans.

Download MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) by clicking on the link below.

After the downloading process is complete, close all applications and windows on your Apple Mac. Run the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) will automatically start and you can see its main screen such as the one below.

Now click the “Scan” button to start scanning your machine for the NetworkHelper . Depending on your computer, the scan may take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. While the utility is scanning, you can see number of objects and files has already scanned.

When MalwareBytes AntiMalware is finished scanning your MAC, the results are displayed in the scan report. Review the results once the tool has finished the system scan. If you think an entry should not be quarantined, then uncheck it. Otherwise, simply click the “Quarantine” button. The MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) will start to delete NetworkHelper adware.

Remove NetworkHelper from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

Annoying NetworkHelper adware software or other symptoms of adware software in your web-browser is a good reason to find and get rid of malicious plugins. This is an easy way to recover browsers settings and not lose any important information.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right hand corner, click on ‘three vertical dots’, and this will open up the main menu on Google Chrome. In the menu go to ‘More tools’, then ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to remove NetworkHelper adware software by reset Chrome settings.	Click on ‘menu’ button and select ‘Add-ons’. Go to ‘Extensions’ tab. To uninstall an add-on, click on ‘Remove’ button next to it. If you are still experiencing issues with NetworkHelper adware software removal, you need to reset Mozilla Firefox browser.
Safari
On the top menu select ‘Safari’, then ‘Preferences’. Select ‘Extensions’ tab. Select an extension you want to delete and click ‘Uninstall’ button next to it.

How to stay safe online

One of the worst things is the fact that you cannot block all malicious web sites using only built-in MS Windows capabilities. However, there is a program out that you can use to stop unwanted web browser redirects, ads and popups in any modern browsers including Firefox, Chrome and Safari. It is named Adguard and it works very well.

Click the link below to download the latest version of AdGuard for Mac OS.

After downloading is finished, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen. Follow the prompts.

Each time, when you start your MAC, AdGuard will start automatically and stop unwanted advertisements, block malicious and misleading web sites.

To sum up

Once you have finished the step-by-step tutorial shown above, your MAC should be clean from NetworkHelper adware and other malware. The Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari will no longer redirect you to various unwanted web pages and online ads. Unfortunately, if the steps does not help you, then you have caught a new adware, and then the best way – ask for help here.