How to uninstall PublicFraction app/extension from Mac

What is PublicFraction

PublicFraction is supposed to be an app that will improve the browsing experience, but according to security researchers, this application is an adware. Adware is form of programs designed to insert adverts into your World Wide Web surfing or even desktop experience. Adware can be created to modify your home page, search provider, search results, or even add toolbars to your browser. Adware run in the background when browse the Internet, and adware can slow down your Apple Mac and affect its performance.

Even worse, adware may collect your Web surfing activity by saving URLs visited, IP addresses, web-browser version and type, cookie information, Internet Service Provider (ISP) and websites visited. Such kind of behavior can lead to serious security problems or user information theft. This is another reason why the PublicFraction adware should be deleted without a wait.

Below we are discussing the ways which are very useful in deleting adware. The steps will also allow you to delete PublicFraction from your MAC system for free.

How does PublicFraction get on your computer

Adware software usually is bundled with free programs . So, when you installing free applications, carefully read the disclaimers, choose the Custom or Advanced install mode to watch for additional apps that are being installed, because certain of the apps are potentially unwanted software and adware software.

Threat Summary

Name	PublicFraction, PublicFraction 1.0 app
Type	adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), pop up virus, pop-up ads, popups
Symptoms	unclosable window appear and recommend fake updates and other unwanted apps your internet browser is redirected to web pages you did not want there is an unwanted program in the ‘Applications’ section of the Finder annoying toolbars your web browser home page or search provider keeps changing or is not set to Google anymor slow Internet browsing speeds your computer is no stable leading to crashes
Removal	PublicFraction removal guide

How to remove PublicFraction adware

Fortunately, it is not hard to remove adware software. In the following tutorial, we will provide two ways to free your MAC system of this adware. One is the manual removal method and the other is automatic removal method. You can select the method that best fits you. Please follow the removal tutorial below to remove PublicFraction adware right now!

To remove PublicFraction, use the following steps:

1. Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device
2. Uninstall PublicFraction associated software by using the Finder
3. Remove PublicFraction related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove PublicFraction from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. How to stay safe online
7. To sum up

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

PublicFraction can install a configuration profile on the Mac system to block changes made to the browser settings. Therefore, you need to open system preferences, find and delete the profile installed by the adware.

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 device. If there is Profiles in the list, then click on it, then select a profile associated with PublicFraction.

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

Uninstall PublicFraction associated software by using the Finder

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

Make sure you have closed all browsers and other applications. Next, uninstall any unwanted and suspicious apps from computer using the Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Look around the entire list of software installed on your MAC system. Most likely, one of them is the PublicFraction . Select the suspicious program or the program that name is not familiar to you and remove it.

Drag the questionable program from the Applications folder to the Trash.

Most important, don’t forget, choose Finder -> Empty Trash.

Remove PublicFraction related files and folders

Now you need to try to find PublicFraction 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 PublicFraction 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: com.machelper.plist, search.plist, macsearch.plist, installapp.plist and PublicFraction.plist. Most often, PUPs, browser hijackers and adware software create several files with similar names.

Check for PublicFraction 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 PublicFraction 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 PublicFraction 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.PublicFraction.plist, com.search.plist, com.macsearch.plist, com.installapp.plist and com.machelper.plist. In most cases, adware software, browser hijackers and potentially unwanted programs create several files with similar names.

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

You can remove PublicFraction related files automatically with a help of MalwareBytes. We advise this free malware removal utility because it may easily get rid of adware, toolbars, browser hijackers and potentially unwanted programs with all their components such as files, folders and system entries.

Click the link below to download MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM).

After the download is done, close all software and windows on your MAC system. Run the saved file. Follow the prompts.

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

Now press the “Scan” button . MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) tool will begin scanning the whole machine to find out the PublicFraction adware. Depending on your machine, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. While the MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) application is checking, you can see number of objects it has identified as threat.

As the scanning ends, MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) will display a list of all items detected by the scan. Review the scan results and then press the “Quarantine” button. The MalwareBytes will remove PublicFraction adware.

Remove PublicFraction from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

Remove unwanted extensions is a easy solution to get rid of PublicFraction adware and restore internet browser’s settings which have been replaced by adware.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right corner, click on Google Chrome’s main menu button, represented by three vertical dots. Select ‘More tools’, then ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to get rid of PublicFraction adware by reset Google 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 problems with PublicFraction adware 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

If you want to remove annoying ads, browser redirections and pop ups, then install an ad-blocking program such as AdGuard. It can block unwanted ads and pop ups, stop web-pages from tracking your online activities when using the Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari. So, if you like surf the World Wide Web, but you don’t like undesired advertisements and want to protect your computer from harmful websites, then the AdGuard is your best choice.

Installing the AdGuard is simple. First you will need to download AdGuard on your MAC OS by clicking on the following link.

When the downloading process 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 guidance. Click “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial that will allow you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you start your Apple Mac, AdGuard will run automatically and stop intrusive ads, block harmful and misleading webpages.

To sum up

Now your MAC system should be clean of the PublicFraction adware. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted ads and annoying malicious web pages) 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 adware and unwanted ads from the Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Safari, then ask for help here here.