How to uninstall SkilledObject app/extension from Mac

What is SkilledObject

According to security specialists, SkilledObject is an adware program. Adware can cause problems for your Mac. The SkilledObject adware can display unwanted ads on your internet browser so that your cannot block them, redirect your web browser to shady web pages, and it can cause malicious webpages to pop up on your web-browser. Adware might end up on your MAC after you download and install free applications from a questionable source.

Does adware steal your personal information? Adware can collect user data, including:

• IP addresses;
• URLs visited;
• search queries/terms;
• clicks on links and ads;
• web browser version information.

We suggest to remove SkilledObject adware, as soon as you found this issue, as it can redirect your web-browser to web-resources that may load other unwanted software on your computer.

How does SkilledObject get on your machine

Adware spreads with a simple but quite effective way. It is integrated into the installation package of various free programs. Thus on the process of installation, it will be installed onto your MAC and/or internet browser. In order to avoid adware, you just need to follow a few simple rules: carefully read the Terms of Use and the license, choose only a Manual, Custom or Advanced installation option, which enables you to make sure that the program you want to install, thereby protect your Apple Mac from any adware software.

Threat Summary

Name	SkilledObject, SkilledObject 1.0 app
Type	adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), pop-ups, popup ads, pop up virus
Symptoms	unwanted ads appear on web pages that you are visiting webpage links redirect to web sites different from what you expected new entries appear in your Applications folder unwanted toolbars unwanted changes in your internet browser like using a new default search provider speed test good but internet slow your MAC crashes
Removal	SkilledObject removal guide

How to Remove SkilledObject adware (removal steps)

When the adware gets installed on your MAC without your knowledge, it’s not easy to delete. Most commonly, there is no Uninstall program which simply delete adware software from your machine. So, we advise using well-proven free specialized utility such as MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM). But the best solution to remove SkilledObject adware will be to perform several manual steps, after that additionally use antimalware tools.

To remove SkilledObject, use the following steps:

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

Remove profiles created by SkilledObject

SkilledObject 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 software.

Click the System Preferences icon ( ) in the Dock, or choose Apple menu ( ) > System Preferences.

In System Preferences, click Profiles, then select a profile associated with SkilledObject.

Click the minus button ( – ) located at the bottom-left of the Profiles screen to remove the profile.
Note: if you do not see Profiles in the System Preferences, that means there are no profiles installed on your Mac, which is normal.

Remove SkilledObject associated software by using the Finder

Check the list of installed applications and delete all unknown or dubious software. This is an important step, it so often happens that browser hijackers, PUPs and adware are built into free programs, so by removing these programs you can get rid of undesired advertisements and web-browser redirects.

Make sure you have closed all web browsers and other applications. Next, remove any undesired and suspicious software from computer using the Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Look around the entire list of applications installed on your machine. Most likely, one of them is the SkilledObject adware software. Choose the questionable application or the program that name is not familiar to you and remove it.

Drag the dubious application from the Applications folder to the Trash.

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

Remove SkilledObject related files and folders

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

Manual SkilledObject removal requires some computer skills. Some files and system entries that created by the adware software can be not fully removed. We recommend that use MalwareBytes Free to scan the Mac device. Moreover, this program will help you to remove adware software, potentially unwanted programs, browser hijackers and toolbars that your machine can be affected too.

MalwareBytes can be downloaded from the following link.

When the downloading process is done, close all apps and windows on your computer. Run the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes AntiMalware will automatically start and you can see its main screen as shown in the figure below.

Now click the “Scan” button . MalwareBytes Anti-Malware program will scan through the whole computer for the SkilledObject adware. A scan may take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your MAC OS and the speed of your machine. While the MalwareBytes is scanning, you can see count of objects it has identified either as being malware.

When MalwareBytes completes the scan, MalwareBytes Free will show a screen which contains a list of malware that has been detected. All detected items will be marked. You can delete them all by simply press the “Quarantine” button. The MalwareBytes AntiMalware will remove SkilledObject and move the selected items to the Quarantine.

Remove SkilledObject from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

Remove unwanted extensions is a easy method to remove SkilledObject adware and return web-browser’s settings that have been modified by adware.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top-right corner, expand the Chrome menu. 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 delete SkilledObject 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 SkilledObject 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

Use ad blocker program such as AdGuard in order to block ads, malvertisements, pop-ups and online trackers, avoid having to install malicious and adware browser plug-ins and add-ons that affect your machine performance and impact your MAC security. Browse the World Wide Web anonymously and stay safe online!

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

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

Each time, when you launch your MAC, AdGuard will start automatically and stop unwanted ads, block harmful and misleading web sites.

To sum up

After completing the step-by-step tutorial outlined above, your machine should be free from SkilledObject adware and other malware. The Mozilla Firefox, Chrome and Safari will no longer redirect you to various unwanyed web sites and online ads. Unfortunately, if the few simple steps does not help you, then you have caught a new adware, and then the best way – ask for help here.