How to uninstall PrimaryProcesser app/extension from Mac

What is PrimaryProcesser

According to security professionals, PrimaryProcesser is an adware program. Adware is a form of potentially unwanted software whose motive is to generate profit for its creator. It have various ways of earning by showing the advertisements forcibly to its victims. Adware can open pop-up windows, display unwanted advertisements, change the victim’s internet browser settings, or reroute the victim’s web browser to unrequested websites. Aside from causing unwanted advertisements and internet browser redirects, it also can slow down the machine.

The PrimaryProcesser adware takes over your internet browser’s default search provider and controls what will be displayed to you whenever you do a searching. Other than the search results, it also provides a large count of unwanted ads on the search page. Some of these ads created to mislead you into buying some questionable products and apps. Moreover, sometimes, those advertisements could redirect you to misleading or malicious websites.

Does adware steal your confidential information? The PrimaryProcesser adware can gather and transmit personal information without your knowledge. Adware be able to track information about web-pages visited, browser and system information, and your MAC IP address.

To find out how to remove PrimaryProcesser adware, we advise to read the few simple steps added to this post below. The guidance was created by experienced security specialists who discovered a way to get rid of the annoying adware out of the MAC system.

How does PrimaryProcesser get on your MAC OS

Adware mostly comes on the machine with free programs. In many cases, it comes without the user’s knowledge. Therefore, many users aren’t even aware that their MAC OS has been hijacked with potentially unwanted programs and adware software. Please follow the easy rules in order to protect your MAC from adware and PUPs: don’t install any suspicious apps, read the user agreement and select only the Custom, Manual or Advanced setup option, don’t rush to click the Next button. Also, always try to find a review of the program on the World Wide Web. Be careful and attentive!

Threat Summary

Name	PrimaryProcesser, PrimaryProcesser 1.0 app
Type	adware software, potentially unwanted program (PUP), popups, pop up virus, pop-up advertisements
Symptoms	pop ups and new tab pages are loaded without your request when you go to a web-page, you’re periodically re-directed to another web-page that you do not intend to visit unexpected apps installed without your knowledge unwanted browser toolbars your web browser search engine has changed without your permission slow Internet or slow browsing CPU usage seems unusually high
Removal	PrimaryProcesser removal guide

How to remove PrimaryProcesser from Mac

The following few simple steps will help you to remove PrimaryProcesser adware from the Safari, Google Chrome and Firefox. Moreover, the step-by-step guidance below will help you to remove malware, browser hijackers, potentially unwanted applications and toolbars that your Apple Mac may be infected. Please do the guide step by step. If you need assist or have any questions, then ask for our assistance or type a comment below. Read this manual carefully, bookmark it or open this page on your smartphone, because you may need to close your internet browser or reboot your MAC system.

To remove PrimaryProcesser, execute the following steps:

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

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

PrimaryProcesser 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. If there is Profiles in the list, then click on it, then select a profile related to PrimaryProcesser.

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

Delete PrimaryProcesser associated software by using the Finder

Check out the Finder (Applications section) to see all installed applications. If you see any unknown and dubious applications, they are the ones you need to remove.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

It will display a list of all apps installed on your MAC OS. Scroll through the all list, and remove any dubious and unknown software. Right click to questionable program and choose “Move to Trash”. Another way is drag the program from the Applications folder to the Trash.

Most important, scroll through the all list, and move to trash any unknown applications. Don’t forget, select Finder -> Empty Trash.

Remove PrimaryProcesser related files and folders

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

Manual PrimaryProcesser removal requires some computer skills. Some files and system entries that created by the adware software may be not fully removed. We recommend that use MalwareBytes Free to scan the Mac device. Moreover, this program will allow you to delete adware, toolbars, browser hijackers and PUPs that your MAC system can be affected too.

Please go to the following link to download MalwareBytes.

After downloading is complete, close all programs and windows on your machine. Open a directory in which you saved it. Run the saved file and follow the prompts.

Once installation is complete, you’ll see window similar to the one below.

Now click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan with this utility for the PrimaryProcesser adware. This procedure may take some time, so please be patient. During the scan MalwareBytes will locate threats present on your MAC OS.

After the scan get finished, you may check all items found on your Apple Mac. Review the report and then click “Quarantine” button.

The Malwarebytes will now get rid of PrimaryProcesser .

Remove PrimaryProcesser from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

Remove unwanted extensions is a easy way to delete PrimaryProcesser and return web-browser’s settings that have been modified 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 PrimaryProcesser 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 PrimaryProcesser adware removal, you need to reset 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

We suggest to install an ad blocker program. The adblocker utility like AdGuard is a program which basically removes advertising from the Net and stops access to malicious webpages. Moreover, security experts says that using ad-blocker software is necessary to stay safe when surfing the Internet.

Click the following link to download AdGuard.

Once the downloading process is complete, 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. Press “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 annoying pop-up advertisements, block malicious and misleading webpages.

Finish words

Now your MAC system should be clean of the PrimaryProcesser adware. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted popup ads and annoying malicious web sites) and MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) (to periodically scan your MAC for new malicious software, browser hijackers and adware). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Mac OS. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new hijackers, malicious applications and adware software are released.

If you are still having problems while trying to get rid of PrimaryProcesser from your web browser, then ask for help here.