How to uninstall SkillExplorer app/extension from Mac

What is SkillExplorer

SkillExplorer is supposed to be a program that will improve the browsing experience, but it is adware. Adware is form of software created to insert advertising into your World Wide Web browsing or even desktop experience. Adware can be designed to change your start page, search provider, search results, or even add toolbars to your browser. Adware software run in the background when you are online, and adware can slow down your computer and affect its performance.

Even worse, adware can install a component that enables its author to track which web pages you visit, which products you look at upon those pages. They are then able to select the type of advertisements they show you. So, if you had adware on your computer, there is a good chance you have another that is gathering and sharing your confidential information with third parties, without your consent.

In the guide below, we will explain effective ways on how to get rid of SkillExplorer adware from your machine and free your browser of annoying advertisements.

How does SkillExplorer get on your Apple Mac

Adware usually gets onto machine by being attached to some free programs that you download off of the Net. So, think back, have you ever download and run any free software. In order to avoid infection, in the Setup wizard, you should be be proactive and carefully read the ‘Terms of use’, the ‘license agreement’ and other installation screens, as well as to always choose the ‘Manual’ or ‘Advanced’ installation mode, when installing anything downloaded from the World Wide Web.

Threat Summary

Name	SkillExplorer, SkillExplorer 1.0 app
Type	adware, potentially unwanted program (PUP), popup ads, pop up virus, pop-ups
Symptoms	you experience tons of of unwanted advertising popups every time you perform an Internet search, your web browser is redirected to another webpage new entries appear in your Applications folder new toolbars suddenly added on your web-browser unwanted changes in your web-browser like using a new default search provider speed test good but internet slow your browser became slower than normal
Removal	SkillExplorer removal guide

How to remove SkillExplorer from Mac

The following guide will help you to remove SkillExplorer adware from the Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Chrome. Moreover, the few simple steps below will allow you to get rid of malicious software, hijackers, PUPs and toolbars that your MAC may be infected. Please do the guide step by step. If you need help or have any questions, then ask for our assistance or type a comment below. Certain of the steps below will require you to close this web-site. So, please read the few simple steps carefully, after that bookmark it or open it on your smartphone for later reference.

To remove SkillExplorer, use the following steps:

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

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

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

In System Preferences, click Profiles, then select a profile related to SkillExplorer.

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 computer, which is normal.

Check the list of installed apps

The next step in removing browser hijackers, PUPs and adware by yourself is to go into the Finder, then Applications. Take a look at the list of programs on your Mac computer and see if there are any questionable and unknown programs. If you see any, you need to uninstall it. Of course, before doing so, you can do an Internet search to find details on the application. If it is a browser hijacker, adware and PUP, you will likely find information that says so.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Very carefully look around the entire list of software installed on your MAC. Most likely, one of them is the SkillExplorer adware. Once you’ve found a dubious, unwanted or unused program, right click to it and choose “Move to Trash”. Another method is drag the program from the Applications folder to the Trash.

Don’t forget, select Finder -> “Empty Trash”.

Remove SkillExplorer related files and folders

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

Check for SkillExplorer 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 SkillExplorer 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 SkillExplorer 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.SkillExplorer.plist, com.installapp.plist and com.macsearch.plist. In most cases, browser hijackers, adware software and PUPs create several files with similar names.

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

Manual SkillExplorer removal requires some computer skills. Some files and system entries that created by the adware can be not completely removed. We recommend that use MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) to scan the Mac computer. Moreover, this program will help you to remove toolbars, potentially unwanted programs, browser hijackers and adware software that your MAC can be affected too.

MalwareBytes Free can be downloaded from the following link.

When the downloading process is complete, close all applications and windows on your MAC. Open a directory in which you saved it. Run the saved file and follow the prompts.

Once install is complete, you will see window like below.

Now press the “Scan” button . MalwareBytes Free utility will begin scanning the whole machine to find out the SkillExplorer adware. This procedure can take some time, so please be patient. While the tool is scanning, you can see number of objects and files has already scanned.

Once the scan get completed, it will open the Scan Results. Review the report and then press “Quarantine” button.

The Malwarebytes will now delete SkillExplorer adware and move the selected items to the Quarantine.

Remove SkillExplorer from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

This step will show you how to remove harmful add-ons. This can delete SkillExplorer adware and fix some browsing issues, especially after adware infection.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right corner, click on Chrome’s main menu button, represented by three vertical dots. 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 get rid of SkillExplorer 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 problems with SkillExplorer adware software 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

To put it simply, you need to use an ad blocker tool (AdGuard, for example). It will stop and protect you from harmful web sites, unwanted advertisements and popups. To be able to do that, the ad-blocker application uses a list of filters. Each filter is a rule that describes a malicious web-site, an advertising content, a banner and others. The ad-blocking program automatically uses these filters, depending on the web-sites you’re visiting.

Download AdGuard on your Apple Mac from the link below.

Once 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 tutorial that will assist you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you run your MAC OS, AdGuard will start automatically and stop unwanted pop up advertisements, block harmful and misleading webpages.

Finish words

Now your MAC OS should be clean of the SkillExplorer adware. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted pop ups and undesired harmful web pages) and MalwareBytes (to periodically scan your machine for new adware softwares and other malicious software).

If you are still having problems while trying to remove SkillExplorer from the Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Safari, then ask for help here here.