How to remove GenerationUpdater from Mac (Virus removal guide)

What is GenerationUpdater

GenerationUpdater is supposed to be an application that will improve the browsing experience, but according to security professionals, this application is adware. Adware is a form of malware. When adware gets inside your Mac, it might carry out various malicious tasks. Some of the more common acts on MAC systems include: adware software can present constant pop-up deals and/or annoying commercials;adware can reroute your web-browser to shady web sites; adware software can slow down your machine; adware can alter web-browser settings.

Unwanted ads

Does adware software steal your data? The GenerationUpdater adware is able to gather user information about you (your ip address, what is a website you are viewing now, what you are looking for on the Net, which links you are clicking), which can later transfer to third parties.

If you are unfortunate have adware or malicious software running on your MAC OS, you can follow the suggestions here to get rid of GenerationUpdater from your MAC OS and internet browser.

How does GenerationUpdater get on your computer

The most common way to get adware is a freeware setup file. In most cases, a user have a chance to disable all additional modules, but certain installation packages are developed to confuse the average users, in order to trick them into installing PUPs and adware. Anyway, easier to prevent adware rather than clean up your MAC system after one. So, keep your browser updated (turn on automatic updates), use good antivirus apps, double check free applications before you start it (do a google search, scan a downloaded file with VirusTotal), avoid suspicious and unknown websites.

Threat Summary

Name	GenerationUpdater, GenerationUpdater 1.0 app
Type	adware software, PUP (potentially unwanted program), pop ups, pop-up virus, pop-up advertisements
Symptoms	advertisements appear in places they shouldn’t be you keep getting redirected to dubious web sites unexpected application installed without your consent an unexpected toolbar appears in your internet browser unexpected changes in your internet browser such as displaying new tabs you did not open slow browsing Internet your internet browser became slower than normal
Removal	GenerationUpdater removal guide

How to Remove GenerationUpdater (removal tutorial)

When the adware software gets installed on your Apple Mac without your knowledge, it’s not easy to delete. In many cases, there is no Uninstall application that simply remove the adware from your machine. So, we recommend using well-proven free specialized utility like MalwareBytes AntiMalware. But the best way to get rid of GenerationUpdater will be to perform several manual steps, after that additionally use antimalware utilities.

To remove GenerationUpdater, execute the following steps:

Remove profiles created by GenerationUpdater
Remove GenerationUpdater associated software by using the Finder
Remove GenerationUpdater related files and folders
Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
Remove GenerationUpdater from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
How to stay safe online
To sum up

Remove profiles created by GenerationUpdater

GenerationUpdater 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 GenerationUpdater.

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 device, which is normal.

Remove GenerationUpdater associated software by using the Finder

Some of browser hijackers, PUPs and adware can be deleted using the Move to Trash utility that can be found in the Finder. So, if you’re using any version of Mac OS and you have noticed an unwanted application, then first try to delete it through the Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

It will display a list of all apps installed on your machine. Scroll through the all list, and remove any dubious and unknown apps. Right click to dubious program and choose “Move to Trash”. Another solution 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, choose Finder -> Empty Trash.

Remove GenerationUpdater related files and folders

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

You can delete GenerationUpdater associated files automatically through the use of MalwareBytes Free. We suggest this free malicious software removal tool because it can easily get rid of potentially unwanted programs, browser hijackers, adware and toolbars with all their components such as files, folders and system entries.

Installing the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware is simple. First you will need to download MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) on your Windows Desktop from the link below.

Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
20116 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: September 10, 2020
After the download is finished, please close all apps and open windows on your MAC. Run the downloaded file. Follow the prompts.
The MalwareBytes Free will launch and open the main window.
Further, click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan for the GenerationUpdater adware software. This procedure can take quite a while, so please be patient. While the MalwareBytes AntiMalware program is checking, you can see how many objects it has identified as threat.
Once the scan is done, you’ll be shown the list of all found threats on your MAC system.
In order to remove all items, simply click the “Remove Selected Items” button.
Close the Anti Malware and continue with the next step.

Remove GenerationUpdater from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

This step will show you how to get rid of harmful extensions. This can remove GenerationUpdater adware and fix some surfing problems, especially after adware infection.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right hand corner, click on ‘three vertical dots’, and this will open up the main menu on Chrome. When the drop-down menu appears, select ‘More tools’ and click on ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to remove GenerationUpdater 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 issues with GenerationUpdater 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.

Google Chrome

Mozilla Firefox

In the top right hand corner, click on ‘three vertical dots’, and this will open up the main menu on Chrome.
When the drop-down menu appears, select ‘More tools’ and click on ‘Extensions’.
Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension.
Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box.

You can also try to remove GenerationUpdater 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 issues with GenerationUpdater 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

If you browse the Internet, you can’t avoid malvertising. But you can protect your web-browser against it. Download and use an adblocker program. AdGuard is an ad-blocking that can filter out a large amount of of the malicious advertising, blocking dynamic scripts from loading harmful content.

Click the link below to download AdGuard.

Once the downloading process is finished, run the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen. Follow the prompts.

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

To sum up

Now your MAC OS should be clean of the GenerationUpdater adware. We suggest that you keep MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) (to periodically scan your machine for new adwares and other malicious software) and AdGuard (to help you block intrusive popups and harmful web-sites). Moreover, to prevent any adware, please stay clear of unknown and third party software.

If you need more help with GenerationUpdater related issues, go to here.