How to uninstall ProductChannel app/extension from Mac

What is ProductChannel

ProductChannel is supposed to be an application that will improve the browsing experience, but it is adware. Adware is type of software designed to add advertising into your Internet browsing or even desktop experience. Adware can be developed to alter your homepage, search provider, search results, or even add toolbars to your browser. Adware run in the background when browse the Web, and adware can slow down your machine and affect its performance.

Does adware steal your confidential data? Adware software can install a component which enables its developer to track which web-sites you visit, which products you look at upon those pages. They are then able to select the type of ads they display you. So, if you had adware software on your MAC, there is a good chance you have another that is collecting and sharing your confidential information with third parties, without your knowledge.

How does ProductChannel get on your computer

The majority of adware software is bundled with free applications or even paid apps that World Wide Web users can easily download online. The setup files of such applications, most often, clearly show that they will install optional applications. The option is given to users to block the installation of any third-party software. So, in order to avoid the install of any adware: read all disclaimers and install screens very carefully, select only Custom or Advanced installation mode and disable all additional applications in which you are unsure.

Threat Summary

Name	ProductChannel, ProductChannel 1.0 app
Type	adware, PUP (potentially unwanted program), pop ups, pop-up virus, pop-up ads
Symptoms	advertising links appear in places they shouldn’t be every time you perform an Internet search, your browser is rerouted to another web-site there is an unwanted program in the ‘App & Features’ section of MS Windows settings an unexpected toolbar appears in your browser your internet browser startpage or search engine keeps changing or is not set to Google anymor fast Internet but slow browsing speeds your computer is no stable leading to freezes
Removal	ProductChannel removal guide

How to remove ProductChannel adware

As with deleting adware, malicious software or PUPs, there are few steps you can do. We suggest trying them all. If you do only one part of the guidance, then it should be use malware removal utility, because it should remove adware and block any further infection. But to completely remove ProductChannel you will have to at least reset your internet browser settings like default search provider, home page and newtab page to default state, uninstall all unwanted and suspicious applications, and remove adware by malware removal tools. Read it once, after doing so, please bookmark this page (or open it on your smartphone) as you may need to shut down your web browser or reboot your MAC system.

To remove ProductChannel, perform the following steps:

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

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

ProductChannel 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 ProductChannel.

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 ProductChannel related apps through the Finder

In order to remove ProductChannel you need to do is to delete unknown and dubious applications from your MAC using the Finder. When removing browser hijackers, adware and potentially unwanted programs, check the list of installed applications and try to find dubious programs and remove them all. Pay special attention to recently installed applications, as it’s most probably that ProductChannel сame along with it.

Make sure you have closed all internet browsers and other apps. Next, uninstall any unrequested and suspicious software from machine using the Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Look around the entire list of apps installed on your computer. Most probably, one of them is the ProductChannel . Choose the dubious program or the application that name is not familiar to you and delete it.

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

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

Remove ProductChannel related files and folders

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

If you’re still having problems with the ProductChannel removal or just wish to check your Mac device occasionally for adware and other malicious software, then download MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM). It’s free for home use, and identifies and removes various undesired apps that attacks your MAC OS or degrades MAC OS performance. MalwareBytes can remove adware, browser hijackers, toolbars and PUPs as well as malicious software, including ransomware and trojans.

1. Please go to the link below to download MalwareBytes Free.
   
   

   Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
   20851 downloads
   Author: Malwarebytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: September 10, 2020
   
2. After the downloading process is complete, close all applications and windows on your MAC OS. Open a file location. Run the downloaded file and follow the prompts.
3. Click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan with this utility for the ProductChannel adware. This process can take quite a while, so please be patient. When a threat is found, the number of the security threats will change accordingly. Wait until the the scanning is finished.
4. After MalwareBytes Anti Malware has completed scanning, MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) will show a list of found threats. Make sure all threats have ‘checkmark’ and click “Quarantine”.

Remove ProductChannel from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you are still seeing ProductChannel that won’t go away, you might have malicious extensions installed on your internet browser. Check your web browser for unwanted extensions using the steps below.

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 ProductChannel adware software 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 ProductChannel 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

In order to increase your security and protect your MAC OS against new intrusive advertisements and harmful web-pages, you need to run ad-blocker application that blocks an access to malicious advertisements and webpages. Moreover, the program can block the show of intrusive advertising, that also leads to faster loading of websites and reduce the consumption of web traffic.

1. Please go to the link below to download the latest version of AdGuard for Mac.
   
   

   AdGuard for Mac download
   3687 downloads
   Author: © Adguard
   Category: Security tools
   Update: January 17, 2018
   
2. After the downloading process is finished, launch the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
3. After the installation is complete, click “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial that will allow you get to know AdGuard better.
4. In most cases, the default settings are enough and you don’t need to change anything. Each time, when you start your computer, AdGuard will start automatically and stop annoying ads, block harmful and misleading web-pages.

Finish words

Now your Apple Mac should be clean of the ProductChannel adware software. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted advertisements and undesired malicious web pages) and MalwareBytes Free (to periodically scan your computer for new malicious software, hijackers and adware software). 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 software and adware are released.

If you are still having problems while trying to remove ProductChannel from your browser, then ask for help here.