How to uninstall ProtocolPort app/extension from Mac

What is ProtocolPort

ProtocolPort is supposed to be an application that will improve the browsing experience, but it is adware. Adware is a form of malicious software. It displays ads on your internet browser. Some of these ads are scams or fake advertisements designed to trick you. Even the harmless advertisements can become really irritating. Adware software can be installed unintentionally and without you knowing about it, when you open email attachments, install free software.

Does adware steal your confidential data? The ProtocolPort adware be able to gather lots of your user data such as what web-sites you are opening, what you are looking for the World Wide Web and so on. This user data, subsequently, may be sold to third party companies. If your Mac has been affected by the ProtocolPort adware, you must have finished the steps below. Once you’ve removed adware from your MAC system by following our suggestions below, make sure not to commit the same mistakes again in the future.

How does ProtocolPort get on your MAC OS

Adware usually spreads along with free applications that downloaded from the Net. Which means that you need to be proactive and carefully read the Terms of use and the License agreement properly. For the most part, adware and potentially unwanted programs will be clearly described, so take the time to carefully read all the information about the software that you downloaded and want to install on your MAC system.

In some cases, adware can be installed through trojans and backdoors such as Silver Sparrow. Therefore, before launching a program downloaded from the Internet, we recommend scanning it on the VirusTotal website

Threat Summary

Name	ProtocolPort, app
Type	adware software, PUP (potentially unwanted program), pop up ads, popups, pop-up virus
Symptoms	browser pop ups appear and recommend fake Jave updates web page links redirects to websites different from what you expected new entries appear in your Programs folder unwanted browser extensions or toolbars keep coming back your internet browser startpage has replaced without your permission speed test good but internet slow your Apple Mac starts performing very slowly
Removal	ProtocolPort removal guide

How to remove ProtocolPort from Mac device

The answer is right here on this web page. We have put together simplicity and efficiency. It will help you easily to clean your computer of ProtocolPort adware. Moreover, you can choose manual or automatic removal method. If you are familiar with the computer then use manual removal, otherwise use the free antimalware tool designed specifically to get rid of adware. Of course, you can combine both methods. Read it once, after doing so, please bookmark this page (or open it on your smartphone) as you may need to shut down your internet browser or restart your MAC.

To remove ProtocolPort, use the following steps:

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

Remove profiles created by ProtocolPort

ProtocolPort 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.

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 ProtocolPort.

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.

Check the list of installed programs

It’s of primary importance to identify and remove adware, potentially unwanted programs and browser hijackers through ‘Applications’ section of your Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

It will display a list of all applications installed on your MAC OS. Scroll through the all list, and remove any suspicious and unknown programs. Right click to dubious program and select “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, choose Finder -> Empty Trash.

Remove ProtocolPort related files and folders

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

If you carefully followed the previous steps, then you should be able to remove ProtocolPort. Of course, very often potentially unwanted programs, browser hijackers and adware hides on a Mac, disguising itself as legitimate apps and files. Therefore, in some cases, it is difficult for an inexperienced user to decide whether a particular file is part of browser hijackers, adware and potentially unwanted programs. Therefore, we recommend you to use MalwareBytes to scan the Mac device.

Visit the page linked below to download MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM).

After the download is finished, close all windows on your MAC. Further, launch the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) will automatically launch and you can see its main window as displayed below.

Next, click the “Scan Now” button . MalwareBytes Anti Malware program will scan through the whole Apple Mac for the ProtocolPort adware. This process can take quite a while, so please be patient.

When the scan is done, MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) will open a scan report. Next, you need to click the “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes Anti Malware will start to delete ProtocolPort adware software.

Remove ProtocolPort from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

Annoying ProtocolPort adware or other symptoms of adware software in your browser is a good reason to locate and remove malicious add-ons. This is an easy method to recover web-browsers settings and not lose any important information.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top-right corner, expand the Google Chrome menu. Select ‘More tools’, then ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to remove ProtocolPort 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 ProtocolPort adware software 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

If you want to delete annoying ads, web-browser redirections and pop ups, then install an ad blocking program like AdGuard. It can block unwanted advertisements and pop ups, stop web pages from tracking your online activities when using the Firefox, Safari and Chrome. So, if you like surf the World Wide Web, but you don’t like annoying advertisements and want to protect your MAC system from harmful webpages, then the AdGuard is your best choice.

Download AdGuard from the following link.

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

Each time, when you start your MAC, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop undesired pop-ups, block harmful and misleading web pages.

Finish words

After completing the step-by-step tutorial outlined above, your MAC OS should be free from the ProtocolPort adware and other malware. The Mozilla Firefox, Safari and Chrome will no longer redirect you to unwanted web-pages and online ads. Unfortunately, if the steps does not help you, then you have caught a new adware software, and then the best way – ask for help here.