How to uninstall AthenaSearch app/extension from Mac

What is AthenaSearch

AthenaSearch is supposed to be a program that will improve the browsing experience, but it is adware. Adware is designed for the purpose of displaying constant popup deals and/or annoying adverts on the infected MAC without the user’s consent. It’s important, don’t click on these ads, as they can lead you to more malicious or misleading web-sites. Adware software usually gets installed alongside freeware, codecs and shareware.

Another reason why you need to remove adware software is its online data-tracking activity. The AthenaSearch adware can install a component )browser extension) which enables its author to track which web-pages you visit, which products you look at upon those pages. They are then able to choose the type of advertisements they display you. So, if you had adware on your MAC, there is a good chance you have another that is gathering and sharing your privacy information with third parties, without your consent.

How does AthenaSearch get on your MAC OS

Adware may be spread with the help of trojan horses and other forms of malware, but in many cases, adware gets on your machine as a part of certain free software. Many developers of freeware include additional programs in their installer. Sometimes it’s possible to avoid the installation of any adware software: carefully read the Terms of Use and the Software license, choose only Manual, Custom or Advanced setup option, reject all checkboxes before clicking Install or Next button while installing new free applications.

Threat Summary

Name	AthenaSearch, AthenaSearch 1.0 app
Type	adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), pop-up virus, pop ups, popup advertisements
Symptoms	internet browser popups appear and recommend fake updates and other unwanted programs your web browser is redirected to web-pages you did not want unexpected applications installed without your say-so an unexpected extension appears in your internet browser unwanted changes in your internet browser like using a new default search engine speed test good but internet slow your machine starts performing very slowly
Removal	AthenaSearch removal guide

How to Remove AthenaSearch (removal guide)

To remove AthenaSearch adware from your Apple Mac, you must remove all suspicious applications and every component that could be related to the adware software. Besides, to restore your internet browser search provider, startpage and new tab page, you should reset the hijacked internet browsers. As soon as you are complete with AthenaSearch adware removal process, we suggest you scan your Apple Mac with malware removal utilities listed below. It’ll complete the removal process on your computer.

To remove AthenaSearch, execute the steps below:

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

Remove profiles created by AthenaSearch

AthenaSearch 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 software.

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

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

Check the list of installed applications

One of the first things to attempt for removal of adware software is to check your Mac installed programs screen and look for unwanted and dubious applications. If there are any programs you do not recognize or are no longer using, you should uninstall them. If that doesn’t work, then you may need to use malicious software removal tool such as MalwareBytes Free.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Carefully browse through the list of installed programs and remove all suspicious and unknown applications.

Once you have found anything dubious that may be the AthenaSearch adware or other potentially unwanted program, then right click this program and choose “Move to Trash”. Once complete, Empty Trash.

Remove AthenaSearch related files and folders

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

You can remove AthenaSearch associated files automatically through the use of MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM). We suggest this free malicious software removal tool because it can easily delete adware software, toolbars, browser hijackers and PUPs with all their components such as files, folders and system entries.

Click the link below to download MalwareBytes Anti Malware.

When the download is complete, close all software and windows on your MAC OS. Run the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes Anti Malware will automatically start and you can see its main screen as displayed in the figure below.

Now click the “Scan” button . MalwareBytes program will scan through the whole computer for the AthenaSearch adware. This procedure may take quite a while, so please be patient.

After MalwareBytes Anti-Malware has completed scanning your Apple Mac, MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) will open you the results. In order to remove all items, simply click the “Quarantine” button. The MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) will remove AthenaSearch adware and move the selected items to the Quarantine.

Remove AthenaSearch from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

This step will show you how to get rid of harmful extensions. This can get rid of AthenaSearch and fix some surfing issues, especially after adware software infection.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right corner, click on Google 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 remove AthenaSearch 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 AthenaSearch 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

One of the worst things is the fact that you cannot block all malicious web pages using only built-in MS Windows capabilities. However, there is a application out that you can use to stop annoying web browser redirects, advertisements and popups in any modern browsers including Mozilla Firefox, Safari and Chrome. It’s called Adguard and it works very well.

1. AdGuard can be downloaded from the following link.
   
   

   AdGuard for Mac download
   3772 downloads
   Author: © Adguard
   Category: Security tools
   Update: January 17, 2018
   
2. After the downloading process is done, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
3. After the setup is done, press “Skip” to close the setup application 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 MAC, AdGuard will start automatically and stop intrusive advertisements, block harmful and misleading websites.

Finish words

After completing the tutorial shown above, your machine should be free from the AthenaSearch adware software and other malware. The Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome will no longer redirect you to various unwanted web-sites, scam webpages and online ads. Unfortunately, if the tutorial does not help you, then you have caught a new adware, and then the best way – ask for help here.