How to uninstall ValidMemory app/extension from Mac

What is ValidMemory

ValidMemory is a PUP (potentially unwanted program) that belongs to the Adware category . Adware is a type of harmful software. It is created to display advertisements, change Apple Mac settings, download and install harmful browser add-ons. All the time, while this adware is running, your browser will be fill with annoying ads. Most likely, the ValidMemory adware has been installed on your Apple Mac without your’s permission and you don’t even know how and where the adware has got into your MAC OS.

Even worse, the ValidMemory adware can gather and transmit privacy data without your permission. It can track information about web sites visited, web-browser and system information, and your computer IP address.

How does ValidMemory get on your MAC system

Usually, adware software gets into your MAC as part of a bundle with free programs, sharing files and other unsafe software that you downloaded from the Net. The authors of adware pays software developers for distributing adware within their programs. So, bundled applications is often included as part of the installer. In order to avoid the installation of any adware: select only Manual, Custom or Advanced installation option and reject all additional software in which you are unsure.

Threat Summary

Name	ValidMemory, ValidMemory 1.0 app
Type	adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	Adware.MAC.Generic, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Adware/Adload!OSX, ApplicUnwnt, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, MacOS.Agent-MT and Program:MacOS/Vigram.A
Distribution	Freeware installers, fake software updaters, suspicious popup ads and torrent downloads
Symptoms	When you go to a website, you’re frequently redirected to another website that you do not intend to visit, unwanted advertising links appear on web pages that you are visiting, new entries appear in your Applications folder, unexpected browser extensions or toolbars keep coming back, your machine settings are being altered without your request, speed test good but internet slow.
Removal	ValidMemory removal guide

How to Remove ValidMemory (removal guide)

When the adware gets installed on your MAC system without your knowledge, it is not easy to uninstall. In many cases, there is no Uninstall application that simply delete the ValidMemory adware from your computer. So, we recommend using well-proven free specialized utility such as MalwareBytes Free. But the best solution to get rid of ValidMemory adware will be to perform several manual steps, after that additionally run antimalware utilities.

To remove ValidMemory, perform the following steps:

1. Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device
2. Delete ValidMemory related software through the Finder
3. Remove ValidMemory related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove ValidMemory from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. How to stay safe online
7. To sum up

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

ValidMemory 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 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 device. If there is Profiles in the list, then click on it, then select a profile associated with ValidMemory.

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

Delete ValidMemory related software through the Finder

In order to remove browser hijackers, potentially unwanted programs and adware, open the Finder and click on “Applications”. Check the list of installed apps. For the ones you do not know, run an Internet search to see if they are browser hijackers, adware software and PUPs. If yes, remove them off. Even if they are just a apps that you do not use, then removing them off will increase your MAC system start up time and speed dramatically.

Open Finder and click “Applications” as on the image below.

You will see a list of programs installed on your machine. We recommend to pay maximum attention to the application you installed last. Most probably, it’s the ValidMemory adware. If you’re in doubt, you can always check the program by doing a search for her name in Google, Yahoo or Bing.

When the program which you need to remove is found, simply right click on its name, and select “Move to Trash”.

Don’t forget, choose Finder, then “Empty Trash”.

Remove ValidMemory related files and folders

Now you need to try to find ValidMemory 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.

ValidMemory creates several files, these files must be found and removed. Below is a list of files associated with this unwanted application.

• /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.ValidMemory.system.plist
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.ValidMemory.service.plist
• /Library/Application Support/.(RANDOM)/System/com.ValidMemory.system
• ~/Library/Application Support/.(RANDOM)/Services/com.ValidMemory.service.app

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 ValidMemory 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: com.google.defaultsearch.plist, , search.plist, macsearch.plist, com.net-preferences.plist, com.ValidMemory.service.plist, com.machelper.plist and installapp.plist. Most often, adware, browser hijackers and potentially unwanted programs create several files with similar names.

Check for ValidMemory 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. Check the contents of suspicious folders, if there is a file with a name similar to com.ValidMemory.system, then this folder must be deleted. Move all suspicious folders to the Trash.

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

Manual ValidMemory removal requires some computer skills. Some files and system entries that created by the adware can be not completely removed. We suggest that use MalwareBytes AntiMalware to scan the Mac. Moreover, this program will help you to remove browser hijackers, potentially unwanted programs, toolbars and adware that your machine can be affected too.

Please go to the link below to download the latest version of MalwareBytes Free for Mac.

After downloading is finished, run it and follow the prompts. Click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan for the ValidMemory . A system scan can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your computer. While the MalwareBytes Free is checking, you can see how many objects it has identified either as being malware. All found threats will be marked. You can remove them all by simply press the “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes Anti-Malware is a free application that you can use to remove all detected folders, files, malicious services and so on.

Remove ValidMemory from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you have ‘ValidMemory adware’ removal problem, then remove unwanted extensions can help you. In the steps below we’ll show you the way to delete malicious extensions without reinstall. This will also help to get rid of ValidMemory adware from your web browser.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
Click on ‘three dots menu’ button at the top right corner of the Chrome window. 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 ValidMemory 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 problems with ValidMemory adware 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 remove intrusive advertisements, browser redirects and pop-ups, then install an adblocker program such as AdGuard. It can block unwanted advertisements and pop-ups, stop web-sites from tracking your online activities when using the Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. So, if you like surf the World Wide Web, but you don’t like unwanted ads and want to protect your MAC OS from malicious websites, then the AdGuard is your best choice.

Visit the page linked below to download the latest version of AdGuard for Mac OS.

When the download is finished, 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 guidance. Click “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” to see an quick instructions that will allow you get to know AdGuard better.

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

To sum up

Now your MAC system should be free of the ValidMemory adware. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted ads and undesired harmful web pages) and MalwareBytes (to periodically scan your MAC for new malicious software, hijackers and adware). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Mac OS. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new hijackers, harmful applications and adware are released.

If you are still having problems while trying to get rid of ValidMemory from your web-browser, then ask for help here.