How to remove VPNrecommended from Mac (Virus removal guide)

What is VPNrecommended

VPNrecommended is supposed to be a VPN client, but according to security experts, this application is adware. Adware is a form of potentially unwanted applications whose motive is to generate revenue for its creator. It have different ways of earning by showing the advertisements forcibly to its victims. Adware can generate pop-up deals, display annoying ads, change the victim’s web browser settings, or redirect the victim’s web-browser to unknown webpages. Aside from causing unwanted advertisements and browser redirects, it also can slow down the computer.

Another reason why you need to get rid of VPNrecommended is its online data-tracking activity. It has the ability to gather lots of your user data (your ip address, what is a web-page you are viewing now, what you are looking for on the Internet, which links you are clicking), which can later transfer to third parties. Below we are discussing the solutions which are very effective in removing adware. The instructions will also help you to get rid of VPNrecommended from your Mac for free.

How does VPNrecommended get on your Mac

Adware usually comes on the Apple Mac with freeware. In many cases, it comes without the user’s knowledge. Therefore, many users aren’t even aware that their computer has been hijacked by potentially unwanted applications and adware. Please follow the easy rules in order to protect your Apple Mac from adware and PUPs: don’t install any suspicious apps, read the user agreement and select only the Custom, Manual or Advanced installation type, don’t rush to press the Next button. Also, always try to find a review of the application on the Web. Be careful and attentive!

Threat Summary

Name	VPNrecommended
Type	adware, PUP (potentially unwanted program), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	OSX.Trojan.Gen, ApplicUnwnt, Adware/Adload!OSX, MacOS.Agent-MT, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, Adware.MAC.Generic and Program:MacOS/Vigram.A
Distribution	Free software installers, fake update tools, misleading popup ads and torrent downloads
Symptoms	When you go to a web site, you’re constantly redirected to another web page that you do not intend to visit, unwanted advertising links appear on web-pages that you are visiting, unwanted application installed without your say-so, an unwanted extension appears in your web browser, your Mac settings are being altered without your request, speed test good but internet slow.
Removal	VPNrecommended removal guide

How to remove VPNrecommended adware

Not all unwanted applications like VPNrecommended are easily uninstallable. You might see pop ups, deals, text links, in-text advertisements, banners and other type of ads in the Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome and might not be able to figure out the program responsible for this activity. The reason for this is that many unwanted applications neither appear in the Finder. Therefore in order to completely remove VPNrecommended adware, you need to use the steps below. 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 restart your MAC OS.

To remove VPNrecommended, execute the steps below:

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

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

VPNrecommended 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 associated with VPNrecommended.

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.

Delete VPNrecommended related software through the Finder

Go to the Finder and uninstall questionable applications, all programs you do not remember installing. It is important to pay the most attention to programs you have recently installed. If you do not know what a program does, look for the answer on the Net.

Make sure you have closed all internet browsers and other apps. Next, remove any undesired and suspicious applications from MAC using the Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Look around the entire list of apps installed on your MAC OS. Most likely, one of them is the VPNrecommended adware. Choose the dubious program or the application that name is not familiar to you and delete it.

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

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

Remove VPNrecommended related files and folders

Now you need to try to find VPNrecommended 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.

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

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

Some files created by VPNrecommended are hidden from the user. To find and delete them, you need to enable “show hidden files”. To do this, use the shortcut CMD + SHIFT + . Press once to show hidden files and again to hide them. There is another way. Click Finder -> Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal. In Terminal, paste the following text: defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES

Press Enter. Hold the ‘Option/alt’ key, then right click on the Finder icon in the dock and click Relaunch.

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 VPNrecommended 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, , installapp.plist, com.VPNrecommended.service.plist, com.machelper.plist, search.plist, com.net-preferences.plist and macsearch.plist. Most often, PUPs, browser hijackers and adware create several files with similar names.

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

If you’re still having problems with the VPNrecommended removal or just wish to scan your Mac occasionally for adware software and other malicious software, then download MalwareBytes Free. It’s free for home use, and scans for and deletes various undesired apps that attacks your MAC or degrades Apple Mac performance. MalwareBytes can delete browser hijackers, toolbars, potentially unwanted programs and adware as well as malicious software, including ransomware and trojans.

1. Installing the MalwareBytes Free is simple. First you will need to download MalwareBytes from the link below.
   
   

   Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
   20983 downloads
   Author: Malwarebytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: September 10, 2020
   
2. Once the downloading process is finished, close all programs and windows on your MAC system. Open a directory in which you saved it. Run the downloaded file and follow the prompts.
3. Click the “Scan” button for scanning your MAC for the VPNrecommended adware. This process may take some time, so please be patient. While the MalwareBytes Anti Malware program is scanning, you can see how many objects it has identified as threat.
4. When the system scan is done, MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) will show a screen that contains a list of malware that has been detected. Review the scan results and then press “Quarantine”.

Remove VPNrecommended from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you are still seeing VPNrecommended adware that won’t go away, you might have malicious extensions installed on your internet browser. Check your browser for unwanted addons 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 remove VPNrecommended 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 VPNrecommended 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

By installing an ad blocker program such as AdGuard, you are able to block malicious webpages, stop autoplaying video ads and remove a lot of distracting and unwanted ads on web-sites.

Click the following link to download the latest version of AdGuard for Mac OS.

After 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 tutorial. Press “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial which will allow you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you start your machine, AdGuard will start automatically and stop unwanted pop ups, block malicious and misleading web-sites.

To sum up

Now your computer should be free of the VPNrecommended adware. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted popup ads and unwanted malicious web sites) and MalwareBytes Free (to periodically scan your Apple Mac for new malware, hijackers and adware). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Mac operating system. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new hijackers, harmful software and adware are released.

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