How to uninstall ValidBoost app/extension from Mac (Virus removal guide)

What is ValidBoost

ValidBoost is supposed to be an app that will improve the browsing experience, but it is adware. Adware software can cause many issues such as annoying advertisements and pop ups on your web browser, redirect your search requests to malicious web-sites, browser crashes and slow loading web sites. Adware usually gets installed as a part of some freeware. Do not be surprised, it happens, especially if you are an active Net user.

Does adware steal your data? The ValidBoost adware can be used to gather personal information such as what webpages you are opening, what you are looking for the Internet and so on. This sensitive info, subsequently, may be used for marketing purposes. If you are unfortunate have adware, you can follow the instructions below that will help you to get rid of ValidBoost and thus get rid of intrusive ads from your web-browser.

How does ValidBoost get on your machine

Adware is usually bundled with some free programs that you download off of the Net. So, think back, have you ever download and run any free applications. In order to avoid infection, in the Setup wizard, you should be be proactive and carefully read the ‘Terms of use’, the ‘license agreement’ and other installation screens, as well as to always choose the ‘Manual’ or ‘Advanced’ setup mode, when installing anything downloaded from the Net.

Threat Summary

Name	ValidBoost, ValidBoost 1.0 app
Type	adware, potentially unwanted program (PUP), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	Osx.Adware.Cimpli, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Adware/Adload!OSX, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Adware.MAC.Generic, ApplicUnwnt, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A and MacOS.Agent-MT
Distribution	Free software installers, misleading pop up ads, fake updaters and torrent downloads
Symptoms	Every time you perform an Internet search, your browser is redirected to another web page, web-browser pop-ups appear and recommend fake Flash updates, unwanted application installed without your say-so, new extensions suddenly installed on your web browser, your browser settings are being modified without your request, slow browsing Internet.
Removal	ValidBoost removal guide

How to Remove ValidBoost adware (removal guide)

There are several steps to uninstalling the ValidBoost adware, because it installs itself so deeply into the MAC. You need to remove all suspicious and unknown applications, then get rid of harmful addons from the Chrome, Safari and Firefox and other browsers you have installed. Finally, you need to reset your web browser settings to remove any changes the adware has made, and then check your MAC system with MalwareBytes to ensure the adware is fully removed. It will take a while.

To remove ValidBoost, follow the steps below:

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

Remove profiles created by ValidBoost

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

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

Remove ValidBoost related programs through the Finder

Check out the Finder (Applications section) to see all installed applications. If you see any unknown and dubious programs, they are the ones you need to remove.

Make sure you have closed all browsers and other programs. Next, delete any unwanted and suspicious programs from MAC OS 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 ValidBoost adware. Choose the dubious program or the application that name is not familiar to you and uninstall it.

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

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

Remove ValidBoost related files and folders

Now you need to try to find ValidBoost 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.

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

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

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

Check for ValidBoost 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.ValidBoost.system, then this folder must be deleted. Move all suspicious folders and files to the Trash.

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

Manual ValidBoost removal requires some computer skills. Some files and system entries that created by the adware software can be not completely removed. We suggest that run MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) to scan the Mac device. Moreover, this program will help you to delete adware, PUPs, toolbars and browser hijackers that your MAC OS can be affected too.

Installing the MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) is simple. First you will need to download MalwareBytes on your Microsoft Windows Desktop by clicking on the following link.

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

The MalwareBytes will automatically run and you may see its main window as displayed in the following example.

Next, press the “Scan Now” button to detect ValidBoost adware. Depending on your Apple Mac, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. When a threat is detected, the count of the security threats will change accordingly.

When MalwareBytes Free is complete scanning your MAC, a list of all threats detected is created. Next, you need to press the “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes Free will remove ValidBoost and move the selected items to the program’s quarantine.

Remove ValidBoost from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you have ‘ValidBoost adware’ removal problem, then remove unwanted extensions can help you. In the steps below we will show you the solution to remove harmful addons without reinstall. This will also help to remove ValidBoost from your web-browser.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
Click on ‘three dots menu’ button at the top right corner of the Google Chrome window. 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 get rid of ValidBoost 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 problems with ValidBoost 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

The AdGuard is a very good ad blocker program for the Safari, Chrome and Firefox, with active user support. It does a great job by removing certain types of intrusive ads, popunders, pop ups, unwanted new tab pages, and even full page advertisements and website overlay layers. Of course, the AdGuard can block malicious web-pages automatically or by using a custom filter rule.

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

When the downloading process is finished, run the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen. Follow the prompts.

Each time, when you run your Apple Mac, AdGuard will run automatically and stop unwanted pop ups, block harmful and misleading websites.

Finish words

Now your Apple Mac should be clean of the ValidBoost adware software. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted advertisements and unwanted malicious web pages) and MalwareBytes Free (to periodically scan your computer for new adwares and other malicious software).

If you are still having problems while trying to delete ValidBoost from the Mozilla Firefox, Safari and Google Chrome, then ask for help here here.