How to remove EssentialDesktop app/extension from Mac (Virus removal guide)

What is EssentialDesktop

According to security experts, EssentialDesktop is a potentially unwanted application (PUA) that belongs to the Adware family . Many users consider adware, PUPs, keyloggers, malware as the same thing. They are all forms of malware that each behave differently. The word ‘adware’ is a combination of two words ‘ad’ and ‘software’. Adware displays unwanted ads, redirects search requests to advertising web pages and gathers user data for marketing purposes. EssentialDesktop can show banner advertisements, full-screen ads, popups, videos, or other varieties of online advertising. The adware can attack your MAC OS’s web browsers such as the Firefox, Safari and Chrome.

Another reason why you need to get rid of adware is its online data-tracking activity. Adware software can gather privacy information, including:

• IP addresses;
• URLs visited;
• search queries/terms;
• clicks on links and advertisements;
• web-browser version information.

If you are unfortunate have adware software or malicious software running on your MAC, you can follow the step-by-step guidance here to get rid of EssentialDesktop from your MAC OS and internet browser.

How does EssentialDesktop get on your Mac

Adware may be spread with the help of trojan horses and other forms of malicious software, but in many cases, adware come bundled with certain free applications. Many developers of freeware include optional programs in their installer. Sometimes it’s possible to avoid the installation of any adware: carefully read the Terms of Use and the Software license, select only Manual, Custom or Advanced installation method, uncheck all checkboxes before clicking Install or Next button while installing new freeware.

Threat Summary

Name	EssentialDesktop, EssentialDesktop 1.0 app
Type	adware, PUP (potentially unwanted program), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	MacOS.Agent-MT, Adware/Adload!OSX, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, Adware.MAC.Generic, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, ApplicUnwnt, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload and OSX.Trojan.Gen
Distribution	Free software installers, malicious popup advertisements, fake updaters and torrent downloads
Symptoms	You keep getting redirected to suspicious webpages, web-browser popups appear and recommend fake security software, your MAC starts automatically installing unexpected software, unwanted internet browser toolbars, your web browser home page has modified without your permission, slow Internet or slow browsing.
Removal	EssentialDesktop removal guide

How to remove EssentialDesktop from Mac device

To delete EssentialDesktop adware from your Mac, you must remove all suspicious applications and every file that could be related to the adware. Besides, to fix your internet browser new tab page, search engine by default and home page, you should reset the hijacked web-browsers. As soon as you are complete with EssentialDesktop removal process, we recommend you scan your MAC OS with malicious software removal tools listed below. It will complete the removal procedure on your Apple Mac.

To remove EssentialDesktop, use the following steps:

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

Remove profiles created by EssentialDesktop

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

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

Check the list of installed programs

Some of PUPs, adware and browser hijackers can be uninstalled using the Move to Trash utility that is located in the Finder. So, if you’re running any version of Mac OS and you have noticed an unwanted application, then first try to get rid of it through the Finder.

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

You will see a list of software installed on your MAC OS. We recommend to pay maximum attention to the program you installed last. Most likely, it is the EssentialDesktop adware. If you are in doubt, you can always check the application by doing a search for her name in Google, Yahoo or Bing.

Once the program which you need to uninstall is found, simply right click on its name, and choose “Move to Trash”.

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

Remove EssentialDesktop related files and folders

Now you need to try to find EssentialDesktop 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

If you are still having issues with the EssentialDesktop removal or just wish to check your Mac occasionally for adware and other malware, then download MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM). It is free for home use, and identifies and removes various unwanted applications that attacks your computer or degrades Apple Mac performance. MalwareBytes Free can get rid of PUPs, browser hijackers, adware software and toolbars as well as malware, including ransomware and trojans.

Download MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) on your MAC system from the link below.

When the downloading process is done, close all programs and windows on your MAC OS. Run the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes will automatically start and you can see its main screen as displayed on the image below.

Now click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan with this utility for the EssentialDesktop . This task can take quite a while, so please be patient. While the MalwareBytes Free program is scanning, you may see number of objects it has identified as threat.

After the scanning is finished, a list of all items found is produced. Review the scan results and then press the “Quarantine” button. The MalwareBytes AntiMalware will get rid of EssentialDesktop .

Remove EssentialDesktop from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

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

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right hand corner, click on ‘three vertical dots’, and this will open up the main menu on Chrome. 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 delete EssentialDesktop 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 EssentialDesktop 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

If you want to delete unwanted advertisements, browser redirects and popups, then install an ad blocking application like AdGuard. It can block unwanted advertisements and pop ups, stop web-sites from tracking your online activities when using the Safari, Chrome and Firefox. So, if you like surf the Internet, but you do not like intrusive ads and want to protect your MAC from malicious web pages, then the AdGuard is your best choice.

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

Once downloading is complete, 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 guide that will allow you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you start your computer, AdGuard will run automatically and stop annoying pop-up ads, block malicious and misleading web-sites.

To sum up

Now your MAC system should be free of the EssentialDesktop adware. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted pop-ups and intrusive harmful web sites) and MalwareBytes (to periodically scan your Apple Mac for new adwares and other malware).

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