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

What is FlexibleSector

FlexibleSector is supposed to be an app that will improve the browsing experience, but it is adware. Adware is form of applications designed to insert adverts into your Internet surfing or even desktop experience. Adware can be designed to modify your homepage, search provider, search results, or even add toolbars to your web browser. Adware run in the background when you’re online, and adware software can slow down your MAC system and affect its performance.

Another reason why you need to remove the FlexibleSector app is its online data-tracking activity. Adware software is often harmless, but sometimes adware can also be spyware. Spyware can sometimes seek out your confidential data stored on the MAC system, collect this information and use it to steal your identity.

To find out how to get rid of FlexibleSector adware, we recommend to read the few simple steps added to this article below. The guide was prepared by experienced security experts who discovered a method to delete the annoying adware software out of the system.

How does FlexibleSector get on your computer

The majority of adware is bundled within free applications or even paid software that Internet users can easily download online. The setup files of such applications, most commonly, clearly indicate that they will install additional programs. The option is given to users to stop the installation of any bundled apps. So, in order to avoid the installation of any adware software: read all disclaimers and install screens very carefully, select only Custom or Advanced setup mode and disable all optional software in which you are unsure.

Threat Summary

Name	FlexibleSector, FlexibleSector 1.0 app
Type	adware, PUP (potentially unwanted program), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, OSX.Trojan.Gen, MacOS.Agent-MT, Adware.MAC.Generic, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Adware/Adload!OSX and ApplicUnwnt
Distribution	Free software installers, fake software updaters, torrent downloads and malicious pop-up ads
Symptoms	When you go to a website, you are frequently redirected to another webpage that you do not intend to visit, advertising links appear in places they shouldn’t be, new entries appear in your Applications folder, unwanted web-browser toolbars, your MAC system settings are being changed without your request, speed test good but internet slow.
Removal	FlexibleSector removal guide

How to remove FlexibleSector from Mac

Not all unwanted apps such as the FlexibleSector adware are easily uninstallable. You might see pop-ups, deals, text links, in-text advertisements, banners and other type of advertisements in the Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Safari and might not be able to figure out the application responsible for this activity. The reason for this is that many unwanted programs neither appear in the Finder. Therefore in order to completely delete adware software, you need to follow the steps below. Read this manual carefully, bookmark it or open this page on your smartphone, because you may need to exit your internet browser or reboot your MAC system.

To remove FlexibleSector, execute the following steps:

1. Remove profiles created by FlexibleSector
2. Remove FlexibleSector associated software by using the Finder
3. Remove FlexibleSector related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove FlexibleSector from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. How to stay safe online
7. To sum up

Remove profiles created by FlexibleSector

FlexibleSector can make changes to the Mac system such as malicious changes to browser settings, and the addition of malicious system profiles. You need to check the system preferences, find and remove malicious profiles and ensure your settings are as you expect.

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 FlexibleSector.

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 computer, which is normal.

Remove FlexibleSector associated software by using the Finder

The next step to remove browser hijackers, PUPs and adware is to remove unknown and questionable software. Using the Finder you can do this quickly and easily. We recommend you not to skip this step, as it often helps to get rid of browser redirects and intrusive advertisements.

1. Open the Finder.
2. Click “Applications”.
3. It will display a list of all software installed on the computer.
4. Scroll through the all list, and uninstall dubious and unknown apps. Pay maximum attention to the program you installed last.
5. Drag the dubious program from the Applications folder to the Trash.
6. Empty Trash.

Remove FlexibleSector related files and folders

Now you need to try to find FlexibleSector 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

You can remove FlexibleSector associated files automatically with a help of MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM). We suggest this free malware removal tool because it can easily remove toolbars, adware software, browser hijackers and potentially unwanted programs with all their components such as files, folders and system entries.

MalwareBytes Free can be downloaded from the following link.

After downloading is done, close all windows on your MAC OS. Further, start the saved file. Follow the prompts.

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

Next, press the “Scan Now” button . MalwareBytes Free program will scan through the whole MAC for the FlexibleSector . Depending on your MAC, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. While the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) application is scanning, you can see how many objects it has identified as threat.

After the system scan is done, MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) will show a list of all threats found by the scan. Make sure all threats have ‘checkmark’ and press the “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes AntiMalware will remove FlexibleSector adware software.

Remove FlexibleSector from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you have ‘FlexibleSector ‘ removal problem, then remove unwanted addons can help you. In the steps below we will show you the method to delete malicious extensions without reinstall. This will also allow to get rid of FlexibleSector adware from your internet 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 remove FlexibleSector 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 FlexibleSector adware 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

In order to increase your security and protect your MAC system against new annoying ads and harmful web sites, you need to run adblocker application that blocks an access to harmful advertisements and web pages. Moreover, the application can block the display of intrusive advertising, that also leads to faster loading of webpages and reduce the consumption of web traffic.

Installing the AdGuard is simple. First you’ll need to download AdGuard from the following link.

After the downloading process 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 instructions. Press “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial that will assist you get to know AdGuard better.

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

To sum up

Now your MAC system should be free of the FlexibleSector adware. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted pop ups and unwanted malicious web pages) and MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) (to periodically scan your computer for new adware softwares and other malware).

If you are still having problems while trying to get rid of FlexibleSector from the Safari, Firefox and Chrome, then ask for help here here.