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

What is LaunchEntry

LaunchEntry is a malicious application that belongs to the Adware family. Adware is type of software designed to add advertising into your World Wide Web browsing or even desktop experience. Adware software can be developed to alter your homepage, search provider, search results, or even add toolbars to your internet browser. The LaunchEntry adware run in the background when surf the Net, and it can slow down your computer and affect the MacOS performance.

Does adware steal your data? LaunchEntry has the ability to collect lots of user data about you such as what web-sites you are opening, what you are looking for the World Wide Web and so on. This sensitive information, afterwards, may be sold to third party companies.

The guidance below explaining steps to get rid of LaunchEntry. Feel free to use it for removal of the adware software that may attack Chrome, Firefox and Safari and other popular web-browsers. The step-by-step instructions will allow you remove the LaunchEntry adware and thereby clean your browser from all unwanted advertisements.

How does LaunchEntry get on your MAC

The most common way to get adware is a freeware install package. Most commonly, a user have a chance to disable all bundled modules, but some installers are developed to confuse the average users, in order to trick them into installing potentially unwanted programs and adware. Anyway, easier to prevent adware rather than clean up your computer after one. So, keep your browser updated (turn on automatic updates), run good antivirus apps, double check free applications before you launch it (do a google search, scan a downloaded file with VirusTotal), avoid dubious and unknown web pages.

Threat Summary

Name	LaunchEntry, LaunchEntry 1.0 app
Type	adware, PUP (potentially unwanted program), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	ApplicUnwnt, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, MacOS.Agent-MT, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Adware.MAC.Generic, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload and Adware/Adload!OSX
Distribution	Freeware installers, torrent downloads, fake updaters and dubious pop up advertisements
Symptoms	You keep getting redirected to unfamiliar web-pages, pop ups and new tabs are loaded without your request, new entries appear in your Applications folder, new add-ons suddenly added on your internet browser, your internet browser settings are being changed without your request, low ping but slow Internet.
Removal	LaunchEntry removal guide

How to remove LaunchEntry adware

The adware is a form of malware that you might have difficulty in uninstalling it from your computer. Thankfully, you have found the effective LaunchEntry removal instructions in this blog post. Both the manual removal way and the automatic removal method will be provided below and you can just select the one that best for you. If you have any questions or need assist then type a comment below. Certain of the steps below will require you to exit this web site. So, please read the few simple steps carefully, after that bookmark it or open it on your smartphone for later reference.

To remove LaunchEntry, use the steps below:

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

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

LaunchEntry 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 LaunchEntry.

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 LaunchEntry related programs through the Finder

In order to remove LaunchEntry you need to do is to delete unknown and questionable programs from your MAC system using the Finder. When removing adware, PUPs and browser hijackers, check the list of installed programs and try to find dubious programs and delete them all. Pay special attention to recently installed applications, as it’s most likely that LaunchEntry сame along with it.

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

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

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

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

Remove LaunchEntry related files and folders

Now you need to try to find LaunchEntry 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

We suggest using MalwareBytes Anti-Malware. You can download and install MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) to find and remove LaunchEntry associated software from your Mac computer. When installed and updated, the malicious software remover automatically identifies and removes all security threats present on the MAC OS.

Download MalwareBytes Anti Malware by clicking on the link below.

After downloading is finished, close all apps and windows on your MAC. Run the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes will automatically start and you can see its main screen like below.

Now click the “Scan” button to search for LaunchEntry . A scan may take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the count of files on your Apple Mac and the speed of your MAC. When a threat is found, the count of the security threats will change accordingly.

Once the scan get completed, you will be displayed the list of all found items on your MAC. Make sure to check mark the threats that are unsafe and then press the “Quarantine” button. The MalwareBytes will begin to get rid of LaunchEntry adware software.

Remove LaunchEntry from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

This step will show you how to remove harmful add-ons. This can remove LaunchEntry adware software and fix some browsing problems, especially after adware software infection.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top-right corner, expand the Google Chrome menu. Select ‘More tools’, then ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to remove LaunchEntry 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 LaunchEntry 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

The AdGuard is a very good adblocker application for the Safari, Chrome and Firefox, with active user support. It does a great job by removing certain types of unwanted advertisements, popunders, popups, unwanted new tabs, and even full page ads and web-page overlay layers. Of course, the AdGuard can block harmful web sites automatically or by using a custom filter rule.

Installing the AdGuard is simple. First you’ll need to download AdGuard on your MS Windows Desktop from the link below.

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

Each time, when you run your MAC system, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop intrusive pop-up ads, block harmful and misleading web sites.

To sum up

Now your MAC OS should be clean of the LaunchEntry adware. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted pop up advertisements and unwanted harmful web pages) and MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (to periodically scan your Apple Mac for new malware, 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, malicious programs and adware are released.

If you are still having problems while trying to remove LaunchEntry from your internet browser, then ask for help here.