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

What is NetworkSync

NetworkSync is supposed to be an app that will improve the browsing experience, but according to security experts, it is an adware. Adware is considered by many to be synonymous with ‘malicious software’. It’s a type of harmful apps which displays unwanted advertisements. Some examples include pop-ups, fake alerts, push notifications or unclosable windows. Adware can be installed onto your Mac via infected webpages, when you open email attachments, anytime you download and install free software.

The NetworkSync app can generate pop-up ads, modify browser and system settings, and redirect web-browsers to malicious and scam sites. Aside from causing unwanted advertisements and web browser redirects, it also can slow down the system. Another reason why you need to get rid of NetworkSync is its online data-tracking activity. It can collect a wide variety of marketing-type data about you to get profit. Adware can analyze your surfing, and gain access to your sensitive info and, later, can sell it to third party companies. Thus, there are more than enough reasons to delete this unwanted software from your MAC.

If you would like to remove NetworkSync and get rid of nwanted advertisements and are unable to do so, you can use the steps below to detect and delete adware and any other malicious software for free.

How does NetworkSync get on your computer

Adware software come along with certain freeware. So always read carefully the install screens, disclaimers, ‘Terms of Use’ and ‘Software license’ appearing during the install procedure. Additionally pay attention for third-party software that are being installed along with the main program. Ensure that you unchecked all of them! Also, use an ad-blocker program that will help to stop suspicious and untrustworthy web-pages.

Threat Summary

Name	NetworkSync, NetworkSync 1.0 app
Type	adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	Adware/Adload!OSX, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, ApplicUnwnt, Adware.MAC.Generic, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, MacOS.Agent-MT, Osx.Adware.Cimpli and OSX.Trojan.Gen
Distribution	Free software installers, torrent downloads, fake update tools and misleading pop-up advertisements
Symptoms	The webpage links redirect to a websites different from what you expected, pop-ups and new tabs are loaded without your request, unexpected application installed without your knowledge, an unexpected extension appears in your web-browser, your browser homepage has changed without your permission, low ping but slow Internet.
Removal	NetworkSync removal guide

How to Remove NetworkSync (removal tutorial)

According to cyber threat analysts, NetworkSync adware removal can be finished manually and/or automatically. These tools which are listed below will allow you get rid of adware, harmful web browser extensions, malware and potentially unwanted software . However, if you are not willing to install other programs to remove adware, then use following guidance to revert back your machine settings to their previous states.

To remove NetworkSync, perform the following steps:

1. Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device
2. Check the list of installed applications
3. Remove NetworkSync related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove NetworkSync from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. How to stay safe online

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

NetworkSync 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 NetworkSync.

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.

Check the list of installed applications

Try to identify and delete the program that causes the appearance of annoying ads or web-browser redirect, using the Applications list which is located in the Finder.

1. Open the Finder.
2. Click “Applications”.
3. It will open a list of all applications installed on the MAC OS.
4. Scroll through the all list, and uninstall questionable and unknown programs. Pay maximum attention to the application you installed last.
5. Drag the questionable application from the Applications folder to the Trash.
6. Empty Trash.

Remove NetworkSync related files and folders

Now you need to try to find NetworkSync 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

We advise using MalwareBytes Anti-Malware. You can download and install MalwareBytes to detect and delete NetworkSync associated apps from your Mac. When installed and updated, the malware remover automatically finds and deletes all security threats present on the machine.

Download MalwareBytes Anti-Malware by clicking on the link below.

Once downloading is done, close all software and windows on your MAC system. Run the saved file. Follow the prompts.

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

Now click the “Scan” button to start checking your MAC OS for the NetworkSync adware. A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your MAC and the speed of your MAC. While the tool is checking, you can see number of objects and files has already scanned.

When finished, MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) will open a list of found threats. When you are ready, press the “Quarantine” button. The MalwareBytes will get rid of NetworkSync adware.

Remove NetworkSync from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you’re still seeing NetworkSync adware that won’t go away, you might have harmful extensions installed on your browser. Check your web-browser for unwanted extensions using the steps below.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right corner, click on Google Chrome’s main menu button, represented by three vertical dots. Select ‘More tools’, then ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to delete NetworkSync 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 NetworkSync 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

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

1. Visit the page linked below to download the latest version of AdGuard for Mac.
   
   

   AdGuard for Mac download
   3687 downloads
   Author: © Adguard
   Category: Security tools
   Update: January 17, 2018
   
2. After the download is done, launch the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
3. Once the setup is complete, click “Skip” to close the installation application and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial that will allow you get to know AdGuard better.
4. In most cases, the default settings are enough and you don’t need to change anything. Each time, when you start your machine, AdGuard will start automatically and stop annoying advertisements, block malicious and misleading web-pages.

To sum up

Now your MAC system should be clean of the NetworkSync adware. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted popup ads and annoying harmful web pages) and MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) (to periodically scan your machine for new malicious software, 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 browser hijackers, harmful applications and adware are released.

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