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

What is TopProcesser

According to security researchers, TopProcesser is an adware app. Adware is a part of malicious software that shows unwanted ads. The ads caused by adware are sometimes in the form of a advertising banner, popup or sometimes in an unclosable window. In order to show unwanted adverts as often as possible TopProcesser can change web browser settings and install malicious browser extensions.

The worst is, the TopProcesser adware can monetize its functionality by collecting personal information from your surfing sessions. This sensitive information, afterwards, can be easily transferred to third parties. This puts your sensitive information at a security risk.

In the few simple steps below, we will explain best possible methods on how to remove TopProcesser adware from your MAC and get rid of unwanted advertisements from your web browser.

How does TopProcesser get on your MAC OS

Usually, adware software gets into your MAC as part of a bundle with free applications, sharing files and other unsafe software that you downloaded from the Net. The authors of adware pays software authors for distributing adware software within their applications. So, optional software is often included as part of the setup file. In order to avoid the installation of any adware: select only Manual, Custom or Advanced installation type and reject all optional applications in which you are unsure.

Threat Summary

Name	TopProcesser, “TopProcesser 1.0 app”
Type	adware, PUP (potentially unwanted program), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	OSX.Trojan.Gen, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Adware.MAC.Generic, Adware/Adload!OSX, MacOS.Agent-MT, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A and ApplicUnwnt
Distribution	Freeware installers, fake update tools, torrent downloads and dubious pop-up ads
Symptoms	The web-site links redirect to a web-sites different from what you expected, undesired advertising links appear on webpages that you are visiting, there is an unwanted application in the ‘Applications’ section of the Finder, an unwanted toolbar appears in your web browser, your browser homepage has modified and you are unable to modify it back, slow Internet or slow browsing.
Removal	TopProcesser removal guide

How to remove TopProcesser

Fortunately, it is not hard to remove TopProcesser adware. In the following tutorial, we will provide two solutions to clean your MAC system of this adware software. One is the manual removal way and the other is automatic removal method. You can select the way that best fits you. Please follow the removal steps below to get rid of adware software right now!

To remove TopProcesser, follow the steps below:

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

Remove profiles created by TopProcesser

TopProcesser 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 related to TopProcesser.

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.

Remove TopProcesser associated software by using the Finder

Try to identify and delete the program that causes the appearance of unwanted advertisements or internet browser redirect, using the Applications list which is located in the Finder.

Make sure you have closed all internet browsers and other apps. Next, remove any unrequested and suspicious applications from MAC OS using the Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Look around the entire list of programs installed on your MAC OS. Most probably, one of them is the TopProcesser . Choose the dubious program or the program that name is not familiar to you and delete it.

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

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

Remove TopProcesser related files and folders

Now you need to try to find TopProcesser 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

We recommend using MalwareBytes Anti-Malware. You may download and install MalwareBytes Anti-Malware to search for and remove TopProcesser related software from your Mac device. When installed and updated, the malicious software remover automatically finds and removes all security threats exist on the Apple Mac.

1. MalwareBytes can be downloaded from the following link.
   
   

   Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
   20996 downloads
   Author: Malwarebytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: September 10, 2020
   
2. After downloading is finished, please close all software and open windows on your MAC OS. Run the downloaded file. Follow the prompts.
3. The MalwareBytes Anti-Malware will run and open the main window.
4. Further, click the “Scan” button to search for TopProcesser adware. This process may take some time, so please be patient. When a threat is found, the number of the security threats will change accordingly. Wait until the the checking is complete.
5. When MalwareBytes Free completes the scan, it will open the Scan Results.
6. Review the report and then press the “Remove Selected Items” button.
7. Close the Anti-Malware and continue with the next step.

Remove TopProcesser from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

This step will show you how to remove malicious extensions. This can get rid of TopProcesser adware and fix some browsing problems, especially after adware infection.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right corner, click on Chrome’s main menu button, represented by three vertical dots. When the drop-down menu appears, choose ‘More tools’ and click on ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to get rid of TopProcesser 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 TopProcesser 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

If you surf the Web, you can’t avoid malvertising. But you can protect your internet browser against it. Download and run an ad-blocker program. AdGuard is an ad blocking that can filter out tons of of the malicious advertising, blocking dynamic scripts from loading malicious content.

Installing the AdGuard is simple. First you will need to download AdGuard on your MS Windows Desktop from the following link.

Once the downloading process 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 click “Get Started” to see an quick guide which will allow you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you start your Apple Mac, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop annoying pop-up advertisements, block malicious and misleading webpages.

To sum up

After completing the tutorial shown above, your Apple Mac should be clean from TopProcesser and other malware. The Safari, Chrome and Mozilla Firefox will no longer redirect you to various unwanted web sites and online ads. Unfortunately, if the guide does not help you, then you have caught a new adware software, and then the best way – ask for help here.