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

What is TopOptimizer

TopOptimizer is supposed to be an application that will improve the computer performance, but it is adware. Adware is a type of software that delivers unwanted ads on your web-browser. Some of these ads are scams or fake advertisements created to trick you. Even the harmless advertisements can become really irritating. Adware software can be installed unintentionally and without you knowing about it, when you open email attachments, install free applications.

Another reason why you need to delete the TopOptimizer app is its online data-tracking activity. It can gather lots of your personal information to get profit. TopOptimizer can analyze your browsing, and gain access to your confidential info and, subsequently, can use it for marketing purposes. Thus, there are more than enough reasons to delete this adware from your Mac.

If you want to get rid of TopOptimizer, you will not succeed, because it is very stubborn. But with the help of the following tutorial, you surely can remove the adware completely from your MAC.

How does TopOptimizer get on your machine

Adware usually gets on your MAC together with free software that downloaded from the Internet. Which means that you need to be proactive and carefully read the Terms of use and the License agreement properly. For the most part, adware software and potentially unwanted apps will be clearly described, so take the time to carefully read all the information about the software that you downloaded and want to install on your MAC.

Threat Summary

Name	TopOptimizer
Type	adware, potentially unwanted program (PUP), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	ApplicUnwnt, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, Adware/Adload!OSX, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, MacOS.Agent-MT, Adware.MAC.Generic and Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload
Distribution	Freeware installers, fake software updaters, torrent downloads and misleading pop-up ads
Symptoms	The website links redirect to a web sites different from what you expected, web-browser pop-ups appear and recommend fake Flash updates, your Apple Mac starts automatically installing unexpected apps, an unexpected extension appears in your web browser, your web-browser homepage has modified and you cannot modify it back, slow browsing Internet.
Removal	TopOptimizer removal guide

How to remove TopOptimizer adware

If you have constant pop-ups or undesired advertisements, slow machine, crashing MAC OS issues, you are in need of adware removal assistance. The steps below will guide you forward to get TopOptimizer adware removed and will help you get your machine operating at peak capacity again.

To remove TopOptimizer, use the following steps:

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

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

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

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

Uninstall TopOptimizer associated software by using the Finder

In the next step, you need to check the list of installed apps on your Mac and delete all unused, unknown and suspicious software.

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

Remove TopOptimizer related files and folders

Now you need to try to find TopOptimizer 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

Manual TopOptimizer removal requires some computer skills. Some files and system entries that created by the adware can be not completely removed. We recommend that use MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) to scan the Mac device. Moreover, this program will help you to remove adware software, browser hijackers, toolbars and potentially unwanted programs that your Apple Mac can be affected too.

MalwareBytes Free can be downloaded from the following link.

After downloading is finished, close all windows on your MAC system. Further, open the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes will automatically run and you can see its main window as shown on the screen below.

Next, click the “Scan Now” button for scanning your MAC OS for the TopOptimizer adware. This process can take some time, so please be patient. While the MalwareBytes is scanning, you can see how many objects it has identified either as being malicious software.

Once MalwareBytes Anti Malware completes the scan, MalwareBytes will produce a list of unwanted apps and adware software. Make sure to check mark the items that are unsafe and then click the “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) will start to remove TopOptimizer adware software.

Remove TopOptimizer from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you’re still seeing TopOptimizer that won’t go away, you might have malicious addons installed on your web browser. Check your internet browser for unwanted add-ons using the steps below.

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

In order to increase your security and protect your computer against new annoying ads and malicious webpages, you need to use ad-blocking program that blocks an access to malicious advertisements and websites. Moreover, the application may stop the show of intrusive advertising, that also leads to faster loading of websites and reduce the consumption of web traffic.

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

Once the download is finished, launch the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen. Follow the prompts.

Each time, when you run your Apple Mac, AdGuard will start automatically and stop intrusive advertisements, block malicious and misleading websites.

Finish words

Now your MAC should be clean of the TopOptimizer adware. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted advertisements and intrusive malicious websites) and MalwareBytes Anti Malware (to periodically scan your computer for new malware, hijackers and adware software). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Mac operating system. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new browser hijackers, malicious programs and adware are released.

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

 

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