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

What is PlatformDeploy

PlatformDeploy is an adware app (browser extention). Adware is a type of harmful programs. It can display unwanted advertisements, alter internet browser settings, download and install malicious browser addons. All the time, while PlatformDeploy is running, your browser will be fill with annoying advertisements. Even worse, adware can also be spyware. Spyware can sometimes seek out your confidential data stored on the Mac, collect this information and use it to steal your identity.

Another reason why you need to get rid of the PlatformDeploy adware is its online data-tracking activity. It can analyze the location and which World Wide Web web pages you visit, and then show advertisements to the types of content, goods or services featured there. The adware makers can collect and sell your surfing information and behavior to third parties.

How does PlatformDeploy get on your MAC

Adware most likely to occur during the installation of freeware due the fact that malicious software like this are usually hidden in the setup package. Thus, if you have installed some free applications using Quick(Standard) mode, you may have let adware software get inside your Apple Mac. Keep in mind that the Quick mode is unreliable because it do not warn about optional applications. Thus, optional programs will be installed automatically unless you choose Advanced/Custom method and uncheck its installation.

Threat Summary

Name	PlatformDeploy, PlatformDeploy 1.0 app
Type	adware, PUP (potentially unwanted program), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Osx.Adware.Cimpli, ApplicUnwnt, Adware.MAC.Generic, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Adware/Adload!OSX, OSX.Trojan.Gen, MacOS.Agent-MT and Program:MacOS/Vigram.A
Distribution	Freeware installers, torrent downloads, fake updaters and dubious pop-up advertisements
Symptoms	Every time you perform an Internet search, your internet browser is redirected to another website, unclosable window appear and recommend fake security software, unexpected program installed without your say-so, unexpected toolbars on your desktop, unwanted changes in your internet browser such as using a new default search provider, slow Internet or slow browsing.
Removal	PlatformDeploy removal guide

How to remove PlatformDeploy

In the few simple steps below, we’ll try to cover the Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Safari and provide general help to get rid of PlatformDeploy adware software. You may find some minor differences in your Mac install. No matter, you should be okay if you follow the steps outlined below: uninstall all suspicious and unknown software, reset web browsers settings, use free malicious software removal tools. Read it once, after doing so, please bookmark this page (or open it on your smartphone) as you may need to exit your internet browser or reboot your MAC OS.

To remove PlatformDeploy, perform the following steps:

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

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

PlatformDeploy 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 related to PlatformDeploy.

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 device, which is normal.

Check the list of installed apps

The next step in uninstalling PUPs, adware and browser hijackers by yourself is to go into the Finder, then Applications. Take a look at the list of programs on your Mac computer and see if there are any suspicious and unknown programs. If you see any, you need to uninstall it. Of course, before doing so, you can do an Internet search to find details on the application. If it is a browser hijacker, potentially unwanted program and adware, you will likely find information that says so.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Carefully browse through the list of installed software and get rid of all questionable and unknown programs.

When you’ve found anything questionable that may be the PlatformDeploy adware or other potentially unwanted program, then right click this application and select “Move to Trash”. Once complete, Empty Trash.

Remove PlatformDeploy related files and folders

Now you need to try to find PlatformDeploy 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

If you’re still having issues with the PlatformDeploy removal or just wish to scan your Mac occasionally for adware and other malware, then download MalwareBytes Anti-Malware. It’s free for home use, and searches for and removes various unwanted apps that attacks your computer or degrades MAC OS performance. MalwareBytes Free can remove browser hijackers, PUPs, adware and toolbars as well as malware, including ransomware and trojans.

MalwareBytes Anti Malware can be downloaded from the following link.

After downloading is complete, close all programs and windows on your computer. Run the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes AntiMalware will automatically start and you can see its main screen as displayed in the following example.

Now click the “Scan” button for checking your MAC for the PlatformDeploy . A system scan may take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your MAC OS.

Once the scanning is done, the results are displayed in the scan report. You may remove threats (move to Quarantine) by simply click the “Quarantine” button. The MalwareBytes Anti Malware will remove PlatformDeploy adware.

Remove PlatformDeploy from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

Annoying PlatformDeploy adware or other symptoms of adware software in your web-browser is a good reason to locate and delete malicious plugins. This is an easy method to recover web-browsers settings and not lose any important information.

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 remove PlatformDeploy 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 PlatformDeploy 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

Use an adblocker tool such as AdGuard will protect you from malicious advertisements and content. Moreover, you can find that the AdGuard have an option to protect your privacy and stop phishing and spam webpages. Additionally, ad-blocking apps will allow you to avoid unwanted ads and unverified links that also a good way to stay safe online.

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

After downloading is finished, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen. Follow the prompts.

Each time, when you launch your MAC, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop annoying popup ads, block malicious and misleading web-sites.

To sum up

Now your computer should be free of the PlatformDeploy adware. We suggest that you keep MalwareBytes (to periodically scan your MAC OS for new adwares and other malware) and AdGuard (to help you stop annoying advertisements and malicious websites). Moreover, to prevent any adware, please stay clear of unknown and third party programs.

If you need more help with PlatformDeploy related issues, go to here.