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

What is ConnectionCache

According to security specialists, ConnectionCache is an adware application. Adware is a form of malicious software that is designed for the purpose of displaying various pop up deals and/or unwanted commercials on the infected MAC without the user’s consent. These ads should be ignored as they can redirect the browser to malicious and deceptive sites. Adware is often harmless, but sometimes adware software can also be spyware. Spyware can seek out your data stored on the Mac, gather this information and use it to steal your identity.

Another reason why you need to get rid of ConnectionCache is its online data-tracking activity. It can gather your privacy data such as what websites you are opening, what you are looking for the World Wide Web and so on. This privacy information, afterwards, may be used for marketing purposes. So, if you happen to encounter the adware, then be quick and take effort to delete it ASAP. Follow the steps below to get rid of ConnectionCache adware. Let us know how you managed by sending us your comments please.

How does ConnectionCache get on your Apple Mac

The adware software was probably installed on your Mac when you installed some free apps like Email checker, PDF creator, video codec, etc. Because more often than not, adware software can be bundled with the installation files of Softonic, Cnet, Soft32, Brothersoft or other similar software download webpages. Thus, you must be very careful when running any files downloaded from the Net! Always read the User Agreement, Software License and Terms of Use carefully. In the installation wizard, you should select the Advanced, Custom or Manual installation option to specify which components and bundled software to install, otherwise you risk infecting your computer with adware or a PUP (potentially unwanted program).

Threat Summary

Name	ConnectionCache, ConnectionCache 1.0 app
Type	adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	ApplicUnwnt, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, MacOS.Agent-MT, Adware.MAC.Generic, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A and Adware/Adload!OSX
Distribution	Free software installers, suspicious pop up ads, fake updaters and torrent downloads
Symptoms	Every time you perform an Internet search, your internet browser is redirected to another webpage, advertising pop-ups won’t go away, your MAC OS starts automatically installing unexpected software, new add-ons suddenly installed on your web-browser, your web browser settings are being modified without your request, speed test good but internet slow.
Removal	ConnectionCache removal guide

How to remove ConnectionCache from Mac

Without a doubt, the adware software is harmful to your MAC. So you need to quickly and completely remove the ConnectionCache adware. To get rid of this adware, you may use the manual removal guidance that are given below or free malware removal tool like MalwareBytes Free (it is free). We suggest you use automatic removal solution which will allow you to remove the adware software easily and safely. Manual removal is best used only if you are well versed in Apple Mac or in the case where adware is not uninstalled automatically. Read this manual carefully, bookmark it or open this page on your smartphone, because you may need to close your web-browser or restart your Apple Mac.

To remove ConnectionCache, perform the steps below:

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

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

ConnectionCache 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 software.

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 ConnectionCache.

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 computer, which is normal.

Check the list of installed software

Check out the Finder (Applications section) to see all installed apps. If you see any unknown and suspicious programs, they are the ones you need to uninstall.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

It will open a list of all applications installed on your computer. Scroll through the all list, and remove any questionable and unknown programs. Right click to suspicious program and select “Move to Trash”. Another method is drag the program from the Applications folder to the Trash.

Most important, scroll through the all list, and move to trash any unknown applications. Don’t forget, choose Finder -> Empty Trash.

Remove ConnectionCache related files and folders

Now you need to try to find ConnectionCache 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

We suggest using MalwareBytes Free. You can download and install MalwareBytes Anti-Malware to find and remove ConnectionCache related apps from your Mac. When installed and updated, the malicious software remover automatically searches for and removes all security threats present on the MAC system.

1. Installing the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware is simple. First you will need to download MalwareBytes on your machine by clicking on the following link.
   
   

   Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
   20984 downloads
   Author: Malwarebytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: September 10, 2020
   
2. After the download is done, close all apps and windows on your MAC system. Open a file location. Run the downloaded file and follow the prompts.
3. Click the “Scan” button to locate ConnectionCache . This process can take some time, so please be patient. During the scan MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) will scan for threats present on your MAC OS.
4. When MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) is done scanning your MAC, the results are displayed in the scan report. Once you have selected what you wish to remove from your MAC OS click “Quarantine”.

Remove ConnectionCache from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

This step will show you how to delete malicious extensions. This can delete ConnectionCache and fix some browsing problems, especially after adware software infection.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
Click on ‘three dots menu’ button at the top right corner of the Chrome window. 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 ConnectionCache 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 ConnectionCache adware software 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

One of the worst things is the fact that you cannot stop all harmful websites using only built-in Windows capabilities. However, there is a program out that you can use to block intrusive web-browser redirects, advertisements and pop-ups in any modern internet browsers including Firefox, Safari and Chrome. It is named Adguard and it works very well.

Visit the following page to download AdGuard.

After the downloading process is done, 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. Press “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick instructions which will help you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you launch your Apple Mac, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop intrusive advertisements, block harmful and misleading web sites.

Finish words

After completing the instructions shown above, your machine should be clean from ConnectionCache and other malicious software. The Safari, Firefox and Google Chrome will no longer redirect you to various online ads and scam sites. Unfortunately, if the tutorial does not help you, then you have caught a new adware, and then the best way – ask for help here.