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

What is ConsoleConnection

According to security experts, ConsoleConnection is a malicious application that falls under the category of Adware. Adware is a form of software that is created to bombard users with unsolicited advertisements and pop up windows that could potentially be dangerous for Mac computers. If you get adware software on your MAC, it can modify internet browser settings and install harmful browser extensions.

Does adware steal your data? Adware is often harmless, but sometimes the adware you inadvertently download can also be spyware. Spyware can sometimes seek out your privacy data stored on the MAC system, collect this information and use it to steal your identity.

If you are unfortunate have adware or malicious software running on your MAC, you can follow the suggestions here to remove ConsoleConnection from your Apple Mac and internet browser.

How does ConsoleConnection get on your computer

These days some free applications developers bundle potentially unwanted software or adware with a view to making some money. These are not freeware as install unwanted applications on to your MAC. So whenever you install a new free app that downloaded from the Internet, be very careful during installation. Carefully read the EULA (a text with I ACCEPT/I DECLINE button), choose custom or manual installation method, uncheck all optional programs.

Threat Summary

Name	ConsoleConnection, ConsoleConnection 1.0 app
Type	adware, PUP (potentially unwanted program), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Adware/Adload!OSX, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, MacOS.Agent-MT, ApplicUnwnt and Adware.MAC.Generic
Distribution	Freeware installers, fake update tools, torrent downloads and misleading pop-up ads
Symptoms	The web-site links redirect to a web pages different from what you expected, unclosable window appear and recommend fake Jave updates, unwanted program installed without your knowledge, unwanted browser add-ons or toolbars keep coming back, unexpected changes in your web-browser like using a new default search engine, slow Internet browsing speeds.
Removal	ConsoleConnection removal guide

How to remove ConsoleConnection adware

There are a few methods which can be used to remove ConsoleConnection. But, not all potentially unwanted programs such as this adware can be completely removed using only manual methods. In many cases you’re not able to uninstall any adware utilizing standard Mac OS features. In order to remove ConsoleConnection you need complete a few manual steps and use reliable removal tools. Most IT security experts states that MalwareBytes Free utility is a right choice. The free program is able to look for and get rid of ConsoleConnection from your Apple Mac and return your web browser settings to defaults.

To remove ConsoleConnection, follow the steps below:

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

Remove profiles created by ConsoleConnection

ConsoleConnection 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 related to ConsoleConnection.

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

Uninstall ConsoleConnection related apps through the Finder

One of the first things to attempt for removal of adware software is to check your Mac computer installed programs screen and look for unwanted and questionable software. If there are any apps you do not recognize or are no longer using, you should delete them. If that doesn’t work, then you may need to use malicious software removal utility like MalwareBytes.

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

Remove ConsoleConnection related files and folders

Now you need to try to find ConsoleConnection 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

We recommend using MalwareBytes to scan the Mac device for adware, browser hijackers and PUPs. This free utility is an advanced malware removal application designed by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This application uses the world’s most popular anti-malware technology. It’s able to help you delete malware and other security threats from your Mac device for free.

Installing the MalwareBytes is simple. First you’ll need to download MalwareBytes Anti Malware from the following link. Save it to your Desktop.

After the download is finished, run it and follow the prompts. Press the “Scan” button for scanning your Apple Mac for the ConsoleConnection adware. Once you have selected what you want to delete from your MAC OS click the “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes is a free program that you can use to remove all detected folders, files, malicious services and so on.

Remove ConsoleConnection from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you have ‘ConsoleConnection ‘ removal problem, then remove unwanted extensions can help you. In the steps below we’ll show you the method to remove malicious add-ons without reinstall. This will also help to get rid of ConsoleConnection adware from your web browser.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top-right corner, expand the Chrome menu. When the drop-down menu appears, select ‘More tools’ and click on ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to remove ConsoleConnection adware 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 ConsoleConnection removal, you need to reset 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 ad blocker program for the Safari, Firefox and Google Chrome, with active user support. It does a great job by removing certain types of intrusive advertisements, popunders, popups, unwanted new tabs, and even full page ads and web-site overlay layers. Of course, the AdGuard can block malicious web-sites automatically or by using a custom filter rule.

Installing the AdGuard is simple. First you will need to download AdGuard by clicking on the following link.

After the downloading process is finished, 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 guide. Click “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” to see an quick guidance which will help you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you start your MAC OS, AdGuard will start automatically and stop annoying pop ups, block harmful and misleading web pages.

To sum up

After completing the steps shown above, your MAC should be clean from this adware and other malicious software. The Mozilla Firefox, Safari and Chrome will no longer display any unwanted ads when you surf the Internet. Unfortunately, if the step-by-step tutorial does not help you, then you have caught a new adware, and then the best way – ask for help.

Please create a new question by using the “Ask Question” button in the Questions and Answers. Try to give us some details about your problems, so we can try to help you more accurately. Wait for one of our trained “Security Team” or Site Administrator to provide you with knowledgeable assistance tailored to your problem with the annoying ConsoleConnection .