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

What is ValidConfigType

ValidConfigType is a malicious applications that belongs to the Adware category. Adware is type of malware that can cause issues for your MAC. It can generate numerous additional pop up, banner, pop-under and in-text link advertisements flooding on your web browser; gather your personal information such as login details, online searches, etc; run in the background and drag down your computer running speed; give more chances for other adware software, PUAs even malware to get on your Mac.

Does adware software steal your confidential information? The ValidConfigType app is able to collect a wide variety of privacy data such as what web-sites you are opening, what you are looking for the Internet and so on. This user data, later, may be sold to third party companies.

If your browser has been infected with the adware, you must have complete the steps below. Once you have removed ValidConfigType from your computer by following our suggestions below, make sure not to commit the same mistakes again in the future.

How does ValidConfigType get on your computer

In many cases, a freeware installation package includes third-party apps such as this adware. So, be very careful when you agree to install anything. The best way – is to choose a Custom, Advanced or Manual installation type. Here disable all third-party applications in which you are unsure or that causes even a slightest suspicion. The main thing you should remember, you do not need to install any optional software which you don’t trust!

Threat Summary

Name	ValidConfigType, ValidConfigType 1.0 app
Type	adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, Adware.MAC.Generic, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, OSX.Trojan.Gen, MacOS.Agent-MT, Adware/Adload!OSX, ApplicUnwnt and Osx.Adware.Cimpli
Distribution	Freeware installers, torrent downloads, misleading pop up advertisements and fake update tools
Symptoms	Your browser is redirected to webpages you did not want, unexpected advertisements appear on web pages that you are visiting, new entries appear in your Applications folder, unexpected internet browser extensions or toolbars keep coming back, your web-browser search engine has changed without your permission, slow Internet browsing speeds.
Removal	ValidConfigType removal guide

How to remove ValidConfigType adware

The following step-by-step instructions will help you to remove ValidConfigType adware from the Mozilla Firefox, Safari and Google Chrome browser. Moreover, the guidance below will allow you to remove malicious software, hijackers, potentially unwanted applications and toolbars that your machine may be infected. Please do the instructions step by step. If you need help or have any questions, then ask for our assistance or type a comment below. Read it once, after doing so, please bookmark this page (or open it on your smartphone) as you may need to close your internet browser or reboot your computer.

To remove ValidConfigType, complete the following steps:

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

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

ValidConfigType 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 ValidConfigType.

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 programs

Some PUPs, browser hijackers and adware can be removed by uninstalling the freeware they came with. If this way does not succeed, then looking them up in the list of installed applications in the Finder. Use the “Move to Trash” command in order to get rid of them.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Carefully browse through the list of installed applications and remove all dubious and unknown programs.

When you have found anything dubious that may be the ValidConfigType adware or other potentially unwanted program, then right click this application and choose “Move to Trash”. Once complete, Empty Trash.

Remove ValidConfigType related files and folders

Now you need to try to find ValidConfigType 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

If you are still having problems with the ValidConfigType removal or just wish to check your Mac device occasionally for adware and other malware, then download MalwareBytes Anti Malware. It’s free for home use, and searches for and deletes various unwanted apps that attacks your MAC system or degrades Apple Mac performance. MalwareBytes Free can delete adware, potentially unwanted programs, browser hijackers and toolbars as well as malicious software, including ransomware and trojans.

Visit the page linked below to download the latest version of MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) for Mac.

Once the download is complete, close all windows on your MAC. Further, run the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) will automatically start and you may see its main window as shown in the following example.

Next, click the “Scan Now” button for scanning your computer for the ValidConfigType . This task may take some time, so please be patient. While the MalwareBytes Free is scanning, you can see number of objects it has identified either as being malware.

After MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) has finished scanning, MalwareBytes Free will open a list of all threats detected by the scan. Review the report and then click the “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes Free will start to delete ValidConfigType adware.

Remove ValidConfigType from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

This step will show you how to remove harmful extensions. This can get rid of ValidConfigType and fix some surfing issues, especially after adware infection.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right corner, click on Google Chrome’s main menu button, represented by three vertical dots. In the menu go to ‘More tools’, then ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to remove ValidConfigType adware software 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 ValidConfigType 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

It’s important to run ad blocker applications such as AdGuard to protect your MAC OS from malicious websites. Most security experts says that it is okay to block advertisements. You should do so just to stay safe! And, of course, the AdGuard can to block misleading and other unwanted web pages.

1. Installing the AdGuard is simple. First you will need to download AdGuard from the link below.
   
   

   AdGuard for Mac download
   3687 downloads
   Author: © Adguard
   Category: Security tools
   Update: January 17, 2018
   
2. Once the downloading process is complete, run the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
3. Once the install is done, click “Skip” to close the setup application and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial which will assist you get to know AdGuard better.
4. In most cases, the default settings are enough and you do not need to change anything. Each time, when you start your computer, AdGuard will run automatically and stop unwanted advertisements, block malicious and misleading websites.

To sum up

Now your MAC OS should be free of the ValidConfigType adware. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted pop-up advertisements and intrusive harmful websites) and MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) (to periodically scan your MAC OS for new malware, hijackers and adware software). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Mac OS. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new hijackers, malicious programs and adware software are released.

If you are still having problems while trying to get rid of ValidConfigType from your internet browser, then ask for help here.