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

What is ValidNetBoost

ValidNetBoost is an application that behaves like Adware and targets mac computers. Adware is considered by many to be synonymous with ‘malicious software’. It is a type of malicious software which displays unwanted advertisements to computer users. Some examples include popup ads, various offers and deals or unclosable windows. Adware can be installed onto your Apple Mac via infected webpages, when users open email attachments, anytime users download and install free applications.

Another reason why you need to remove the ValidNetBoost adware is its online data-tracking activity. It is able to collect a wide variety of confidential information about you such as what websites you are opening, what you are looking for the World Wide Web and so on. This confidential data, afterwards, may be sold to third parties.

To find out how to remove ValidNetBoost adware, read the step-by-step guidance added to this post below. The guidance was created by experienced security professionals who discovered a way to remove the adware software out of the machine.

How does ValidNetBoost get on your computer

Adware software usually gets on your computer as a part of another program in the same installer. The risk of this is especially high for the various freeware downloaded from the Internet. The developers of the software are hoping that users will use the quick install option, that is simply to press the Next button, without paying attention to the information on the screen and do not carefully considering every step of the install procedure. Thus, adware can infiltrate your machine without your knowledge. Therefore, it’s very important to read everything that the application says during installation, including the ‘Terms of Use’ and ‘Software license’. Use only the Manual, Custom or Advanced install type. This mode will allow you to disable all optional and unwanted programs and components.

Threat Summary

Name	ValidNetBoost, ValidNetBoost 1.0 app
Type	adware software, potentially unwanted application (PUA), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, Adware/Adload!OSX, OSX.Trojan.Gen, ApplicUnwnt, MacOS.Agent-MT, Osx.Adware.Cimpli and Adware.MAC.Generic
Distribution	Freeware installers, torrent downloads, fake software updaters and dubious pop-up advertisements
Symptoms	When you go to a web-site, you’re randomly redirected to another web site that you do not intend to visit, web-browser pop ups appear and recommend fake updates and other unwanted programs, there is an unexpected program in the ‘Applications’ section of the Finder, unwanted browser toolbars, your internet browser search engine has modified without your permission, speed test good but internet slow.
Removal	ValidNetBoost removal guide

How to remove ValidNetBoost adware software

In the step-by-step instructions below we will have a look at the adware software and how to remove ValidNetBoost from Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Safari web-browsers for Mac. Some of the steps below will require you to close this web-site. So, please read the step-by-step instructions carefully, after that bookmark it or open it on your smartphone for later reference.

To remove ValidNetBoost, follow the steps below:

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

Remove profiles created by ValidNetBoost

ValidNetBoost 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 ValidNetBoost.

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, which is normal.

Remove ValidNetBoost related apps through the Finder

Go to the Finder and uninstall dubious apps, all programs you don’t remember installing. It is important to pay the most attention to software you have recently installed. If you do not know what a program does, look for the answer on the World Wide Web.

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

Remove ValidNetBoost related files and folders

Now you need to try to find ValidNetBoost 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

Manual ValidNetBoost removal requires some computer skills. Some files and system entries that created by the adware can be not fully removed. We suggest that run MalwareBytes to scan the Mac device. Moreover, this application will allow you to get rid of adware, PUPs, browser hijackers and toolbars that your MAC system can be affected too.

Visit the page linked below to download MalwareBytes AntiMalware.

After downloading is complete, close all apps and windows on your MAC OS. Open a directory in which you saved it. Run the saved file and follow the prompts.

Once installation is finished, you will see window as shown in the figure below.

Now click the “Scan” button . MalwareBytes Anti Malware program will scan through the whole computer for the ValidNetBoost adware. While the utility is checking, you can see number of objects and files has already scanned.

When the scan get finished, it will display the Scan Results. Once you have selected what you want to remove from your Apple Mac click “Quarantine” button.

The Malwarebytes will now delete ValidNetBoost adware.

Remove ValidNetBoost from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

Remove unwanted extensions is a easy way to get rid of ValidNetBoost adware and restore browser’s settings that have been changed by adware.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top-right corner, expand the Google Chrome menu. 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 ValidNetBoost 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 issues with ValidNetBoost 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

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

1. Click the following link to download the latest version of AdGuard for Mac OS.
   
   

   AdGuard for Mac download
   3686 downloads
   Author: © Adguard
   Category: Security tools
   Update: January 17, 2018
   
2. After the download is complete, run the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
3. Once the installation is done, press “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or press “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 don’t need to change anything. Each time, when you start your MAC system, AdGuard will start automatically and stop intrusive advertisements, block harmful and misleading web sites.

To sum up

Now your machine should be clean of the ValidNetBoost adware. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted pop ups and unwanted harmful web pages) and MalwareBytes AntiMalware (to periodically scan your MAC system for new adwares and other malware).

If you are still having problems while trying to get rid of ValidNetBoost from Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Chrome, then ask for help here here.