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

What is AboutExtended

AboutExtended is a malicious app that acts as adware. Adware is form of software that displays unwanted ads on a computer, redirects search results to advertising web pages and gathers sensitive information for marketing purposes. AboutExtended can show banner ads, full-screen ads, popups, videos, or other varieties of online advertising. It can attack your machine’s web-browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Safari. Maybe you approve the idea that the advertisements or pop-ups is just a small problem. But these annoying ads eat machine resources and slow down your Mac performance.

Another reason why you need to delete the AboutExtended app is its online data-tracking activity. It can be used to gather a wide variety of personal data about you to get profit. It can analyze your browsing, and gain access to your personal information and, afterwards, can sell this information to third party companies. Thus, there are more than enough reasons to get rid of the adware from your Apple Mac.

How does AboutExtended get on your MAC system

The majority of adware come bundled with free applications or even paid applications which Internet users can easily download online. The setup files of such apps, most often, clearly display that they will install optional apps. The option is given to users to stop the installation of any third-party apps. So, in order to avoid the setup of any adware software: read all disclaimers and install screens very carefully, select only Custom or Advanced install option and disable all third-party applications in which you are unsure.

Threat Summary

Name	AboutExtended, AboutExtended 1.0 app
Type	adware software, potentially unwanted program (PUP), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Adware.MAC.Generic, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, Adware/Adload!OSX, ApplicUnwnt and MacOS.Agent-MT
Distribution	Free software installers, torrent downloads, fake software updaters and shady pop-up ads
Symptoms	You keep getting redirected to unfamiliar websites, you experience lots of of unexpected ads, your machine starts automatically installing unexpected software, new extensions suddenly added on your web browser, your web-browser homepage has changed and you are unable to change it back, slow browsing Internet.
Removal	AboutExtended removal guide

How to Remove AboutExtended adware (removal instructions)

The answer is right here on this web-page. We have put together simplicity and efficiency. It will help you easily to free your computer of AboutExtended. Moreover, you can select manual or automatic removal solution. If you are familiar with the computer then use manual removal, otherwise use the free antimalware tool created specifically to delete adware. Of course, you may combine both methods. Some of the steps will require you to restart your Apple Mac or exit this website. So, read this instructions carefully, then bookmark this page or open it on your smartphone for later reference.

To remove AboutExtended, perform the following steps:

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

Remove profiles created by AboutExtended

AboutExtended 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 AboutExtended.

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.

Uninstall AboutExtended related software through the Finder

It is of primary importance to identify and get rid of browser hijackers, PUPs and adware through ‘Applications’ section of your Finder.

Make sure you have closed all web-browsers and other apps. Next, delete any unknown and suspicious programs from computer using the Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Look around the entire list of software installed on your Apple Mac. Most likely, one of them is the AboutExtended adware software. Select the dubious program or the program that name is not familiar to you and remove it.

Drag the dubious program from the Applications folder to the Trash.

Most important, don’t forget, select Finder -> Empty Trash.

Remove AboutExtended related files and folders

Now you need to try to find AboutExtended 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

If you’re still having issues with the AboutExtended removal or just wish to scan your Mac occasionally for adware and other malicious software, then download MalwareBytes Anti Malware. It is free for home use, and searches for and removes various unwanted apps that attacks your MAC system or degrades machine performance. MalwareBytes AntiMalware can remove PUPs, adware, toolbars and browser hijackers as well as malicious software, including ransomware and trojans.

Click the link below to download the latest version of MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) for Apple Mac.

When downloading is done, run it and follow the prompts. Click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan with this tool for the AboutExtended adware software. This process can take some time, so please be patient. When a malware, adware software or PUPs are found, the number of the security threats will change accordingly. Wait until the the checking is complete. When you are ready, press the “Quarantine” button.

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

Remove AboutExtended from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

This step will show you how to delete harmful addons. This can delete AboutExtended adware and fix some surfing issues, especially after adware infection.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
Click on ‘three dots menu’ button at the top right corner of the Google Chrome window. Select ‘More tools’, then ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to remove AboutExtended 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 AboutExtended adware 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

If you want to remove unwanted advertisements, web browser redirects and popups, then install an adblocker program like AdGuard. It can block unwanted advertisements and popups, stop websites from tracking your online activities when using the Chrome, Firefox and Safari. So, if you like browse the World Wide Web, but you don’t like intrusive ads and want to protect your MAC system from harmful web sites, then the AdGuard is your best choice.

Click the following link to download AdGuard.

Once the downloading process is done, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen. Follow the prompts.

Each time, when you start your Apple Mac, AdGuard will start automatically and stop unwanted pop-ups, block harmful and misleading web sites.

To sum up

Once you have finished the few simple steps above, your machine should be clean from this adware and other malware. The Chrome, Safari and Firefox will no longer display any AboutExtended ads when you surf the Internet. Unfortunately, if the steps 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 AboutExtended adware.