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

What is PathPanel

PathPanel is an adware application that targets Mac computers. Adware is an advertising malware. It is designed just to display constant pop up windows and/or unwanted advertising using intrusive and at times dangerous methods. Adware can also include other forms of malware. It can steal personal information from the MAC computer and pass it on to third parties. Adware has also been the basis for hacking to gain access to the system.

Does adware steal your data? Adware software may monetize its functionality by gathering sensitive information from your browsing sessions. This privacy information, subsequently, can be easily used for marketing purposes. This puts your personal info at a security risk.

If your Apple Mac has been hijacked by the adware, you must have done the steps below. Once you’ve removed PathPanel from your MAC by following our tutorial, make sure not to commit the same mistakes again in the future.

How does PathPanel get on your Apple Mac

The most common way to get adware is a freeware setup file. Most commonly, a user have a chance to disable all included ‘offers’, but some setup files are created to confuse the average users, in order to trick them into installing PUPs and adware. Anyway, easier to prevent adware rather than clean up your MAC after one. So, keep your web browser updated (turn on automatic updates), use good antivirus applications, double check free software before you open it (do a google search, scan a downloaded file with VirusTotal), avoid shady and unknown websites.

Threat Summary

Name	PathPanel, PathPanel 1.0 app
Type	adware, potentially unwanted program (PUP), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	MacOS.Agent-MT, Adware/Adload!OSX, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Adware.MAC.Generic, ApplicUnwnt and Program:MacOS/Vigram.A
Distribution	Free software installers, fake software updaters, malicious pop up ads and torrent downloads
Symptoms	You keep getting redirected to suspicious webpages, you experience lots of of unwanted popup windows, there is an unwanted application in the ‘Applications’ section of the Finder, unwanted web browser toolbars, your browser startpage has changed without your permission, slow Internet browsing speeds.
Removal	PathPanel removal guide

How to Remove PathPanel adware (removal steps)

Fortunately, it is not hard to remove PathPanel . In the following guidance, we will provide two ways to free your machine of this adware. One is the manual removal solution and the other is automatic removal solution. You can choose the method that best fits you. Please follow the removal tutorial below to delete the adware right now!

To remove PathPanel, execute the steps below:

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

Remove profiles created by PathPanel

PathPanel 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 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 PathPanel.

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

Check the list of installed software

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

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Very carefully look around the entire list of software installed on your machine. Most likely, one of them is the PathPanel adware software. Once you’ve found a dubious, unwanted or unused application, right click to it and select “Move to Trash”. Another method is drag the application from the Applications folder to the Trash.

Don’t forget, choose Finder -> “Empty Trash”.

Remove PathPanel related files and folders

Now you need to try to find PathPanel 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

You can get rid of PathPanel related files automatically with a help of MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM). We suggest this free malware removal utility because it can easily remove browser hijackers, PUPs, toolbars and adware with all their components such as files, folders and system entries.

Please go to the link below to download the latest version of MalwareBytes Free for Mac OS.

When the downloading process is complete, close all programs and windows on your MAC. Run the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes Free will automatically start and you can see its main screen as shown on the image below.

Now click the “Scan” button . MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) application will scan through the whole MAC system for the PathPanel adware. A system scan can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your Apple Mac. When a threat is found, the number of the security threats will change accordingly.

After finished, the results are displayed in the scan report. You may delete items (move to Quarantine) by simply click the “Quarantine” button. The MalwareBytes AntiMalware will start to delete PathPanel adware software.

Remove PathPanel from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

Annoying PathPanel adware or other symptoms of adware in your browser is a good reason to locate and delete malicious extensions. This is an easy way to restore web-browsers settings and not lose any important information.

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

If you surf the Net, you cannot avoid malvertising. But you can protect your internet browser against it. Download and use an adblocker program. AdGuard is an ad blocking that can filter out tons of of the malvertising, stoping dynamic scripts from loading harmful content.

Installing the AdGuard is simple. First you’ll need to download AdGuard from the following link. Save it on your MS Windows desktop or in any other place.

Once the download 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 guidance. Click “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial which will allow you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you start your MAC OS, AdGuard will start automatically and stop intrusive advertisements, block malicious and misleading webpages.

To sum up

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