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

What is ExtendedRotator

According to security experts, ExtendedRotator is an adware application that targets Mac platform. Adware can make big problems to your MAC. Adware (ad software) is a type of malicious software that displays unwanted advertisements in form of pop up windows, discount offers, promos or even fake alerts on the computer. Adware can seriously affect your privacy, your computer’s performance and security. Even worse, adware can have spyware and keyloggers built into itself leading to greater damage to your MAC and possible invasion of your personal information.

Another reason why you need to get rid of the ExtendedRotator adware is its online data-tracking activity. It is able to gather a wide variety of sensitive info such as what websites you are opening, what you are looking for the Web and so on. This confidential data, subsequently, may be used for marketing purposes.

Adware is usually written in ways common to malicious software, spyware and browser hijackers. In order to remove ExtendedRotator adware, you will need perform the following steps or run free adware removal utility listed below.

How does ExtendedRotator get on your MAC OS

Many of the freeware out there install unwanted web-browser toolbars, hijackers, adware and potentially unwanted software along with them without your knowledge. One has to be attentive while installing free software in order to avoid accidentally installing third-party applications. It is important that you pay attention to the EULA (End User License Agreements) and choose the Custom, Manual or Advanced installation option as it will typically disclose what additional apps will also be installed.

Threat Summary

Name	ExtendedRotator
Type	adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	OSX.Trojan.Gen, Adware/Adload!OSX, ApplicUnwnt, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, MacOS.Agent-MT, Adware.MAC.Generic and Osx.Adware.Cimpli
Distribution	Freeware installers, fake updaters, misleading pop up advertisements and torrent downloads
Symptoms	Your web-browser is redirected to webpages you did not want, unclosable window appear and recommend fake security software, your computer starts automatically installing unexpected software, an unexpected toolbar appears in your browser, your Mac settings are being modified without your request, slow Internet browsing speeds.
Removal	ExtendedRotator removal guide

How to Remove ExtendedRotator adware (removal guide)

In the tutorial below, we’ll try to cover the Chrome, Safari and Firefox and provide general advice to delete ExtendedRotator adware. You may find some minor differences in your Mac install. No matter, you should be okay if you follow the steps outlined below: delete all suspicious and unknown applications, reset web browsers settings, run free malicious software removal tools. Some of the steps below will require you to close this webpage. So, please read the few simple steps carefully, after that bookmark it or open it on your smartphone for later reference.

To remove ExtendedRotator, follow the steps below:

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

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

ExtendedRotator 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 device. If there is Profiles in the list, then click on it, then select a profile associated with ExtendedRotator.

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

Check the list of installed programs

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

Make sure you have closed all web-browsers and other programs. Next, uninstall any unwanted and suspicious programs from MAC system using the Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Look around the entire list of programs installed on your computer. Most likely, one of them is the ExtendedRotator adware. Choose the dubious program or the application that name is not familiar to you and uninstall it.

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

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

Remove ExtendedRotator related files and folders

Now you need to try to find ExtendedRotator 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

If you’re still having problems with the ExtendedRotator removal or just wish to check your Mac occasionally for adware and other malware, then download MalwareBytes AntiMalware. It is free for home use, and scans for and removes various unwanted programs that attacks your MAC or degrades computer performance. MalwareBytes can get rid of adware, toolbars, potentially unwanted programs and browser hijackers as well as malicious software, including ransomware and trojans.

MalwareBytes AntiMalware can be downloaded from the following link.

Once downloading is finished, close all applications and windows on your machine. Run the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes Free will automatically start and you can see its main screen similar to the one below.

Now click the “Scan” button for scanning your MAC system for the ExtendedRotator . A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your machine and the speed of your MAC system.

When MalwareBytes Anti-Malware completes the scan, MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) will open a list of detected threats. Review the scan results and then press the “Quarantine” button. The MalwareBytes Free will remove ExtendedRotator adware.

Remove ExtendedRotator from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

Annoying ExtendedRotator adware or other symptoms of adware in your web browser is a good reason to find and delete harmful extensions. This is an easy way to restore internet browsers settings and not lose any important information.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right hand corner, click on ‘three vertical dots’, and this will open up the main menu on Google Chrome. 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 ExtendedRotator 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 ExtendedRotator adware 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

One of the worst things is the fact that you cannot stop all malicious webpages using only built-in Microsoft Windows capabilities. However, there is a program out that you can use to stop intrusive browser redirects, advertisements and popups in any modern browsers including Mozilla Firefox, Safari and Google Chrome. It is called Adguard and it works very well.

AdGuard can be downloaded from the following link.

When the downloading process is complete, 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 instructions. Click “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick guide which will assist you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you launch your computer, AdGuard will start automatically and stop annoying popups, block harmful and misleading webpages.

Finish words

Once you have complete the guidance shown above, your computer should be clean from ExtendedRotator adware and other malicious software. The Mozilla Firefox, Safari and Chrome will no longer display any unwanted ads. Unfortunately, if the steps does not help you, then you have caught a new adware, and then the best way – ask for help here.