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

What is HandlerRotator

HandlerRotator is an adware application that targets Mac computers. Adware is a form of malware that’s designed to display constant popups and/or annoying adverts using intrusive and at times dangerous ways. Adware can also include other forms of malicious software. It can steal privacy data from the machine and pass it on to third parties. Adware has also been the basis for hacking to gain access to the Mac computer.

Does adware steal your confidential data? Adware has the ability to gather and transmit confidential info without your permission. It can track information about web-sites visited, internet browser and system information, and your Apple Mac IP address. So, We suggest to remove the HandlerRotator adware, as soon as you found this issue, as it can redirect your internet browser to web-resources that can load other malware on your MAC.

How does HandlerRotator get on your MAC system

Adware usually gets onto MAC computers by being attached to free software that downloaded from the Web. Which means that you need to be proactive and carefully read the Terms of use and the License agreement properly. For the most part, adware software and PUPs will be clearly described, so take the time to carefully read all the information about the software that you downloaded and want to install on your machine.

Threat Summary

Name	HandlerRotator
Type	adware software, potentially unwanted program (PUP), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Osx.Adware.Cimpli, ApplicUnwnt, Adware/Adload!OSX, MacOS.Agent-MT, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, OSX.Trojan.Gen and Adware.MAC.Generic
Distribution	Freeware installers, fake updaters, torrent downloads and malicious popup advertisements
Symptoms	When you go to a web page, you’re often redirected to another web page that you do not intend to visit, popups and newtab pages are loaded without your request, new entries appear in your Applications folder, unexpected web-browser addons or toolbars keep coming back, your web-browser startpage has replaced and you are unable to modify it back, speed test good but internet slow.
Removal	HandlerRotator removal guide

How to Remove HandlerRotator adware (removal tutorial)

Without a doubt, HandlerRotator is harmful to your computer. So you need to quickly and completely remove this adware. To remove adware software, you can use the manual removal guidance that is given below or free malicious software removal utility such as MalwareBytes (it is free). We advise you use automatic removal solution which will help you to remove HandlerRotator adware software easily and safely. Manual removal is best used only if you’re well versed in MAC or in the case where adware software is not removed automatically. Some of the steps below will require you to exit this web page. So, please read the tutorial carefully, after that bookmark it or open it on your smartphone for later reference.

To remove HandlerRotator, complete the steps below:

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

Remove profiles created by HandlerRotator

HandlerRotator 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.

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 HandlerRotator.

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.

Uninstall HandlerRotator associated software by using the Finder

The next step in deleting adware, browser hijackers and PUPs by yourself is to go into the Finder, then Applications. Take a look at the list of programs on your Mac device and see if there are any dubious and unknown apps. If you see any, you need to uninstall it. Of course, before doing so, you can do an World Wide Web search to find details on the program. If it is a adware, potentially unwanted program and browser hijacker, you will likely find information that says so.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Very carefully look around the entire list of programs installed on your MAC OS. Most likely, one of them is the HandlerRotator . Once you’ve found a suspicious, unwanted or unused program, right click to it and choose “Move to Trash”. Another way is drag the program from the Applications folder to the Trash.

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

Remove HandlerRotator related files and folders

Now you need to try to find HandlerRotator 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

You can remove HandlerRotator associated files automatically with a help of MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM). We suggest this free malicious software removal utility because it may easily delete adware, browser hijackers, toolbars and PUPs with all their components such as files, folders and system entries.

Installing the MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) is simple. First you will need to download MalwareBytes Free by clicking on the following link.

After the downloading process is done, close all windows on your computer. Further, launch the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) will automatically start and you can see its main window as shown on the image below.

Next, press the “Scan Now” button . MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) application will scan through the whole Apple Mac for the HandlerRotator . While the MalwareBytes utility is scanning, you can see how many objects it has identified as being affected by malicious software.

As the scanning ends, it will show the Scan Results. When you are ready, click the “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) will get rid of HandlerRotator adware and move the selected threats to the Quarantine.

Remove HandlerRotator from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

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

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top-right corner, expand the Chrome menu. Select ‘More tools’, then ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to remove HandlerRotator 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 HandlerRotator 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 websites using only built-in Windows capabilities. However, there is a program out that you can use to block unwanted internet browser redirects, ads and pop-ups in any modern web browsers including Chrome, Safari and Mozilla Firefox. It is named Adguard and it works very well.

Installing the AdGuard is simple. First you’ll need to download AdGuard from the following link.

Once 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 guidance that will assist you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you start your MAC, AdGuard will start automatically and stop intrusive pop up ads, block harmful and misleading web-pages.

Finish words

Now your Apple Mac should be clean of the HandlerRotator adware. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted popup ads and unwanted harmful web-sites) and MalwareBytes Free (to periodically scan your MAC for new adware softwares and other malicious software).

If you are still having problems while trying to remove HandlerRotator from the Chrome, Firefox and Safari, then ask for help here here.