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

What is GeneralUpdate

GeneralUpdate is an adware application that targets Mac computers. Adware is a form of malicious software that’s designed to display numerous pop up windows and/or unwanted ads using intrusive and at times dangerous methods. Adware can also include other forms of malicious software. It can steal user information from the MAC and pass it on to third parties. Adware has also been the basis for hacking to gain access to the MAC system.

Even worse, adware may monetize its functionality by collecting user data from your browsing sessions. This confidential info, subsequently, can be easily transferred to third parties. This puts your confidential information at a security risk. So, we recommend you to complete step-by-step instructions below to remove the GeneralUpdate adware and get rid of unwanted ads from your internet browser.

How does GeneralUpdate get on your MAC system

Adware software usually is bundled with free applications . So, when you installing freeware, carefully read the disclaimers, choose the Custom or Advanced setup mode to watch for bundled programs that are being installed, because certain of the software are PUPs and adware software.

Threat Summary

Name	GeneralUpdate, GeneralUpdate 1.0 app
Type	adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, MacOS.Agent-MT, Adware/Adload!OSX, Adware.MAC.Generic, ApplicUnwnt, Osx.Adware.Cimpli and OSX.Trojan.Gen
Distribution	Free software installers, torrent downloads, fake updaters and misleading popup advertisements
Symptoms	Your web-browser is redirected to web-sites you did not want, popup advertisements won’t go away, unwanted program installed without your knowledge, new toolbars suddenly added on your internet browser, your web-browser settings are being modified without your request, low ping but slow Internet.
Removal	GeneralUpdate removal guide

How to Remove GeneralUpdate adware (removal guide)

If you have constant pop-ups or unwanted advertisements, slow MAC OS, freezing computer problems, you are in need of adware removal assistance. The step-by-step guidance below will guide you forward to get GeneralUpdate adware software removed and will assist you get your MAC system operating at peak capacity again.

To remove GeneralUpdate, perform the steps below:

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

Remove profiles created by GeneralUpdate

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

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

Check the list of installed applications

It’s of primary importance to identify and delete adware, potentially unwanted programs and browser hijackers through ‘Applications’ section of your Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications” as displayed in the following example.

You will see a list of apps installed on your MAC system. We recommend to pay maximum attention to the program you installed last. Most probably, it’s the GeneralUpdate . If you’re in doubt, you can always check the program by doing a search for her name in Google, Yahoo or Bing.

When the application which you need to uninstall is found, simply right click on its name, and choose “Move to Trash”.

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

Remove GeneralUpdate related files and folders

Now you need to try to find GeneralUpdate 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

Manual GeneralUpdate removal requires some computer skills. Some files and system entries that created by the adware may be not fully removed. We suggest that run MalwareBytes Free to scan the Mac computer. Moreover, this application will help you to remove toolbars, browser hijackers, PUPs and adware that your MAC may be affected too.

Visit the following page to download the latest version of MalwareBytes Anti-Malware for Apple Mac.

When downloading is finished, close all apps and windows on your Apple Mac. Run the saved file. Follow the prompts.

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

Now press the “Scan” button to begin scanning your MAC for the GeneralUpdate . This procedure can take quite a while, so please be patient. When a threat is detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly. Wait until the the checking is complete.

Once that process is done, you will be shown the list of all detected threats on your computer. Review the report and then click the “Quarantine” button. The MalwareBytes Free will get rid of GeneralUpdate adware software and move the selected items to the program’s quarantine.

Remove GeneralUpdate from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you have ‘GeneralUpdate adware’ removal problem, then remove unwanted addons can help you. In the steps below we’ll show you the method to delete harmful addons without reinstall. This will also help to remove GeneralUpdate from your web-browser.

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

If you want to remove annoying advertisements, internet browser redirects and pop ups, then install an adblocker program like AdGuard. It can block unwanted advertisements and popups, stop web pages from tracking your online activities when using the Safari, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. So, if you like surf the Internet, but you don’t like intrusive ads and want to protect your MAC from harmful websites, then the AdGuard is your best choice.

1. AdGuard can be downloaded from the following link.
   
   

   AdGuard for Mac download
   3687 downloads
   Author: © Adguard
   Category: Security tools
   Update: January 17, 2018
   
2. When downloading is finished, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
3. Once the setup is complete, click “Skip” to close the install application and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial that will assist you get to know AdGuard better.
4. In most cases, the default settings are enough and you do not need to change anything. Each time, when you start your MAC, AdGuard will start automatically and stop intrusive advertisements, block malicious and misleading webpages.

To sum up

Now your MAC system should be clean of the GeneralUpdate adware. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted popups and unwanted harmful web-sites) and MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) (to periodically scan your MAC for new adware softwares and other malware).

If you are still having problems while trying to delete GeneralUpdate ads from the Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Safari, then ask for help here here.