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

What is CompactFilter

CompactFilter is an adware application that targets Mac platform. Adware is short for ‘ad software’. Additionally, some malware contains adware or behaves similarly to adware. The CompactFilter adware displays unwanted advertisements that appear in unclosable windows or in-text links on computer. In order to display unwanted advertisements as often as possible it can alter web-browser settings.

You may even find that your Mac settings are modified without your knowledge. The makers of adware software do so in order to generate revenue via third-party ad network. Thus every your click on the adverts earns revenue for them.

Even worse, CompactFilter can be used to gather and transmit privacy information without your knowledge. It has the ability to track information about web-sites visited, web-browser and system information, and your computer IP address.

If your MAC system has been infected with the adware software, you must have done any of the steps below. Once you have removed CompactFilter from your MAC by following our steps below, make sure not to commit the same mistakes again in the future.

How does CompactFilter get on your MAC

Adware spreads together with some free applications. So always read carefully the setup screens, disclaimers, ‘Terms of Use’ and ‘Software license’ appearing during the install process. Additionally pay attention for bundled software which are being installed along with the main program. Ensure that you unchecked all of them! Also, use an ad blocker tool that will help to stop misleading and untrustworthy web sites.

Threat Summary

Name	CompactFilter
Type	adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, ApplicUnwnt, Adware.MAC.Generic, Adware/Adload!OSX, OSX.Trojan.Gen, MacOS.Agent-MT and Program:MacOS/Vigram.A
Distribution	Free software installers, fake updaters, misleading pop-up ads and torrent downloads
Symptoms	The web-site links redirect to a web-pages different from what you expected, advertising pop ups won’t go away, new entries appear in your Applications folder, new icons on your desktop, your web browser home page has changed and you are unable to modify it back, slow Internet browsing speeds.
Removal	CompactFilter removal guide

How to remove CompactFilter adware

If you have constant pop-ups or unwanted advertisements, slow Mac, crashing MAC system issues, you are in need of adware removal assistance. The instructions below will guide you forward to get CompactFilter removed and will assist you get your machine operating at peak capacity again.

To remove CompactFilter, use the following steps:

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

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

CompactFilter 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 associated with CompactFilter.

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

Uninstall CompactFilter associated software by using the Finder

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

Make sure you have closed all browsers and other programs. Next, remove any unwanted and suspicious software from computer using the Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Look around the entire list of apps installed on your MAC system. Most likely, one of them is the CompactFilter adware software. Choose the suspicious program or the program that name is not familiar to you and delete it.

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

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

Remove CompactFilter related files and folders

Now you need to try to find CompactFilter 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

We advise using MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM). You can download and install MalwareBytes Free to detect and remove CompactFilter related programs from your Mac device. When installed and updated, the malware remover automatically finds and deletes all security threats present on the machine.

1. Visit the following page to download MalwareBytes.
   
   

   Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
   20851 downloads
   Author: Malwarebytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: September 10, 2020
   
2. When downloading is complete, please close all software and open windows on your Apple Mac. Run the downloaded file. Follow the prompts.
3. The MalwareBytes will launch and show the main window.
4. Further, click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan with this utility for the CompactFilter adware software. This task may take quite a while, so please be patient. During the scan MalwareBytes Free will search for threats present on your MAC.
5. Once that process is finished, you’ll be displayed the list of all found threats on your computer.
6. Next, you need to press the “Remove Selected Items” button.
7. Close the AntiMalware and continue with the next step.

Remove CompactFilter from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you’re still getting CompactFilter adware software, then you can try to get rid of it by removing malicious add-ons.

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

By installing an ad blocking program like AdGuard, you are able to block malicious web pages, stop autoplaying video ads and delete a huge number of distracting and intrusive ads on web sites.

Installing the AdGuard is simple. First you’ll need to download AdGuard on your MS Windows Desktop by clicking on the following link.

After downloading is done, 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 guide. Press “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 start your MAC OS, AdGuard will run automatically and stop annoying pop-up advertisements, block malicious and misleading web sites.

To sum up

We suggest that you keep MalwareBytes Anti Malware (to periodically scan your machine for new adwares and other malware) and AdGuard (to help you block intrusive advertisements and malicious webpages). Moreover, to prevent any adware software, please stay clear of unknown and third party applications.

If you need more help with CompactFilter related issues, go to here.