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

What is ExploreService

ExploreService is an adware application that targets Mac computers. Adware is form of malware that can cause problems for your machine. ExploreService can generate numerous additional popup, banner, pop-under and in-text link ads flooding on your internet browser; collect your privacy information like login details, online searches, etc; run in the background and drag down your machine running speed; give more chances for other adware, PUPs even malicious software to get on your Mac.

Even worse, the ExploreService adware has the ability to collect a wide variety of your confidential data (your ip address, what is a web-page you are viewing now, what you are looking for on the Internet, which links you are clicking), which can later transfer to third parties.

If you are unfortunate have adware software, you can follow the step-by-step instructions below that will help you to delete ExploreService and get rid of unwanted advertisements from your web browser.

How does ExploreService get on your MAC system

Usually, adware gets into MAC computers as part of a bundle with freeware, sharing files and other unsafe apps which you downloaded from the World Wide Web. The authors of adware software pays software creators for distributing adware software within their programs. So, optional applications is often included as part of the setup file. In order to avoid the install of any adware software: select only Manual, Custom or Advanced installation mode and uncheck all third-party software in which you are unsure.

Threat Summary

Name	ExploreService
Type	adware, PUP (potentially unwanted program), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	OSX.Trojan.Gen, MacOS.Agent-MT, Adware.MAC.Generic, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, ApplicUnwnt, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A and Adware/Adload!OSX
Distribution	Freeware installers, torrent downloads, misleading pop-up ads and fake software updaters
Symptoms	The web site links redirect to a webpages different from what you expected, adverts appear in places they shouldn’t be, new entries appear in your Applications folder, an unexpected extension appears in your internet browser, your web-browser search engine has modified without your permission, slow Internet browsing speeds.
Removal	ExploreService removal guide

How to remove ExploreService adware

The following few simple steps will help you to remove ExploreService adware from Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Safari. Moreover, the steps below will allow you to remove malware, browser hijackers, potentially unwanted apps and toolbars that your MAC OS may be infected. Please do the tutorial step by step. If you need assist or have any questions, then ask for our assistance or type a comment below. Read this manual carefully, bookmark it or open this page on your smartphone, because you may need to close your web browser or restart your MAC.

To remove ExploreService, follow the steps below:

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

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

ExploreService 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 ExploreService.

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

It is of primary importance to identify and delete adware, browser hijackers and PUPs through ‘Applications’ section of your Finder.

Make sure you have closed all web-browsers and other software. Next, remove any unknown and suspicious apps from Apple Mac using the Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Look around the entire list of software installed on your Apple Mac. Most likely, one of them is the ExploreService . Choose the suspicious program or the program that name is not familiar to you and uninstall it.

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

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

Remove ExploreService related files and folders

Now you need to try to find ExploreService 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

If you carefully followed the previous steps, then you should be able to remove ExploreService. Of course, very often browser hijackers, adware and potentially unwanted programs hides on a Mac computer, disguising itself as legitimate apps and files. Therefore, in some cases, it is difficult for an inexperienced user to decide whether a particular file is part of browser hijackers, PUPs and adware software. Therefore, we recommend you to run MalwareBytes Free to scan the Mac computer.

Download MalwareBytes Free on your MAC by clicking on the following link.

After the downloading process is complete, close all windows on your MAC OS. Further, open the saved file. Follow the prompts.

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

Next, press the “Scan Now” button to perform a system scan with this tool for the ExploreService adware. When a malicious software, adware or potentially unwanted apps are detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly.

When MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) completes the scan, the results are displayed in the scan report. All found threats will be marked. You can delete them all by simply click the “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes will remove ExploreService adware and move the selected items to the program’s quarantine.

Remove ExploreService from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

Remove unwanted extensions is a easy method to delete ExploreService adware software and return internet browser’s settings which have been changed by adware.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
Click on ‘three dots menu’ button at the top right corner of the Google 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 ExploreService 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 problems with ExploreService 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

By installing an ad-blocking program such as AdGuard, you’re able to block malicious web-sites, stop autoplaying video ads and delete a ton of distracting and intrusive ads on webpages.

AdGuard can be downloaded from the following link.

Once the downloading process is complete, run the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen. Follow the prompts.

Each time, when you start your MAC system, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop unwanted advertisements, block harmful and misleading webpages.

Finish words

Once you have removed the adware using this steps, Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Chrome will no longer redirect you to various intrusive web sites similar to ExploreService. Unfortunately, if the few simple steps does not help you, then you have caught a new adware, and then the best way – ask for help here.