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

What is TaskBoard

According to security professionals, TaskBoard is an adware application that targets Mac computers. Adware is type of malware that can cause issues for your Mac. TaskBoard can generate numerous additional pop-up, banner, pop-under and in-text link advertisements flooding on your web browser; gather your privacy data such as login details, online searches, etc; run in the background and drag down your machine running speed; give more chances for other adware, PUPs even malware to get on your computer.

Another reason why you need to get rid of the adware is its online data-tracking activity. TaskBoard is able to gather and transmit confidential data without your permission. It can be used to track information about web pages visited, internet browser and system information, and your computer IP address. So, the adware is quite dangerous. We suggest you remove TaskBoard from your machine sooner. Follow the tutorial presented below to uninstall it from your computer and Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Chrome.

How does TaskBoard get on your machine

Adware software gets on computers along with various free applications. This means that you need to be very careful when installing applications downloaded from the Internet. Be sure to read the Terms of Use and the Software license, choose only the Manual, Advanced or Custom installation type, switch off all additional internet browser plugins and programs are offered to install.

Threat Summary

Name	TaskBoard
Type	adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	ApplicUnwnt, MacOS.Agent-MT, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, Adware/Adload!OSX, Adware.MAC.Generic and OSX.Trojan.Gen
Distribution	Freeware installers, shady pop up ads, torrent downloads and fake update tools
Symptoms	When you go to a webpage, you’re automatically redirected to another webpage that you do not intend to visit, popups and new tabs are loaded without your request, your Apple Mac starts automatically installing unwanted programs, new extensions suddenly added on your web-browser, your web browser startpage has modified without your permission, slow Internet or slow browsing.
Removal	TaskBoard removal guide

How to Remove TaskBoard adware software (removal steps)

There are a few methods that can be used to get rid of TaskBoard adware. But, not all PUPs like this adware software can be completely uninstalled using only manual solutions. In most cases you are not able to remove any adware utilizing standard Mac OS features. In order to get rid of adware software you need complete the steps below and scan your Mac using reliable removal utilities. Most IT security specialists states that MalwareBytes Free utility is a right choice. It is able to locate and uninstall TaskBoard adware from your MAC and revert back your internet browser settings to defaults.

To remove TaskBoard, use the following steps:

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

Remove profiles created by TaskBoard

TaskBoard 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 TaskBoard.

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

Delete TaskBoard related software through the Finder

In the next step, you need to check the list of installed applications on your Mac and uninstall all unused, unknown and dubious programs.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Very carefully look around the entire list of apps installed on your MAC system. Most likely, one of them is the TaskBoard adware. 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, select Finder -> “Empty Trash”.

Remove TaskBoard related files and folders

Now you need to try to find TaskBoard 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.

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

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

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

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

Check for TaskBoard 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 TaskBoard 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.TaskBoard.system.plist, com.installapp.system.plist, com.machelper.system.plist, com.macsearch.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

Manual TaskBoard removal requires some computer skills. Some files and system entries that created by the adware may be not completely removed. We recommend that use MalwareBytes Free to scan the Mac device. Moreover, this application will help you to get rid of adware, browser hijackers, toolbars and potentially unwanted programs that your Apple Mac may be affected too.

Visit the following page to download MalwareBytes AntiMalware.

After the downloading process is finished, close all programs and windows on your MAC. Open a directory in which you saved it. Run the saved file and follow the prompts.

Once setup is finished, you will see window as shown on the screen below.

Now click the “Scan” button to search for TaskBoard . A system scan may take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your MAC system.

When finished, it will open the Scan Results. In order to delete all items, simply click “Quarantine” button.

The Malwarebytes will now get rid of TaskBoard and move the selected threats to the Quarantine.

Remove TaskBoard from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

Remove unwanted extensions is a simple way to remove TaskBoard adware and restore web-browser’s settings which have been modified by adware.

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. Select ‘More tools’, then ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to delete TaskBoard 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 TaskBoard 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

To put it simply, you need to use an ad-blocking utility (AdGuard, for example). It will stop and protect you from harmful web pages, unwanted advertisements and pop ups. To be able to do that, the ad blocker program uses a list of filters. Each filter is a rule that describes a malicious website, an advertising content, a banner and others. The ad blocking program automatically uses these filters, depending on the websites you are visiting.

Download AdGuard by clicking on the following link.

After downloading 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 guidance. Click “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick instructions that will assist you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you start your computer, AdGuard will run automatically and stop intrusive pop-up advertisements, block malicious and misleading websites.

To sum up

Once you have removed the adware software using this few simple steps, Chrome, Safari and Mozilla Firefox will no longer display any unwanted ads when you browse the Net. 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.

Please create a new question by using the “Ask Question” button in the Questions and Answers. Try to give us some details about your problems, so we can try to help you more accurately. Wait for one of our trained “Security Team” or Site Administrator to provide you with knowledgeable assistance tailored to your problem with the TaskBoard adware.