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

What is SkillManager

According to security experts, SkillManager is an adware application that targets Mac computers. Adware is a type of malicious software. The SkillManager adware is developed just to display numerous pop-ups and/or unwanted adverts using intrusive and at times dangerous ways. It can steal privacy info from the MAC and pass it on to third parties. SkillManager can also include other forms of malicious software, it has also been the basis for hacking to gain access to the Mac computer.

Another reason why you need to delete SkillManager is its online data-tracking activity. It can have spyware and keyloggers built into itself leading to greater damage to your MAC and possible invasion of your confidential information.

If you want to delete the adware, you will not succeed, because it is very stubborn. Using the following guide, you surely can uninstall SkillManager completely from your Mac.

How does SkillManager get on your computer

Most of unwanted advertisements and pop-ups come from internet browser toolbars and/or extensions, BHOs (browser helper objects) and bundled apps. In many cases, these items claim itself as apps which improve your experience on the Net by providing a fast and interactive home page or a search provider that does not track you. Remember, how to avoid the unwanted applications. Be cautious, start only reputable programs which download from reputable sources. NEVER install any unknown and suspicious applications.

Threat Summary

Name	SkillManager
Type	adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	OSX.Trojan.Gen, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, MacOS.Agent-MT, ApplicUnwnt, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Adware/Adload!OSX and Adware.MAC.Generic
Distribution	Freeware installers, fake software updaters, torrent downloads and suspicious pop-up ads
Symptoms	Every time you perform an Internet search, your browser is redirected to another website, pop up ads won’t go away, there is an unwanted application in the ‘Applications’ section of the Finder, unwanted internet browser toolbars, your web browser search engine has modified without your permission, your web-browser slows to a crawl.
Removal	SkillManager removal guide

How to remove SkillManager from Mac

There are a simple manual guide which will help you to delete SkillManager from your Mac machine. The most effective way to delete this adware software is to follow the manual removal instructions and then use MalwareBytes automatic utility (it is free). The manual way will help to weaken this adware and these malware removal utilities will completely remove SkillManager adware and restore the Safari, Google Chrome and Firefox settings to default.

To remove SkillManager, complete the steps below:

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

Remove profiles created by SkillManager

SkillManager can install a configuration profile on the Mac to block changes made to the browser settings. Therefore, you need to open system preferences, find and delete the profile installed by the adware software.

Click the System Preferences icon ( ) in the Dock, or choose Apple menu ( ) > System Preferences.

In System Preferences, click Profiles, then select a profile related to SkillManager.

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.

Delete SkillManager related apps through the Finder

In order to delete SkillManager you need to do is to delete unknown and dubious programs from your computer using the Finder. When uninstalling browser hijackers, adware and PUPs, check the list of installed apps and try to find suspicious programs and delete them all. Pay special attention to recently installed applications, as it’s most probably that SkillManager сame along with it.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Carefully browse through the list of installed programs and remove all questionable and unknown programs.

Once you’ve found anything suspicious that may be the SkillManager adware or other potentially unwanted program, then right click this program and choose “Move to Trash”. Once complete, Empty Trash.

Remove SkillManager related files and folders

Now you need to try to find SkillManager 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.

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

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

Some files created by SkillManager 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 SkillManager 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.google.defaultsearch.plist, , com.SkillManager.service.plist, installapp.plist, macsearch.plist and com.machelper.plist. Most often, adware, browser hijackers and potentially unwanted programs create several files with similar names.

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

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

Installing the MalwareBytes Free is simple. First you will need to download MalwareBytes Free on your MAC system from the following link.

After the download is done, run it and follow the prompts. Click the “Scan” button to begin checking your machine for the SkillManager adware software. This procedure can take quite a while, so please be patient. While the tool is scanning, you can see how many objects and files has already scanned. In order to delete all items, simply click the “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes is a free program that you can use to remove all detected folders, files, malicious services and so on.

Remove SkillManager from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

This step will show you how to delete harmful extensions. This can remove SkillManager adware and fix some surfing issues, especially after adware software infection.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right hand corner, click on ‘three vertical dots’, and this will open up the main menu on Chrome. When the drop-down menu appears, select ‘More tools’ and click on ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to remove SkillManager 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 SkillManager adware software 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 are able to block malicious websites, stop autoplaying video ads and remove a large amount of distracting and annoying ads on web-sites.

AdGuard can be downloaded from the following link.

Once the download is finished, 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 tutorial. Press “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial that will assist you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you run your MAC, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop intrusive advertisements, block harmful and misleading webpages.

To sum up

Once you have removed the adware using this instructions, Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari will no longer display any unwanted ads. 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.