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

What is SimpleAccount

SimpleAccount is an adware application that targets Mac platform. Adware is type of malicious software that is designed in order to display third-party advertisements to the user without permission. Adware takes control of web browsers and redirects them to online advertisements and scam pages every time the user surf the World Wide Web. Adware software can end up on MAC computers in various ways. Most often is when users install freeware and forget to uncheck the box for the optional software installation.

Even worse, the adware can have spyware and keyloggers built into itself leading to greater damage to your computer and possible invasion of your privacy data. Do not panic because we’ve got the solution. Here’s a steps on how to remove SimpleAccount from the machine and get rid of unwanted ads.

How does SimpleAccount get on your MAC

Adware usually comes along with free software . So, when you installing free software, carefully read the disclaimers, select the Custom or Advanced setup option to watch for bundled applications that are being installed, because some of the apps are adware and other unwanted software.

Threat Summary

Name	SimpleAccount
Type	adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Adware.MAC.Generic, Adware/Adload!OSX, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, ApplicUnwnt, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, OSX.Trojan.Gen and MacOS.Agent-MT
Distribution	Freeware installers, torrent downloads, malicious popup ads and fake updaters
Symptoms	When you go to a website, you’re often redirected to another web-site that you do not intend to visit, advertising pop-ups won’t go away, there is an unexpected program in the ‘Applications’ section of the Finder, an unexpected toolbar appears in your web browser, your Mac settings are being altered without your request, slow Internet or slow browsing.
Removal	SimpleAccount removal guide

How to Remove SimpleAccount adware (removal guidance)

As with uninstalling adware, malicious software or PUPs, there are few steps you can do. We recommend trying them all. If you do only one part of the guidance, then it should be use malicious software removal tool, because it should get rid of adware and stop any further infection. But to completely delete the adware software you’ll have to at least reset your web-browser settings such as new tab page, home page and search provider to default state, uninstall all unwanted and suspicious apps, and scan the computer using malware removal utilities. Read this manual carefully, bookmark it or open this page on your smartphone, because you may need to exit your web-browser or reboot your machine.

To remove SimpleAccount, use the steps below:

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

Remove profiles created by SimpleAccount

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

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

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 device, which is normal.

Delete SimpleAccount related software through the Finder

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

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

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Look around the entire list of programs installed on your MAC system. Most probably, one of them is the SimpleAccount adware software. Choose the questionable program or the program that name is not familiar to you and uninstall it.

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

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

Remove SimpleAccount related files and folders

Now you need to try to find SimpleAccount 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

If you’re still having issues with the SimpleAccount removal or just wish to check your Mac device occasionally for adware software and other malicious software, then download MalwareBytes. It’s free for home use, and scans for and removes various unwanted programs that attacks your MAC system or degrades computer performance. MalwareBytes can remove browser hijackers, toolbars, adware and potentially unwanted programs as well as malware, including ransomware and trojans.

Download MalwareBytes Anti-Malware on your MAC OS from the link below.

Once downloading is finished, run it and follow the prompts. Press the “Scan” button for checking your MAC system for the SimpleAccount adware. While the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware tool is scanning, you can see how many objects it has identified as being infected by malware. Next, you need to click the “Quarantine” button.

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

Remove SimpleAccount from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

This step will show you how to remove harmful extensions. This can delete SimpleAccount adware and fix some browsing problems, especially after adware infection.

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

If you want to remove annoying advertisements, browser redirects and pop ups, then install an ad blocker program such as AdGuard. It can block unwanted ads and pop ups, stop websites from tracking your online activities when using the Mozilla Firefox, Chrome and Safari. So, if you like surf the World Wide Web, but you don’t like unwanted ads and want to protect your Apple Mac from harmful webpages, then the AdGuard is your best choice.

Installing the AdGuard is simple. First you will need to download AdGuard on your MAC OS by clicking on the link below.

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

Each time, when you launch your MAC, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop annoying popups, block malicious and misleading web pages.

Finish words

We suggest that you keep MalwareBytes (to periodically scan your MAC for new adware softwares and other malware) and AdGuard (to help you stop intrusive popup ads and malicious web sites). Moreover, to prevent any adware, please stay clear of unknown and third party programs.

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