What is ConnectProcess
According to security researchers, ConnectProcess is an adware application that targets Apple computers. Adware is not as dangerous as like a Trojan horse or Ransomware, but its presence can bring numerous pop-up windows and/or unwanted advertising. Actually authors of adware is associated with some merchants and by showing ads to users they make profit for yourself. These adverts not only bother your browsing experience but also redirect you to shady webpages.
Does adware software steal your privacy information? Adware software can have spyware and keyloggers built into itself leading to greater damage to your machine and possible invasion of your confidential data.
The tutorial below explaining steps to delete ConnectProcess. Feel free to use it for removal of the adware that may attack Safari, Firefox and Chrome and other popular web-browsers. The few simple steps will allow you get rid of ConnectProcess adware software and thereby clean your internet browser from all intrusive ads.
How does ConnectProcess get on your Apple Mac
These days some free software authors bundle potentially unwanted applications or adware with a view to making some money. So whenever you install a new freeware that downloaded from the World Wide Web, be very careful during installation. Carefully read the EULA (a text with I ACCEPT/I DECLINE button), select custom or manual install option, disable all bundled programs.
Threat Summary
Name | ConnectProcess |
Type | adware, potentially unwanted program (PUP), Mac virus, Mac malware |
Detection Names | OSX.Trojan.Gen, MacOS.Agent-MT, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, Adware.MAC.Generic, Adware/Adload!OSX, ApplicUnwnt, Osx.Adware.Cimpli and Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload |
Distribution | Free software installers, torrent downloads, dubious pop-up advertisements and fake update tools |
Symptoms | Every time you perform an Internet search, your internet browser is redirected to another web-site, web browser pop-ups appear and recommend fake Jave updates, your Apple Mac starts automatically installing unexpected apps, unwanted web-browser extensions or toolbars keep coming back, unexpected changes in your web-browser such as displaying new tabs you did not open, slow Internet or slow browsing. |
Removal | ConnectProcess removal guide |
How to remove ConnectProcess adware
The following steps will allow you to get rid of ConnectProcess adware from the Mozilla Firefox, Safari and Chrome. Moreover, the instructions below will help you to get rid of malicious software, browser hijackers, potentially unwanted applications and toolbars that your machine may be infected. Please do the guide step by step. If you need assist or have any questions, then ask for our assistance or type a comment below. Read it once, after doing so, please bookmark this page (or open it on your smartphone) as you may need to exit your web-browser or reboot your Apple Mac.
To remove ConnectProcess, follow the steps below:
- Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device
- Remove ConnectProcess related apps through the Finder
- Remove ConnectProcess related files and folders
- Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
- Remove ConnectProcess from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
- How to stay safe online
Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device
ConnectProcess 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 ConnectProcess.
To delete a malicious profile, click on the minus button ( – ) located at the bottom-left of the Profiles screen.
Remove ConnectProcess related apps through the Finder
In order to delete adware, potentially unwanted programs and browser hijackers, open the Finder and click on “Applications”. Check the list of installed software. For the ones you do not know, run an Internet search to see if they are PUPs, browser hijackers and adware. If yes, remove them off. Even if they are just a applications which you do not use, then uninstalling them off will increase your computer start up time and speed dramatically.
Make sure you have closed all web browsers and other programs. Next, delete any undesired and suspicious apps from Apple Mac using the Finder.
Open Finder and click “Applications”.
Look around the entire list of programs installed on your machine. Most probably, one of them is the ConnectProcess adware. Select 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, choose Finder -> Empty Trash.
Remove ConnectProcess related files and folders
Now you need to try to find ConnectProcess 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.
ConnectProcess creates several files, these files must be found and removed. Below is a list of files associated with this unwanted program.
- /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.ConnectProcess.system.plist
- ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.ConnectProcess.service.plist
- /Library/Application Support/.(RANDOM)/System/com.ConnectProcess.system
- ~/Library/Application Support/.(RANDOM)/Services/com.ConnectProcess.service.app
Some files created by ConnectProcess 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 ConnectProcess 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.machelper.plist, macsearch.plist, com.ConnectProcess.service.plist, com.google.defaultsearch.plist, , com.net-preferences.plist and installapp.plist. Most often, adware software, PUPs and browser hijackers create several files with similar names.
Check for ConnectProcess 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.ConnectProcess.system, then this folder must be deleted. Move all suspicious folders and files to the Trash.
Check for ConnectProcess 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 ConnectProcess 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.ConnectProcess.system.plist, com.machelper.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
Manual ConnectProcess removal requires some computer skills. Some files and system entries that created by the adware software may be not fully removed. We recommend that run MalwareBytes Anti Malware to scan the Mac computer. Moreover, this program will help you to delete adware, potentially unwanted programs, toolbars and browser hijackers that your Apple Mac can be affected too.
Visit the following page to download the latest version of MalwareBytes for Mac OS.
20808 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: September 10, 2020
When downloading is complete, close all apps and windows on your MAC. Run the saved file. Follow the prompts.
The MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) will automatically start and you can see its main screen as displayed on the image below.
Now click the “Scan” button . MalwareBytes Anti Malware application will scan through the whole MAC OS for the ConnectProcess adware. A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your MAC system and the speed of your MAC. While the MalwareBytes is checking, you can see how many objects it has identified either as being malicious software.
After the checking is finished, a list of all threats found is produced. Make sure all threats have ‘checkmark’ and click the “Quarantine” button. The MalwareBytes will start to remove ConnectProcess adware.
Remove ConnectProcess from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
Remove unwanted extensions is a easy method to delete ConnectProcess adware and revert back web-browser’s settings which have been replaced by adware.
Google Chrome | Mozilla Firefox |
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You can also try to remove ConnectProcess by reset Google Chrome settings. |
If you are still experiencing issues with ConnectProcess adware removal, you need to reset Firefox browser. |
Safari | |
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How to stay safe online
By installing an adblocker application such as AdGuard, you are able to block malicious webpages, stop autoplaying video ads and delete lots of distracting and intrusive ads on web-pages.
Installing the AdGuard is simple. First you’ll need to download AdGuard on your machine from the link below.
3662 downloads
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: January 17, 2018
After the downloading process 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 guide. Press “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick guidance which will help you get to know AdGuard better.
Each time, when you run your MAC OS, AdGuard will start automatically and stop annoying pop up advertisements, block malicious and misleading web-sites.
To sum up
Once you have removed the adware software using this guide, Safari, Firefox and Google Chrome will no longer show the ConnectProcess ads when you surf the Internet. Unfortunately, if the 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 annoying ConnectProcess .