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

What is DirectEnterprises

According to security experts, DirectEnterprises is an adware application that targets Mac computers. Adware’s basic purpose is to display advertisements. These ads are often displayed as advertising banners, popups or various offers and deals. Clicks on the advertisements produce a monetary payoff for the adware creators. Adware can work like Spyware, since it sends personal information such as searches and trends to advertisers.

Another reason why you need to delete adware is its online data-tracking activity. Adware has the ability to gather a wide variety of your confidential information that can be later used for marketing purposes. You don’t know if your home address, account names and passwords are safe.

How does DirectEnterprises get on your computer

Most of unwanted advertisements and popups come from web-browser toolbars and/or add-ons, BHOs (browser helper objects) and bundled software. Most commonly, these items claim itself as programs that improve your experience on the World Wide Web by providing a fast and interactive start page or a search provider that does not track you. Remember, how to avoid the unwanted apps. Be cautious, start only reputable software which download from reputable sources. NEVER install any unknown and dubious programs.

Threat Summary

Name	DirectEnterprises
Type	adware software, potentially unwanted program (PUP), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Osx.Adware.Cimpli, Adware.MAC.Generic, ApplicUnwnt, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Adware/Adload!OSX, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, MacOS.Agent-MT and OSX.Trojan.Gen
Distribution	Freeware installers, shady pop up ads, fake update tools and torrent downloads
Symptoms	Your web-browser is redirected to webpages you did not want, you experience lots of of unwanted advertising pop ups, there is an unwanted application in the ‘Applications’ section of the Finder, unwanted browser add-ons or toolbars keep coming back, your computer settings are being altered without your request, slow browsing Internet.
Removal	DirectEnterprises removal guide

How to remove DirectEnterprises from Mac device

Without a doubt, the adware software is harmful to your Apple Mac. So you need to quickly and completely get rid of it. To remove this adware, you can use the manual removal guide that are given below or free malicious software removal utility such as MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) (it is free). We recommend you use automatic removal method that will help you to remove DirectEnterprises adware software easily and safely. Manual removal is best used only if you are well versed in MAC OS or in the case where adware software is not removed automatically. Certain of the steps will require you to restart your machine or close this website. So, read this guide carefully, then bookmark this page or open it on your smartphone for later reference.

To remove DirectEnterprises, perform the following steps:

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

Remove profiles created by DirectEnterprises

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

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. If there is Profiles in the list, then click on it, then select a profile associated with DirectEnterprises.

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

Delete DirectEnterprises related software through the Finder

Some of browser hijackers, adware and PUPs can be deleted using the Move to Trash tool which can be found in the Finder. So, if you’re running any version of Mac and you have noticed an unwanted program, then first try to remove it through the Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Very carefully look around the entire list of software installed on your computer. Most probably, one of them is the DirectEnterprises adware. Once you’ve found a questionable, unwanted or unused program, right click to it and choose “Move to Trash”. Another way is drag the application from the Applications folder to the Trash.

Don’t forget, select Finder -> “Empty Trash”.

Remove DirectEnterprises related files and folders

Now you need to try to find DirectEnterprises 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

Manual DirectEnterprises removal requires some computer skills. Some files and system entries that created by the adware may be not completely removed. We recommend that run MalwareBytes Free to scan the Mac device. Moreover, this program will help you to remove adware software, potentially unwanted programs, browser hijackers and toolbars that your MAC OS can be affected too.

Click the following link to download the latest version of MalwareBytes Anti Malware for Mac.

Once the downloading process is done, close all windows on your machine. Further, open the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes Free will automatically start and you can see its main window as shown on the screen below.

Next, click the “Scan Now” button to detect DirectEnterprises adware. While the MalwareBytes Free is checking, you can see number of objects it has identified either as being malware.

After that process is complete, MalwareBytes Anti Malware will open a screen which contains a list of malicious software that has been detected. Once you’ve selected what you wish to remove from your MAC system press the “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes AntiMalware will start to remove DirectEnterprises .

Remove DirectEnterprises from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you are still getting DirectEnterprises , then you can try to delete it by uninstalling malicious addons.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
Click on ‘three dots menu’ button at the top right corner of the Google Chrome window. 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 DirectEnterprises 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 DirectEnterprises 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 ads, internet browser redirects and pop-ups, then install an ad-blocker program such as AdGuard. It can block unwanted ads and popups, stop web-pages from tracking your online activities when using the Firefox, Safari and Google Chrome. So, if you like surf the Internet, but you do not like annoying advertisements and want to protect your Apple Mac from harmful web sites, then the AdGuard is your best choice.

Installing the AdGuard is simple. First you will need to download AdGuard on your Microsoft Windows Desktop by clicking on the following link.

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

Each time, when you run your machine, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop intrusive ads, block malicious and misleading web sites.

Finish words

Once you have removed the adware using this few simple steps, Safari, Firefox and Chrome will no longer display any unwanted ads. Unfortunately, if the guidance does not help you, then you have caught a new adware, and then the best way – ask for help here.