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

What is DecipherPerformance

According to security researchers, DecipherPerformance is an adware application that targets Mac platform. Adware software is type of malware that can cause issues for your Mac. DecipherPerformance can generate numerous additional popup, banner, pop-under and in-text link ads flooding on your web browser; collect your confidential data like login details, online searches, etc; run in the background and drag down your MAC running speed; give more chances for other adware, potentially unwanted software even malware to get on your machine.

Another reason why you need to delete the DecipherPerformance adware is its online data-tracking activity. It can be used to collect lots of privacy information to get profit. the adware can analyze your surfing, and gain access to your user info and, subsequently, can sell it to third parties. Thus, there are more than enough reasons to remove DecipherPerformance from your computer.

How does DecipherPerformance get on your MAC OS

In most cases, adware is bundled within the installation packages from file sharing and torrents web pages. So, install freeware is a a good chance that you will find a bundled adware software. If you don’t know how to avoid it, then use a simple trick. During the install, select the Custom or Advanced install type. Next, press ‘Decline’ button and clear all checkboxes on offers that ask you to install third-party software. Moreover, please carefully read Term of use and User agreement before installing any new software.

Threat Summary

Name	DecipherPerformance
Type	adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Adware.MAC.Generic, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, ApplicUnwnt, MacOS.Agent-MT, Adware/Adload!OSX, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A and OSX.Trojan.Gen
Distribution	Freeware installers, torrent downloads, fake update tools and misleading pop-up advertisements
Symptoms	You keep getting redirected to unfamiliar webpages, advertising banners appear on web-sites that you are visiting, unwanted program installed without your knowledge, an unexpected toolbar appears in your internet browser, your internet browser startpage has changed and you cannot change it back, slow Internet or slow browsing.
Removal	DecipherPerformance removal guide

How to remove DecipherPerformance from Mac computer

Adware is a form of malicious software that you might have difficulty in removing it from your MAC system. Luckily, you’ve found the effective adware removal steps in this post. Both the manual removal solution and the automatic removal solution will be provided below and you can just select the one that best for you. If you’ve any questions or need help then type a comment below. Certain of the steps will require you to restart your Apple Mac or close this web-page. So, read this guide carefully, then bookmark this page or open it on your smartphone for later reference.

To remove DecipherPerformance, execute the steps below:

1. Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device
2. Uninstall DecipherPerformance associated software by using the Finder
3. Remove DecipherPerformance related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove DecipherPerformance from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. How to stay safe online

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

DecipherPerformance 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 DecipherPerformance.

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.

Uninstall DecipherPerformance associated software by using the Finder

In order to remove DecipherPerformance you need to do is to remove unknown and suspicious applications from your Apple Mac using the Finder. When deleting adware software, browser hijackers and PUPs, check the list of installed applications and try to find suspicious applications and uninstall them all. Pay special attention to recently installed apps, as it’s most probably that DecipherPerformance сame along with it.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Carefully browse through the list of installed software and get rid of all suspicious and unknown software.

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

Remove DecipherPerformance related files and folders

Now you need to try to find DecipherPerformance 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

We recommend using MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) to scan the Mac for potentially unwanted programs, browser hijackers and adware. This free tool is an advanced malicious software removal application designed by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This application uses the world’s most popular anti malware technology. It is able to help you remove PUPs and other security threats from your Mac device for free.

1. Visit the page linked below to download the latest version of MalwareBytes Anti Malware for Mac.
   
   

   Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
   20850 downloads
   Author: Malwarebytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: September 10, 2020
   
2. Once the download is done, please close all programs and open windows on your MAC system. Run the downloaded file. Follow the prompts.
3. The MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) will start and show the main window.
4. Further, click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan for the DecipherPerformance . A system scan can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your Apple Mac. When a malicious software, adware software or PUPs are found, the count of the security threats will change accordingly.
5. After MalwareBytes Free has completed scanning, MalwareBytes Free will produce a list of unwanted apps and adware.
6. When you are ready, click the “Remove Selected Items” button.
7. Close the Anti Malware and continue with the next step.

Remove DecipherPerformance from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you’re still seeing DecipherPerformance adware that won’t go away, you might have malicious plugins installed on your web browser. Check your internet browser for unwanted extensions using the steps below.

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. Select ‘More tools’, then ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to remove DecipherPerformance 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 problems with DecipherPerformance adware 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

The AdGuard is a very good ad blocking application for the Chrome, Firefox and Safari, with active user support. It does a great job by removing certain types of intrusive advertisements, popunders, popups, annoying new tab pages, and even full page advertisements and webpage overlay layers. Of course, the AdGuard can stop harmful web pages automatically or by using a custom filter rule.

Please go to the link below to download AdGuard.

Once downloading is done, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen. Follow the prompts.

Each time, when you start your machine, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop unwanted ads, 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 malicious software) and AdGuard (to help you stop annoying pop up advertisements and malicious web pages). Moreover, to prevent any adware, please stay clear of unknown and third party programs.

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