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

What is OriginInput

OriginInput is an adware application that targets Mac computers. Adware is considered by many to be synonymous with ‘malware’. OriginInput is a malicious app that serves unwanted advertisements to computer users. Some examples include pop up advertisements, push notifications or unclosable windows. The adware can be installed onto MAC computers via infected websites, when users open email attachments, anytime users download and install freeware, malicious downloads and fake updates.

Another reason why you need to remove OriginInput is its online data-tracking activity. It can install a component that enables its creator to track which webpages you visit, which products you look at upon those pages. They are then able to choose the type of advertisements they display you. So, if you had the adware on your MAC, there is a good chance you have another that is gathering and sharing your personal information with third parties, without your say-so.

The guide below explaining steps to delete OriginInput. Feel free to use it for removal of the adware that can attack Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Safari and other popular web-browsers. The few simple steps will help you uninstall the adware and get rid of any unwanted advertisements.

How does OriginInput get on your machine

The most common way to get adware is a freeware installer. In many cases, a user have a chance to disable all included ‘offers’, but some installation packages are developed to confuse the average users, in order to trick them into installing PUPs and adware.

Anyway, easier to prevent adware rather than clean up your MAC after one. So, keep your web browser updated (turn on automatic updates), run good antivirus apps, double check free software before you launch it (do a google search, scan a downloaded file with VirusTotal), avoid misleading and unknown websites.

Threat Summary

Name	OriginInput
Type	adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	Osx.Adware.Cimpli, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, OSX.Trojan.Gen, MacOS.Agent-MT, ApplicUnwnt, Adware.MAC.Generic and Adware/Adload!OSX
Distribution	Free software installers, fake software updaters, malicious pop-up advertisements and torrent downloads
Symptoms	Every time you perform an Internet search, your browser is redirected to another website, you experience lots of of unwanted pop up windows, new entries appear in your Applications folder, new toolbars suddenly installed on your browser, your MAC settings are being altered without your request, fast Internet but slow browsing speeds.
Removal	OriginInput removal guide

How to remove OriginInput adware

In the step-by-step tutorial below we will have a look at the adware and how to remove OriginInput from Firefox, Safari and Chrome browsers for Mac, natively or by using a few free removal utilities. Read it once, after doing so, please bookmark this page (or open it on your smartphone) as you may need to close your web browser or reboot your computer.

To remove OriginInput, execute the following steps:

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

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

OriginInput 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 associated with OriginInput.

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 OriginInput related apps through the Finder

Check the list of installed applications and remove all unknown or questionable programs. This is an important step, it so often happens that PUPs, browser hijackers and adware are built into free programs, so by removing these programs you can get rid of annoying advertisements and browser redirects.

Open Finder and click “Applications” as shown on the image below.

You will see a list of programs installed on your MAC system. We recommend to pay maximum attention to the program you installed last. Most probably, it’s the OriginInput adware. If you’re in doubt, you can always check the application by doing a search for her name in Google, Yahoo or Bing.

After the program which you need to uninstall is found, simply right click on its name, and select “Move to Trash”.

Don’t forget, choose Finder, then “Empty Trash”.

Remove OriginInput related files and folders

Now you need to try to find OriginInput 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

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

Visit the page linked below to download MalwareBytes Anti Malware.

Once downloading is finished, close all applications and windows on your Apple Mac. Run the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) will automatically start and you can see its main screen as displayed on the image below.

Now press the “Scan” button for checking your MAC system for the OriginInput . This task can take some time, so please be patient. While the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware program is checking, you may see number of objects it has identified as threat.

After the scan get completed, you can check all items detected on your MAC system. All detected threats will be marked. You can remove them all by simply press the “Quarantine” button. The MalwareBytes Anti Malware will delete OriginInput adware and move the selected threats to the Quarantine.

Remove OriginInput from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

Remove unwanted extensions is a easy way to remove OriginInput and revert back web-browser’s settings that have been changed by adware.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right corner, click on Google Chrome’s main menu button, represented by three vertical dots. When the drop-down menu appears, choose ‘More tools’ and click on ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to remove OriginInput 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 problems with OriginInput adware software 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

It’s important to use ad-blocker programs like AdGuard to protect your machine from harmful webpages. Most security experts says that it’s okay to stop advertisements. You should do so just to stay safe! And, of course, the AdGuard can to block misleading and other unwanted webpages.

Click the following link to download the latest version of AdGuard for Apple Mac.

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

Each time, when you launch your MAC OS, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop annoying popups, block harmful and misleading webpages.

To sum up

Once you have removed the adware using this guide, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Safari will no longer display any unwanted ads when you surf the Internet. 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.

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 unwanted OriginInput adware.