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

What is AdvancedDisplay

AdvancedDisplay is an adware application that targets Mac computers. Adware is a form of malicious software that can cause all kind of problems within browsers. It can cause unwanted redirects, unclosable windows or inline text links with advertisements. These advertisements are used to promote sales or web-traffic to harmful web sites or publisher in order to generate profit. So, if you experience unwanted ads and pop ups in your internet browser, it is advised to check the computer for adware or PUPs.

Another reason why you need to delete the AdvancedDisplay adware is its online data-tracking activity. It is able to gather a wide variety of marketing-type data about you such as what web-sites you are opening, what you are looking for the Internet and so on. This privacy info, subsequently, may be sold to third parties.

How does AdvancedDisplay get on your computer

Adware software commonly comes on MAC computers with free apps. In most cases, it comes without the user’s knowledge. Therefore, many users aren’t even aware that their MAC has been affected by potentially unwanted programs and adware. Please follow the easy rules in order to protect your machine from adware software and PUPs: do not install any suspicious programs, read the user agreement and choose only the Custom, Manual or Advanced installation method, don’t rush to click the Next button. Also, always try to find a review of the application on the Internet. Be careful and attentive!

Threat Summary

Name	AdvancedDisplay, “AdvancedDisplay 1.0 extension”
Type	adware, potentially unwanted program (PUP), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	MacOS.Agent-MT, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, ApplicUnwnt, Adware/Adload!OSX, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Adware.MAC.Generic and Osx.Adware.Cimpli
Distribution	Free software installers, malicious pop up ads, torrent downloads and fake update tools
Symptoms	The webpage links redirect to a websites different from what you expected, web-browser pop ups appear and recommend fake updates and other unwanted software, your computer starts automatically installing unwanted applications, new toolbars suddenly installed on your web browser, unexpected changes in your web browser such as displaying new tabs you didn’t open, slow Internet or slow browsing.
Removal	AdvancedDisplay removal guide

How to remove AdvancedDisplay adware

We can assist you get rid of AdvancedDisplay from your web browsers, without the need to take your MAC to a professional. Simply follow the removal tutorial below if you currently have the adware on your computer and want to remove it. If you’ve any difficulty while trying to remove the AdvancedDisplay adware, feel free to ask for our assist in the comment section below. Read this manual carefully, bookmark it or open this page on your smartphone, because you may need to exit your web browser or restart your computer.

To remove AdvancedDisplay, perform the following steps:

1. Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device
2. Check the list of installed applications
3. Remove AdvancedDisplay related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove AdvancedDisplay from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. How to stay safe online

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

AdvancedDisplay 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 device. If there is Profiles in the list, then click on it, then select a profile related to AdvancedDisplay.

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

Check the list of installed applications

In order to remove potentially unwanted programs, browser hijackers and adware software, 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 browser hijackers, adware and potentially unwanted programs. If yes, remove them off. Even if they are just a applications which you do not use, then uninstalling them off will increase your MAC start up time and speed dramatically.

1. Open the Finder.
2. Click “Applications”.
3. It will open a list of all programs installed on the MAC system.
4. Scroll through the all list, and uninstall questionable and unknown apps. Pay maximum attention to the program you installed last.
5. Drag the dubious application from the Applications folder to the Trash.
6. Empty Trash.

Remove AdvancedDisplay related files and folders

Now you need to try to find AdvancedDisplay 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

If you are still having issues with the AdvancedDisplay removal or just wish to scan your Mac occasionally for adware software and other malicious software, then download MalwareBytes Anti Malware. It’s free for home use, and identifies and removes various unwanted software that attacks your computer or degrades MAC system performance. MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) can remove toolbars, browser hijackers, adware and PUPs as well as malware, including ransomware and trojans.

Installing the MalwareBytes Anti Malware is simple. First you’ll need to download MalwareBytes by clicking on the link below.

After the downloading process is complete, close all apps and windows on your MAC OS. Open a directory in which you saved it. Run the saved file and follow the prompts.

Once installation is complete, you will see window as shown in the figure below.

Now click the “Scan” button to scan for AdvancedDisplay adware.

After the system scan is finished, MalwareBytes will display a list of all threats found by the scan. When you are ready, press “Quarantine” button.

The Malwarebytes will now start to remove AdvancedDisplay adware.

Remove AdvancedDisplay from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

Remove unwanted add-ons is a easy method to delete AdvancedDisplay adware and revert back browser’s settings which 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. In the menu go to ‘More tools’, then ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to remove AdvancedDisplay adware by reset 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 AdvancedDisplay 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

It’s also critical to protect your internet browsers from harmful webpages and ads by using an ad blocking application such as AdGuard. Security experts says that it’ll greatly reduce the risk of malicious software, and potentially save lots of money. Additionally, the AdGuard can also protect your privacy by blocking almost all trackers.

Click the following link to download AdGuard.

After the download is complete, launch the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen. Follow the prompts.

Each time, when you launch your computer, AdGuard will start automatically and stop unwanted pop up ads, block malicious and misleading web-sites.

To sum up

Once you have removed the adware using this guidance, Mozilla Firefox, Safari and Google Chrome will no longer display any unwanted ads when you surf the Net. Unfortunately, if the tutorial does not help you, then you have caught a new adware software, 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 AdvancedDisplay adware.