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

What is TradeValor

TradeValor is an adware application that targets Mac platform. Adware is a type of malicious software designed to throw ads up on the web-browser screen. TradeValor generates money for its author by automatically displaying a large amount of ads and pop up deals. You might experience a change in your home page or search engine, new tabs opening or even a redirect to shady web-sites.

Another reason why you need to delete the TradeValor adware is its online data-tracking activity. It is able to gather confidential info about you such as what web-pages you are opening, what you are looking for the World Wide Web and so on. This privacy data, subsequently, may be transferred third party companies.

As evident, the adware is quite dangerous. So, we suggest you delete it from your MAC immediately. Follow the steps presented below to remove TradeValor from your machine and get rid of unwanted ads from Safari, Firefox and Google Chrome.

How does TradeValor get on your MAC system

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

Threat Summary

Name	TradeValor
Type	adware software, potentially unwanted application (PUA), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, Adware/Adload!OSX, Adware.MAC.Generic, ApplicUnwnt, OSX.Trojan.Gen, MacOS.Agent-MT, Osx.Adware.Cimpli and Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload
Distribution	Free software installers, fake update tools, torrent downloads and suspicious popup advertisements
Symptoms	Every time you perform an Internet search, your internet browser is redirected to another website, unclosable window appear and recommend fake updates and other unwanted applications, unexpected application installed without your consent, an unwanted toolbar appears in your browser, unexpected changes in your web-browser such as displaying new tabs you didn’t open, slow Internet or slow browsing.
Removal	TradeValor removal guide

How to remove TradeValor

Fortunately, we’ve an effective method that will assist you manually or/and automatically remove TradeValor from your browser and bring your web browser settings, including search provider by default, newtab and home page, back to normal. Below you’ll find a removal instructions with all the steps you may need to successfully remove adware and its traces. Read this manual carefully, bookmark it or open this page on your smartphone, because you may need to close your internet browser or reboot your Apple Mac.

To remove TradeValor, perform the steps below:

1. Remove profiles created by TradeValor
2. Check the list of installed software
3. Remove TradeValor related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove TradeValor from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. How to stay safe online

Remove profiles created by TradeValor

TradeValor 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 TradeValor.

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 computer, which is normal.

Check the list of installed software

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

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Carefully browse through the list of installed software and remove all dubious and unknown apps.

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

Remove TradeValor related files and folders

Now you need to try to find TradeValor 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

You can remove TradeValor related files automatically through the use of MalwareBytes Anti-Malware. We suggest this free malware removal tool because it can easily get rid of toolbars, PUPs, adware software and browser hijackers with all their components such as files, folders and system entries.

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

Once the download is complete, close all windows on your Apple Mac. Further, open the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes Anti-Malware will automatically start and you can see its main window as shown in the following example.

Next, press the “Scan Now” button to perform a system scan for the TradeValor adware software. This process can take some time, so please be patient. While the MalwareBytes tool is scanning, you may see how many objects it has identified as being infected by malicious software.

Once finished, a list of all items detected is created. Once you’ve selected what you want to delete from your machine click the “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes Anti-Malware will begin to delete TradeValor adware.

Remove TradeValor from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

Annoying TradeValor ads or other symptoms of adware software in your web browser is a good reason to locate and remove harmful extensions. This is an easy method to restore web-browsers settings and not lose any important information.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
Click on ‘three dots menu’ button at the top right corner of the Google Chrome window. 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 TradeValor 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 problems with TradeValor 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

Using an ad-blocking program like AdGuard is an effective way to alleviate the risks. Additionally, ad blocker programs will also protect you from harmful advertisements and webpages, and, of course, block redirection chain to misleading, scam and similar websites.

1. Please go to the following link to download AdGuard.
   
   

   AdGuard for Mac download
   3687 downloads
   Author: © Adguard
   Category: Security tools
   Update: January 17, 2018
   
2. After the downloading process is complete, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
3. Once the install is finished, click “Skip” to close the setup program and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial that will allow you get to know AdGuard better.
4. In most cases, the default settings are enough and you do not need to change anything. Each time, when you start your computer, AdGuard will start automatically and stop unwanted advertisements, block harmful and misleading web pages.

Finish words

We suggest that you keep MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (to periodically scan your MAC for new adware and other malicious software) and AdGuard (to help you block annoying pop up ads and malicious web sites). Moreover, to prevent any adware software, please stay clear of unknown and third party apps.

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