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

What is MicroLocator

According to security experts, MicroLocator is a an adware application that targets Apple computers. Adware is form of malicious software which displays unwanted advertisements, redirects search results to scam websites and collects sensitive info for marketing purposes. MicroLocator can show banner ads, full-screen ads, pop ups, videos, or other varieties of online advertising. It can attack MAC’s browsers such as the Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Safari. Maybe you approve the idea that the ads or popups is just a small problem. But these intrusive advertisements eat system resources and slow down your Mac performance.

Another reason why you need to remove the MicroLocator adware is its online data-tracking activity. It can gather personal information about you such as what web pages you are opening, what you are looking for the Internet and so on. This confidential data, later, may be transferred to third parties.

How does MicroLocator get on your computer

In most cases, adware software gets on MAC computers as a part of the installers from file sharing and torrents web-sites. So, install free software is a a good chance that you will find a bundled adware. If you don’t know how to avoid it, then use a simple trick. During the install, select the Custom or Advanced setup type. Next, click ‘Decline’ button and clear all checkboxes on offers that ask you to install additional apps. Moreover, please carefully read Term of use and User agreement before installing any software.

Threat Summary

Name	MicroLocator
Type	adware software, potentially unwanted application (PUA), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	MacOS.Agent-MT, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, ApplicUnwnt, Adware/Adload!OSX, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload and Adware.MAC.Generic
Distribution	Free software installers, fake updaters, torrent downloads and misleading pop up advertisements
Symptoms	Every time you perform an Internet search, your web browser is redirected to another web page, advertisements appear in places they shouldn’t be, new entries appear in your Applications folder, new toolbars suddenly installed on your internet browser, your web browser search engine has changed without your permission, fast Internet but slow browsing speeds.
Removal	MicroLocator removal guide

How to Remove MicroLocator adware (removal steps)

Fortunately, it is not hard to remove MicroLocator adware. In the following guidance, we will provide two methods to free your MAC system of this adware software. One is the manual removal method and the other is automatic removal solution. You can choose the method that best fits you. Please follow the removal steps below to remove MicroLocator adware right now!

To remove MicroLocator, execute the steps below:

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

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

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

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

Delete MicroLocator associated software by using the Finder

Try to identify and uninstall the program that causes the appearance of unwanted ads or browser redirect, using the Applications list which is located in the Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Carefully browse through the list of installed apps and delete all questionable and unknown apps.

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

Remove MicroLocator related files and folders

Now you need to try to find MicroLocator 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

We suggest using MalwareBytes AntiMalware. You can download and install MalwareBytes to look for and remove MicroLocator associated applications from your Mac device. When installed and updated, the malicious software remover automatically finds and deletes all security threats exist on the MAC system.

Please go to the following link to download the latest version of MalwareBytes AntiMalware for Mac OS.

After downloading is finished, close all windows on your MAC system. Further, start the saved file. Follow the prompts.

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

Next, press the “Scan Now” button to perform a system scan for the MicroLocator adware software. This process can take quite a while, so please be patient. While the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware tool is checking, you can see number of objects it has identified as being affected by malware.

When the system scan is complete, MalwareBytes will open a scan report. You may remove items (move to Quarantine) by simply press the “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes AntiMalware will get rid of MicroLocator adware and move the selected threats to the program’s quarantine.

Remove MicroLocator from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you’re still getting MicroLocator adware, then you can try to get rid of it by removing malicious addons.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
Click on ‘three dots menu’ button at the top right corner of the Google Chrome window. Select ‘More tools’, then ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to delete MicroLocator 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 MicroLocator 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 is also critical to protect your web-browsers from harmful web sites and ads by using an ad-blocking program like AdGuard. Security experts says that it will greatly reduce the risk of malware, and potentially save lots of money. Additionally, the AdGuard can also protect your privacy by blocking almost all trackers.

Installing the AdGuard is simple. First you will need to download AdGuard by clicking on the link below. Save it on your Windows desktop.

When the downloading process is finished, 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 guide. Click “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” to see an quick instructions that will assist you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you launch your Apple Mac, AdGuard will start automatically and stop unwanted advertisements, block malicious and misleading web pages.

Finish words

We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted pop-up advertisements and annoying malicious web-sites) and MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (to periodically scan your MAC for new adwares and other malware).

If you are still having problems while trying to remove MicroLocator adware from Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari, then ask for help here.