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

What is NavigateSystem

According to security experts, NavigateSystem is an Adware application that targets Mac computers. Adware is a form of malicious software that delivers unwanted advertisements on the web-browser screen. Some of these advertisements are scams or fake ads created to trick users. Even the harmless advertisements can become really irritating. Adware software can be installed unintentionally and without users knowing about it, when they open email attachments, install free applications.

Another reason why you need to delete NavigateSystem is its online data-tracking activity. The adware is able to gather lots of your personal info which may be later sold to third parties. You don’t know if your home address, account names and passwords are safe.

How does NavigateSystem get on your computer

The most common way to get adware is a freeware installation package. Most often, a user have a chance to disable all third-party modules, but some installation packages are designed 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 run it (do a google search, scan a downloaded file with VirusTotal), avoid malicious and unknown web-pages.

Threat Summary

Name	NavigateSystem
Type	adware, PUP (potentially unwanted program), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Adware.MAC.Generic, OSX.Trojan.Gen, MacOS.Agent-MT, Adware/Adload!OSX, ApplicUnwnt, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A and Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload
Distribution	Freeware installers, torrent downloads, fake update tools and malicious pop-up ads
Symptoms	Your browser is redirected to websites you did not want, advertising pop-ups won’t go away, unwanted application installed without your say-so, unwanted toolbars in your web browser, your web browser settings are being changed without your request, slow Internet browsing speeds.
Removal	NavigateSystem removal guide

How to Remove NavigateSystem adware software (removal tutorial)

There present several free adware removal utilities. Also it is possible to get rid of NavigateSystem adware manually. But we recommend to combine all these solutions below into the one removal algorithm. Follow the steps of the guidance. Read this manual carefully, bookmark it or open this page on your smartphone, because you may need to close your browser or reboot your MAC.

To remove NavigateSystem, execute the following steps:

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

Remove profiles created by NavigateSystem

NavigateSystem can install a configuration profile on the Mac system to block changes made to the browser settings. Therefore, you need to open system preferences, find and delete the profile installed by the adware software.

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 related to NavigateSystem.

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

Delete NavigateSystem associated software by using the Finder

Some of browser hijackers, PUPs and adware can be deleted using the Move to Trash tool which can be found in the Finder. So, if you are running any version of Mac OS and you have noticed an unwanted application, then first try to remove it through the Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

It will display a list of all programs installed on your MAC OS. Scroll through the all list, and delete any dubious and unknown apps. Right click to dubious application and choose “Move to Trash”. Another method is drag the program from the Applications folder to the Trash.

Most important, scroll through the all list, and move to trash any unknown applications. Don’t forget, choose Finder -> Empty Trash.

Remove NavigateSystem related files and folders

Now you need to try to find NavigateSystem 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

If you are still having issues with the NavigateSystem removal or just wish to check your Mac device occasionally for adware and other malicious software, then download MalwareBytes AntiMalware. It is free for home use, and detects and deletes various undesired software that attacks your MAC OS or degrades MAC performance. MalwareBytes Anti-Malware can get rid of potentially unwanted programs, adware software, browser hijackers and toolbars as well as malicious software, including ransomware and trojans.

1. Installing the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware is simple. First you’ll need to download MalwareBytes AntiMalware by clicking on the link below. Save it to your Desktop so that you can access the file easily.
   
   

   Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
   20988 downloads
   Author: Malwarebytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: September 10, 2020
   
2. Once the downloading process is complete, please close all applications and open windows on your MAC system. Run the downloaded file. Follow the prompts.
3. The MalwareBytes will launch and display the main window.
4. Further, click the “Scan” button for scanning your MAC for the NavigateSystem . During the scan MalwareBytes will detect threats present on your MAC.
5. When finished, a list of all threats detected is prepared.
6. Next, you need to click the “Remove Selected Items” button.
7. Close the Anti-Malware and continue with the next step.

Remove NavigateSystem from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

Remove unwanted extensions is a easy way to delete NavigateSystem adware and restore web browser’s settings which have been replaced by adware.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top-right corner, expand the Google Chrome menu. 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 delete NavigateSystem adware 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 NavigateSystem 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

To put it simply, you need to use an adblocker tool (AdGuard, for example). It will stop and protect you from harmful web-pages, unwanted advertisements and pop-ups. To be able to do that, the adblocker program uses a list of filters. Each filter is a rule that describes a malicious web-page, an advertising content, a banner and others. The ad-blocker program automatically uses these filters, depending on the web pages you’re visiting.

Installing the AdGuard is simple. First you will need to download AdGuard by clicking on the following link.

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

Each time, when you run your computer, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop intrusive advertisements, block malicious and misleading web pages.

To sum up

Once you have removed the NavigateSystem adware software using the steps, Chrome, Firefox and Safari will no longer display any unwanted advertisements when you browse the World Wide Web. Unfortunately, if the step-by-step instructions 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 NavigateSystem adware software.