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

What is HorizonLiving

HorizonLiving is an adware application that targets Mac computers. Adware is a form of malicious software. When adware software gets inside your Mac, it might carry out various malicious tasks. Some of the more common acts on computers include: adware can show numerous pop-up windows and/or unwanted commercials; adware can redirect your internet browser to malicious and scam sites; adware software can slow down your MAC; adware can modify web browser settings.

Another reason why you need to get rid of adware is its online data-tracking activity. HorizonLiving has the ability to collect sensitive information about you (your ip address, what is a web-page you are viewing now, what you are looking for on the Internet, which links you are clicking), which can later transfer to third parties.

How does HorizonLiving get on your MAC

Adware usually comes as a part of free software that downloaded from the World Wide Web. Which means that you need to be proactive and carefully read the Terms of use and the License agreement properly. For the most part, adware software and potentially unwanted programs will be clearly described, so take the time to carefully read all the information about the software that you downloaded and want to install on your Apple Mac.

Threat Summary

Name	HorizonLiving
Type	adware software, potentially unwanted program (PUP), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	Adware.MAC.Generic, MacOS.Agent-MT, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, Adware/Adload!OSX, OSX.Trojan.Gen, ApplicUnwnt, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload and Osx.Adware.Cimpli
Distribution	Freeware installers, fake software updaters, malicious pop-up advertisements and torrent downloads
Symptoms	Your web-browser is redirected to web-pages you did not want, popup advertisements won’t go away, new entries appear in your Applications folder, unwanted web-browser toolbars, your Mac settings are being changed without your request, slow Internet or slow browsing.
Removal	HorizonLiving removal guide

How to remove HorizonLiving from Mac computer

If you have constant popups or unwanted advertisements, slow Mac computer, crashing system issues, you are in need of adware software removal assistance. The few simple steps below will guide you forward to get HorizonLiving adware software removed and will help you get your Apple Mac operating at peak capacity again.

To remove HorizonLiving, execute the steps below:

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

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

HorizonLiving 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 HorizonLiving.

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

Check the list of installed software

Go to the Finder and remove questionable apps, all programs you do not remember installing. It’s important to pay the most attention to applications you have recently installed. If you do not know what a program does, look for the answer on the Web.

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

Remove HorizonLiving related files and folders

Now you need to try to find HorizonLiving 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

Manual HorizonLiving removal requires some computer skills. Some files and system entries that created by the adware can be not completely removed. We recommend that use MalwareBytes Anti-Malware to scan the Mac. Moreover, this application will help you to remove toolbars, potentially unwanted programs, adware and browser hijackers that your MAC system may be affected too.

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

Once downloading is done, close all programs and windows on your MAC system. Open a directory in which you saved it. Run the saved file and follow the prompts.

Once installation is done, you will see window as on the image below.

Now click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan with this utility for the HorizonLiving adware. Depending on your machine, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. While the utility is checking, you can see count of objects and files has already scanned.

Once MalwareBytes AntiMalware has finished scanning your MAC, the results are displayed in the scan report. Once you have selected what you wish to remove from your MAC system press “Quarantine” button.

The Malwarebytes will now remove HorizonLiving .

Remove HorizonLiving from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

Annoying HorizonLiving adware or other symptoms of adware in your browser is a good reason to find and get rid of harmful extensions. This is an easy way to restore web browsers settings and not lose any important information.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right hand corner, click on ‘three vertical dots’, and this will open up the main menu on Chrome. 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 HorizonLiving 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 HorizonLiving adware removal, you need to reset Mozilla 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

In order to increase your security and protect your MAC OS against new intrusive ads and malicious websites, you need to use ad blocker program that stops an access to malicious advertisements and websites. Moreover, the program may stop the open of intrusive advertising, that also leads to faster loading of websites and reduce the consumption of web traffic.

Download AdGuard on your MAC OS by clicking on the following link.

When the downloading process is done, run 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 unwanted pop up ads, block harmful and misleading web-pages.

Finish words

We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted popups and intrusive harmful webpages) and MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (to periodically scan your computer for new adwares and other malicious software).

If you are still having problems while trying to remove HorizonLiving ads from the Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Chrome, then ask for help here.