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

What is RealChannel

RealChannel is an adware application that targets Apple computers. Adware is form of malware which displays unwanted ads on a computer, redirects search results to scam web-pages and gathers confidential information for marketing purposes. Adware software can show banner advertisements, full-screen advertisements, popups, videos, or other varieties of online advertising. Maybe you approve the idea that the ads or pop-ups is just a small problem. But these annoying advertisements eat system resources and slow down your MAC performance. Adware software can attack Mac’s internet browsers such as Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Safari.

The worst is, RealChannel can monetize its functionality by gathering sensitive info from your browsing sessions. This sensitive info, later, can be easily used for marketing purposes. This puts your user data at a security risk.

Take a deep breath. Learn everything you should know about RealChannel removal, how to remove intrusive ads from your internet browser and Apple Mac. Find the best free adware and malware removal utilities here!

How does RealChannel get on your MAC OS

Usually, adware gets into Mac computers as part of a bundle with free applications, sharing files and other unsafe software which users downloaded from the Internet. The authors of adware pays software creators for distributing adware within their programs. So, optional apps is often included as part of the installer. In order to avoid the setup of any adware software: choose only Manual, Custom or Advanced installation type and disable all additional apps in which you are unsure.

Threat Summary

Name	RealChannel
Type	adware software, potentially unwanted application (PUA), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	Adware.MAC.Generic, MacOS.Agent-MT, ApplicUnwnt, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Adware/Adload!OSX, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A and Osx.Adware.Cimpli
Distribution	Freeware installers, dubious popup advertisements, fake software updaters and torrent downloads
Symptoms	Every time you perform an Internet search, your web browser is redirected to another webpage, you experience a large count of of unwanted ads, your computer starts automatically installing unexpected apps, unexpected browser plugins or toolbars keep coming back, your web browser startpage has changed and you cannot modify it back, slow Internet or slow browsing.
Removal	RealChannel removal guide

How to remove RealChannel from Apple computer

Adware is a form of malware that you might have difficulty in deleting it from your MAC. Luckily, you’ve found the effective RealChannel removal guidance in this post. Both the manual removal solution and the automatic removal method will be provided below and you can just choose the one that best for you. If you’ve any questions or need help then type a comment below. Some of the steps below will require you to exit this website. So, please read the step-by-step instructions carefully, after that bookmark it or open it on your smartphone for later reference.

To remove RealChannel, perform the following steps:

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

Remove profiles created by RealChannel

RealChannel 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 the System Preferences icon ( ) in the Dock, or choose Apple menu ( ) > System Preferences.

In System Preferences, click Profiles, then select a profile associated with RealChannel.

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.

Uninstall RealChannel related software through the Finder

In the next step, you need to check the list of installed apps on your Mac device and uninstall all unused, unknown and dubious applications.

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

Remove RealChannel related files and folders

Now you need to try to find RealChannel 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

We recommend using MalwareBytes Anti-Malware to scan the Mac for adware software, browser hijackers and PUPs. This free utility is an advanced malware removal program designed by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This program uses the world’s most popular antimalware technology. It’s able to help you get rid of browser hijackers and other security threats from your Mac for free.

MalwareBytes can be downloaded from the following link.

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

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

Now press the “Scan” button to search for RealChannel adware software. A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your MAC and the speed of your MAC. While the MalwareBytes application is scanning, you can see number of objects it has identified as threat.

After MalwareBytes Anti-Malware completes the scan, MalwareBytes AntiMalware will open a scan report. Make sure all threats have ‘checkmark’ and press “Quarantine” button.

The Malwarebytes will now delete RealChannel adware.

Remove RealChannel from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you’re still getting RealChannel adware software, then you can try to remove it by removing harmful plugins.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right corner, click on Chrome’s main menu button, represented by three vertical dots. Select ‘More tools’, then ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to delete RealChannel 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 RealChannel 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

One of the worst things is the fact that you cannot stop all harmful web-sites using only built-in MS Windows capabilities. However, there is a program out that you can use to block intrusive web browser redirects, ads and pop ups in any modern browsers including Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari. It’s called Adguard and it works very well.

Download AdGuard on your Apple Mac by clicking on the link below.

After downloading is finished, run the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen. Follow the prompts.

Each time, when you start your MAC system, AdGuard will start automatically and stop unwanted popup ads, block malicious and misleading web pages.

Finish words

Once you have removed the RealChannel adware using the instructions, Safari, Firefox and Google Chrome will no longer display any annoying ads when you browse the Net. Unfortunately, if the few simple steps 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 RealChannel .