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

What is BrowserDisplay

BrowserDisplay is an adware application that targets Mac platform. Adware’s basic purpose is to display unwanted ads. These advertisements are often displayed as sponsored links, unclosable windows, push notifications and even fake virus alerts. Clicks on the advertisements produce a monetary payoff for the adware authors. Adware can work like Spyware, since it sends confidential info such as searches and trends to advertisers.

Even worse, adware is able to collect lots of sensitive info (your ip address, what is a website you are viewing now, what you are looking for on the World Wide Web, which links you are clicking), which can later transfer to third parties.

We advise to remove BrowserDisplay adware, as soon as possible, as it can redirect your internet browser to web-resources which may load other malicious programs on your MAC computer.

How does BrowserDisplay get on your MAC

Adware usually spreads bundled with free applications which downloaded from the 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 PUPs 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 computer.

Threat Summary

Name	BrowserDisplay
Type	adware software, potentially unwanted program (PUP), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	Osx.Adware.Cimpli, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Adware/Adload!OSX, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, MacOS.Agent-MT, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Adware.MAC.Generic and ApplicUnwnt
Distribution	Free software installers, fake software updaters, torrent downloads and shady pop up ads
Symptoms	When you go to a web page, you are occasionally redirected to another webpage that you do not intend to visit, web browser pop ups appear and recommend fake updates and other unwanted software, your computer starts automatically installing unwanted programs, an unexpected add-on appears in your internet browser, unwanted changes in your browser such as using a new default search engine, your web-browser slows to a crawl.
Removal	BrowserDisplay removal guide

How to remove BrowserDisplay from Apple computer

Without a doubt, BrowserDisplay is harmful to your MAC. So you need to quickly and completely get rid of this adware. To uninstall it, you can use the manual removal guidance that are given below or free malware removal tool like MalwareBytes AntiMalware (it is free). We advise you use automatic removal way that will help you to remove BrowserDisplay easily and safely. Manual removal is best used only if you’re well versed in MAC computers or in the case where adware is not removed automatically. Certain of the steps below will require you to close this web site. So, please read the guide carefully, after that bookmark it or open it on your smartphone for later reference.

To remove BrowserDisplay, perform the steps below:

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

Remove profiles created by BrowserDisplay

BrowserDisplay 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 associated with BrowserDisplay.

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.

Delete BrowserDisplay associated software by using the Finder

Check out the Finder (Applications section) to see all installed software. If you see any unknown and questionable applications, they are the ones you need to remove.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

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

When you have found anything dubious that may be the BrowserDisplay or other potentially unwanted program, then right click this program and select “Move to Trash”. Once complete, Empty Trash.

Remove BrowserDisplay related files and folders

Now you need to try to find BrowserDisplay 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.

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

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

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

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

Check for BrowserDisplay 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 BrowserDisplay 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.BrowserDisplay.system.plist, com.installapp.system.plist, com.search.system.plist, com.macsearch.system.plist and com.machelper.system.plist. In most cases, adware, potentially unwanted programs and browser hijackers create several files with similar names.

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

We recommend using MalwareBytes to scan the Mac for adware, potentially unwanted programs and browser hijackers. This free utility is an advanced malware removal application developed by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This program uses the world’s most popular antimalware technology. It is able to help you delete malicious software and other security threats from your Apple computer for free.

MalwareBytes Anti-Malware can be downloaded from the following link.

After downloading is done, close all programs and windows on your MAC OS. Run the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes AntiMalware will automatically start and you can see its main screen as displayed in the following example.

Now click the “Scan” button to locate BrowserDisplay adware. When a threat is detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly. Wait until the the checking is complete.

When finished, MalwareBytes will open a screen which contains a list of malware that has been found. Make sure all items have ‘checkmark’ and click the “Quarantine” button. The MalwareBytes AntiMalware will remove BrowserDisplay and move the selected items to the Quarantine.

Remove BrowserDisplay from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you’re still seeing BrowserDisplay adware that won’t go away, you might have malicious extensions installed on your web-browser. Check your web browser for unwanted addons using the steps below.

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. 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 get rid of BrowserDisplay adware software 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 BrowserDisplay 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

Using an adblocker program such as AdGuard is an effective way to alleviate the risks. Additionally, ad blocking apps will also protect you from harmful ads and web sites, and, of course, block redirection chain to misleading, scam and similar web-pages.

Visit the following page to download AdGuard.

Once the download is done, 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 instructions. Click “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick guidance that will assist you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you run your Apple Mac, AdGuard will start automatically and stop intrusive pop up advertisements, block malicious and misleading webpages.

To sum up

Once you have removed the BrowserDisplay adware using the guidance, Firefox, Safari and Chrome will no longer display any unwanted advertisements. Unfortunately, if the instructions does not help you, then you have caught a new adware software, and then the best way – ask for help here.