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

What is HotComplete

HotComplete is an adware application that targets Mac platform. Adware is type of malicious software which displays unwanted ads on MAC computers, redirects search requests to scam web-sites and gathers user information for marketing purposes. HotComplete can display banner advertisements, full-screen advertisements, popups, videos, or other varieties of online advertising. It can attack your Mac’s web-browsers such as Mozilla Firefox, Safari and Chrome. Maybe you approve the idea that the ads or pop-ups 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 adware software is its online data-tracking activity. It can analyze the location and which Internet web-sites you visit, and then present ads to the types of content, goods or services featured there. Its developers can collect and sell your browsing information and behavior to third parties.

So, if you happen to encounter the adware, then be quick and take effort to delete it sooner. Follow the few simple steps below to remove HotComplete adware. Let us know how you managed by sending us your comments please.

How does HotComplete get on your MAC

Adware usually gets on MAC computers as a part of free software. So, when you installing freeware, carefully read the disclaimers, select the Custom or Advanced installation mode to watch for additional programs that are being installed, because some of the apps are PUPs and adware software.

Threat Summary

Name	HotComplete, “HotComplete 1.0”
Type	adware, potentially unwanted program (PUP), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Adware.MAC.Generic, Adware/Adload!OSX, ApplicUnwnt, MacOS.Agent-MT and Osx.Adware.Cimpli
Distribution	Freeware installers, fake software updaters, torrent downloads and malicious pop up ads
Symptoms	Your web-browser is redirected to web-sites you did not want, advertising pop-ups won’t go away, your computer starts automatically installing unexpected programs, unwanted browser toolbars, your web browser start page has replaced without your permission, slow Internet or slow browsing.
Removal	HotComplete removal guide

How to remove HotComplete

There are a few methods which can be used to get rid of HotComplete . But, not all malicious apps like this adware can be completely deleted utilizing only manual methods. Most often you’re not able to uninstall any adware utilizing standard Apple Mac options. In order to remove HotComplete adware you need complete a few manual steps and use reliable removal utilities. Most IT security researchers state that MalwareBytes Anti-Malware utility is a right choice. This free removal tool is able to look for and remove HotComplete adware from your Mac and revert back your internet browser settings to defaults.

To remove HotComplete, use the steps below:

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

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

HotComplete 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 HotComplete.

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

Uninstall HotComplete associated software by using the Finder

Some of adware, browser hijackers and PUPs can be removed using the Move to Trash tool that can be found in the Finder. So, if you’re running any version of Mac OS and you have noticed an unwanted program, then first try to delete it through the Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Very carefully look around the entire list of applications installed on your MAC OS. Most probably, one of them is the HotComplete adware software. Once you have found a suspicious, unwanted or unused program, right click to it and choose “Move to Trash”. Another method is drag the application from the Applications folder to the Trash.

Don’t forget, choose Finder -> “Empty Trash”.

Remove HotComplete related files and folders

Now you need to try to find HotComplete 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

We advise using MalwareBytes AntiMalware. You can download and install MalwareBytes AntiMalware to detect and remove HotComplete associated applications from your Mac device. When installed and updated, the malware remover automatically detects and removes all security threats exist on the MAC system.

1. Please go to the following link to download MalwareBytes Anti-Malware.
   
   

   Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
   20851 downloads
   Author: Malwarebytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: September 10, 2020
   
2. When the download is complete, please close all applications and open windows on your computer. Run the downloaded file. Follow the prompts.
3. The MalwareBytes will run and display the main window.
4. Further, click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan for the HotComplete . When a threat is found, the number of the security threats will change accordingly.
5. When the scan get finished, MalwareBytes Anti-Malware will show a scan report.
6. In order to delete all threats, simply click the “Remove Selected Items” button.
7. Close the Anti-Malware and continue with the next step.

Remove HotComplete from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you are still getting HotComplete adware, then you can try to delete it by deleting harmful add-ons.

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 get rid of HotComplete 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 problems with HotComplete 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

The AdGuard is a very good ad-blocking program for the Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Chrome, with active user support. It does a great job by removing certain types of annoying advertisements, popunders, popups, intrusive newtab pages, and even full page ads and web-page overlay layers. Of course, the AdGuard can block malicious web-pages automatically or by using a custom filter rule.

1. Download AdGuard by clicking on the following link.
   
   

   AdGuard for Mac download
   3687 downloads
   Author: © Adguard
   Category: Security tools
   Update: January 17, 2018
   
2. After downloading is finished, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
3. When the setup is complete, click “Skip” to close the install application and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial which will help you get to know AdGuard better.
4. In most cases, the default settings are enough and you do not need to change anything. Each time, when you launch your Apple Mac, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop intrusive ads, block malicious and misleading web pages.

To sum up

Once you have removed the HotComplete adware using the step-by-step guidance, Mozilla Firefox, Chrome and Safari will no longer display any unwanted advertisements. 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 here.