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

What is OperationReview

According to security professionals, OperationReview is an Adware application that targets Mac platform. Adware is a form of malicious software designed to display unwanted advertisements on a computer screen. Some of these advertisements are scams or fake advertisements designed to deceive users. Even harmless ads can become really annoying. Adware can be installed unintentionally and without users’ knowledge when they open email attachments, install malicious downloads, fake updates, or freeware.

OperationReview is a malicious application designed to display unwanted ads:

QUICK LINKS

• What is OperationReview?
• Protection
• Removal

OperationReview adware in detail

OperationReview app can direct you to malicious sites and scam pages through various advert links, putting you at risk of computer viruses. It can slow down your internet connection because it is downloading massive amounts of advertisements from the internet.

Attackers often use adware to redirect users to malicious and scam websites. Below are some examples of such sites:

OperationReview can install a component that allows its authors to track which web pages you visit and what products you view on those pages. They can then choose the type of ads they show you. So, if you have adware installed on your MAC, there is a good chance that you have another that collects and shares your data with third parties without your consent. Therefore, you should remove the adware asap. Here in this article below, you can find helpful instructions on how to remove OperationReview and get ri dof unwanted ads from your computer for free.

How does OperationReview get on your MAC

The most common way to get adware is with a freeware installer. In most cases, a user has a chance to disable all unnecessary software, but some installers are designed to confuse regular users into installing PUPs and adware. In any case, it’s easier to prevent adware than to clean your computer after it. So keep your browser up to date (turn on automatic updates), run good antivirus software, double check for free programs before launching them (do a Google search, scan the downloaded file with VirusTotal), avoid questionable and malicious web pages.

The pop-up window that appears after the installation of the OperationReview adware is complete:

Threat Summary

Name	OperationReview, “OperationReview 1.0”
Type	adware software, PUP (potentially unwanted program), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Adware.MAC.Generic, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, MacOS.Agent-MT, OSX.Trojan.Gen, ApplicUnwnt, Adware/Adload!OSX and Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload
Distribution	Freeware installers, misleading pop up ads, torrent downloads and fake updaters
Symptoms	You keep getting redirected to unfamiliar web pages, undesired advertising links appear on web sites that you are visiting, new entries appear in your Applications folder, an unwanted toolbar appears in your web-browser, unwanted changes in your browser like using a new default search provider, speed test good but internet slow.
Removal	OperationReview removal guide

HOW CAN YOU PROTECT AGAINST ADWARE?

There are a number of methods that you can use to protect against malicious adware. It is better to use them together, this will provide stronger protection.

1. Use an ad blocker. Ad blockers allow you to browse sites without ads, thus eliminating the possibility of clicking on something malicious and preventing it from being downloaded to the machine.
2. Pay for premium versions of popular services. The easiest way to avoid adware is to pay for the service you use. Many Internet services make it possible to use them without ads if you purchase a premium subscription. This helps ensure that malicious adware cannot reach you.
3. Buy devices from trusted companies with built-in security. There have already been many cases where people who bought inexpensive Android devices found that adware was already installed on their devices. Cheap Android devices do not receive security updates and are therefore particularly susceptible to infection and should be avoided.
4. Use an antivirus. Most antivirus programs can block malicious adware. Some malicious adware can block antiviruses, in which case a more aggressive method should be used, which is to use adware removal software. This software can detect and remove adware that has a negative impact on the device.

How to remove OperationReview from Mac computer

In the simple guide below, we’ll take a look at adware and how to remove OperationReview ads from Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari web browsers manually or with a few free removal utilities. Some of the steps below will require you to exit this web page. Therefore, please read carefully a few simple steps, then bookmark them or open them on your smartphone for future reference.

To remove OperationReview, complete the steps below:

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

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

OperationReview 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 OperationReview.

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 device, which is normal.

Delete OperationReview associated software by using the Finder

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

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Very carefully look around the entire list of software installed on your computer. Most probably, one of them is the OperationReview adware software. Once you’ve found a questionable, unwanted or unused program, right click to it and choose “Move to Trash”. Another solution is drag the program from the Applications folder to the Trash.

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

Remove OperationReview related files and folders

Now you need to try to find OperationReview 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

If you are still having problems with the OperationReview removal or just wish to check your Mac occasionally for adware and other malicious software, then download MalwareBytes. It’s free for home use, and detects and removes various undesired applications that attacks your machine or degrades machine performance. MalwareBytes can remove browser hijackers, adware, toolbars and potentially unwanted programs as well as malicious software, including ransomware and trojans.

1. Visit the following page to download MalwareBytes.
   
   

   Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
   20180 downloads
   Author: Malwarebytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: September 10, 2020
   
2. When the download is complete, please close all programs and open windows on your MAC. Run the downloaded file. Follow the prompts.
3. The MalwareBytes will start and show the main window.
4. Further, click the “Scan” button . MalwareBytes program will scan through the whole machine for the OperationReview adware. A system scan can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your Apple Mac. While the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware is checking, you can see number of objects it has identified either as being malware.
5. Once MalwareBytes completes the scan, the results are displayed in the scan report.
6. When you’re ready, click the “Remove Selected Items” button.
7. Close the AntiMalware and continue with the next step.

Remove OperationReview from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you are still getting OperationReview adware, then you can try to get rid of it by uninstalling malicious plugins.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
Click on ‘three dots menu’ button at the top right corner of the Chrome window. 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 OperationReview 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 OperationReview 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

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

AdGuard can be downloaded from the following link.

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

Each time, when you launch your MAC OS, AdGuard will run automatically and stop unwanted advertisements, block harmful and misleading web pages.