Uninstall CommonBrand app/extension on Mac – Removal Guide

What is CommonBrand?

CommonBrand is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) that belongs to the adware family. What does Adware mean? Adware is an advertising malicious software. It is designed just that: show constant popup windows and/or unwanted advertising using intrusive and at times dangerous ways. Adware can also include other forms of malware. It can steal personal info from the computer and pass it on to third parties. Adware has also been the basis for hacking to gain access to the Mac.

Even worse, adware software can analyze the location and which Internet web pages you visit, and then display advertisements to the types of content, goods or services featured there. Adware authors can gather and sell your browsing information and behavior to third parties.

Threat Summary

Name	CommonBrand
Type	adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), pop up ads, popups, pop up virus
Symptoms	you experience a lot of of unwanted ads every time you perform an Internet search, your web-browser is rerouted to another web-page new entries appear in your Programs folder new add-ons suddenly installed on your browser your internet browser startpage has modified and you cannot change it back you cannot update your security programs slow Internet browsing speeds your machine became slower than normal
Removal	CommonBrand removal guide

How does the CommonBrand adware get on your computer

Adware usually comes on the Apple Mac with free applications. In many cases, it comes without the user’s knowledge. Therefore, many users aren’t even aware that their Apple Mac has been affected by potentially unwanted applications and adware. Please follow the easy rules in order to protect your computer from adware software and PUPs: don’t install any suspicious programs, read the user agreement and select only the Custom, Manual or Advanced installation method, do not rush to click the Next button. Also, always try to find a review of the program on the Internet. Be careful and attentive!

Perform the guidance below to clean your MAC from adware, as adware can be a way to affect your machine with more malicious applications like viruses and trojans. The instructions that follow, I’ll show you how to get rid of CommonBrand and thereby remove unwanted ads from your browser forever.

How to remove CommonBrand adware software

According to experienced security experts, CommonBrand removal can be complete manually and/or automatically. These utilities which are listed below will help you remove adware, malicious internet browser extensions, malware and PUPs . However, if you’re not willing to install other programs to delete CommonBrand adware, then use instructions listed below to return your computer settings to their previous states.

To remove CommonBrand, use the following steps:

1. How to manually remove CommonBrand
   • Uninstalling the CommonBrand, check the list of installed apps first
   • Delete CommonBrand adware software from Mozilla Firefox
   • Get rid of CommonBrand from Safari
   • Remove CommonBrand adware software from Chrome
2. Automatic Removal of CommonBrand adware
   • Run MalwareBytes to get rid of CommonBrand adware
3. Run AdBlocker to stay safe online
4. To sum up

How to manually remove CommonBrand

The step-by-step guidance will allow you manually get rid of CommonBrand ads from your web browser. If you have little experience in using computers, we recommend that you use the free utilities listed below.

Uninstalling the CommonBrand, check the list of installed apps first

First, you should try to identify and uninstall the application that causes the appearance of intrusive ads or browser redirect, using the ‘Applications’ list that located in the Finder.

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

Delete CommonBrand adware software from Mozilla Firefox

The Firefox reset will get rid of unwanted CommonBrand ads, modified preferences, extensions and security settings. However, your themes, bookmarks, history, passwords, and web form auto-fill information will not be deleted.

Run the Mozilla Firefox and click the menu button (it looks like three stacked lines) at the top right of the web browser screen. Next, click the question-mark icon at the bottom of the drop-down menu. It will show the slide-out menu.

Select the “Troubleshooting information”. If you are unable to access the Help menu, then type “about:support” in your address bar and press Enter. It bring up the “Troubleshooting Information” page as displayed on the image below.

Click the “Refresh Firefox” button at the top right of the Troubleshooting Information page. Select “Refresh Firefox” in the confirmation prompt. The Firefox will start a procedure to fix your problems that caused by the CommonBrand adware software. After, it’s finished, click the “Finish” button.

Get rid of CommonBrand from Safari

If you find that Safari web-browser settings having been changed by CommonBrand adware, then you may return your settings, via the reset web browser procedure.

Run Safari internet browser. Next, select Preferences from the Safari menu.

First, click the “Security” tab. Here, select “Block pop-up windows”. It will stop some types of pop-ups.

Now, click the “Extensions” icon. Look for questionable add-ons on left panel, select it, then press the “Uninstall” button. Most important to remove all suspicious extensions from Safari.

Once complete, check your startpage and search provider settings. Click “General” icon. Make sure that the “Homepage” field contains the website you want or is empty.

Make sure that the “Search engine” setting shows your preferred search engine. In some versions of Safari, this setting is in the “Search” tab.

Remove CommonBrand adware software from Chrome

Like other modern browsers, the Google Chrome has the ability to reset the settings to their default values and thereby restore the web browser settings that have been changed by the CommonBrand adware.

Open the Chrome menu by clicking on the button in the form of three horizontal dotes (). It will display the drop-down menu. Select More Tools, then click Extensions.

Carefully browse through the list of installed extensions. If the list has the extension labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following steps: Remove Google Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy otherwise, just go to the step below.

Open the Google Chrome main menu again, click to “Settings” option.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the “Advanced” link. Now scroll down until the Reset settings section is visible, similar to the one below and press the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.

Confirm your action, click the “Reset” button.

Automatic Removal of CommonBrand adware

The easiest solution to get rid of CommonBrand adware is to run an anti malware application capable of detecting this CommonBrand adware. We advise try MalwareBytes Free or another free malicious software remover that listed below. It has excellent detection rate when it comes to adware software, hijackers and other PUPs.

Run MalwareBytes to get rid of CommonBrand adware

Manual CommonBrand removal requires some computer skills. Some files that created by the adware may be not completely removed. We recommend that run the MalwareBytes Anti Malware that are completely clean your MAC of adware software. Moreover, this free utility will help you to delete browser hijacker infection, malware, potentially unwanted applications and toolbars that your MAC system may be infected too.

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

When the downloading process is done, close all windows on your computer. Further, run the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes will automatically run and you can see its main window as on the image below.

Next, click the “Scan Now” button to detect CommonBrand adware and other PUPs. This task can take some time, so please be patient. When a malicious software, adware or potentially unwanted applications are found, the number of the security threats will change accordingly.

After MalwareBytes has finished scanning your MAC OS, it will display the Scan Results. When you’re ready, press “Remove Selected Items” button.

The MalwareBytes will delete CommonBrand from your Mac.

Run AdBlocker to stay safe online

It’s also critical to protect your web-browsers from harmful web-pages and ads by using an ad-blocker program such as AdGuard. Security experts says that it’ll greatly reduce the risk of malicious software, and potentially save lots of money. Additionally, the AdGuard can also protect your privacy by blocking almost all trackers.

Download AdGuard by clicking on the following link.

When 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 guide. Press “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick guide which will help you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you launch your MAC, AdGuard will start automatically and stop intrusive pop-ups, block malicious or misleading web-pages.

To sum up

Now your MAC system should be clean of the CommonBrand ads. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted popup advertisements and intrusive malicious web pages) and MalwareBytes (to periodically scan your MAC system for new malware, browser hijackers and adware software). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Mac OS. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new browser hijackers, malicious software and adware are released.

If you are still having problems while trying to get rid of CommonBrand ads from your internet browser, then ask for help here.