StudyGeneral is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) tha belongs to the Adware family. What is Adware? Adware is something that developed in order to display third-party ads to the user without asking his permission. Adware takes control of web browsers and redirects them to unwanted web-pages every time you surf the Web. Adware can end up on your MAC in various methods. In most cases is when you install free applications and forget to uncheck the box for the additional applications installation.
Another reason why you need to delete the StudyGeneral adware is its online data-tracking activity. Adware software is often harmless, but sometimes the adware you inadvertently download can also be spyware. Spyware can sometimes seek out your personal data stored on the MAC OS, collect this information and use it to steal your identity.
Threat Summary
Name | StudyGeneral, Study General 1.0 app |
Type | adware, PUP (potentially unwanted program), popup virus, pop-ups, popup advertisements |
Symptoms |
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Removal | StudyGeneral removal guide |
How does the StudyGeneral adware get on your Apple Mac
Adware most likely to occur during the install of free software due the fact that potentially unwanted software like this are usually hidden in the setup file. Thus, if you’ve installed some freeware using Quick(Standard) method, you may have let adware software get inside your Apple Mac. Keep in mind that the Quick mode is unreliable because it do not warn about third-party applications. Thus, optional applications will be installed automatically unless you choose Advanced/Custom mode and disable its installation.
Adware is usually written in ways common to malicious software, spyware and hijackers. In order to remove the StudyGeneral adware and thereby get rid of unwanted ads, you will need use the steps below or run free adware removal tool listed below.
How to Remove StudyGeneral adware software
Not all unwanted programs like StudyGeneral adware are easily uninstallable. You might see pop-ups, deals, text links, in-text advertisements, banners and other type of ads in the Google Chrome, Safari and Firefox and might not be able to figure out the application responsible for this activity. The reason for this is that many undesired programs neither appear in the Finder. Therefore in order to completely delete StudyGeneral adware, you need to perform the following steps. Read it once, after doing so, please bookmark this page (or open it on your smartphone) as you may need to exit your internet browser or restart your computer.
To remove StudyGeneral, complete the following steps:
- How to remove StudyGeneral adware without any software
- Automatic Removal of StudyGeneral adware software
- How to stay safe online
- Finish words
How to remove StudyGeneral adware without any software
This part of the article is a step-by-step instructions that will allow you to remove StudyGeneral adware manually. You just need to carefully complete each step. In this case, you do not need to install any additional tools.
Delete potentially unwanted software using the Finder
One of the first things to attempt for removal of adware is to check your computer installed programs screen and look for undesired and suspicious applications. If there are any programs you do not recognize or are no longer using, you should delete them. If that doesn’t work, then you may need to use adware removal tool like MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM).
Make sure you have closed all internet browsers and other software. Next, remove any unwanted and suspicious applications from MAC using the Finder.
Open Finder and click “Applications”.
Look around the entire list of software installed on your MAC system. Most likely, one of them is the StudyGeneral adware. Select the questionable program or the program that name is not familiar to you and remove it.
Drag the questionable program from the Applications folder to the Trash.
Most important, don’t forget, select Finder -> Empty Trash.
Remove StudyGeneral adware from Safari
The Safari reset is great if your web-browser is hijacked by StudyGeneral or you have unwanted add-ons or toolbars on your internet browser, which installed by an malware.
Click Safari menu and choose “Preferences”.
It will open the Safari Preferences window. Next, click the “Extensions” tab. Look for unknown and suspicious addons on left panel, choose it, then press the “Uninstall” button. Most important to remove all unknown add-ons from Safari.
Once complete, click “General” tab. Change the “Default Search Engine” to Google.
Find the “Homepage” and type into textfield “https://www.google.com”.
Get rid of StudyGeneral from Mozilla Firefox
If Firefox settings are hijacked by the StudyGeneral adware, your browser shows undesired popup ads, then ‘Reset Mozilla Firefox’ could solve these problems. It will save your personal information such as saved passwords, bookmarks, auto-fill data and open tabs.
Launch the Firefox and press the menu button (it looks like three stacked lines) at the top right of the browser screen. Next, press 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 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 StudyGeneral adware. After, it’s finished, click the “Finish” button.
Remove StudyGeneral from Chrome
The adware can modify your Chrome settings without your knowledge. You may see an unwanted web-site as your search provider or start page, additional extensions and toolbars. Reset Chrome browser will allow you to remove StudyGeneral ads and reset the unwanted changes caused by adware software. However, your saved bookmarks and passwords will not be lost. This will not affect your history, passwords, bookmarks, and other saved data.
- First, start the Google Chrome and press the Menu icon (icon in the form of three dots).
- It will open the Chrome main menu. Select More Tools, then press Extensions.
- You’ll see the list of installed plugins. If the list has the addon labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following guidance: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
- Now open the Google Chrome menu once again, click the “Settings” menu.
- Next, click “Advanced” link, which located at the bottom of the Settings page.
- On the bottom of the “Advanced settings” page, press the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
- The Google Chrome will show the reset settings dialog box as shown on the image above.
- Confirm the web browser’s reset by clicking on the “Reset” button.
- To learn more, read the article How to reset Chrome settings to default.
Automatic Removal of StudyGeneral adware software
In order to completely delete StudyGeneral, you not only need to delete adware from your MAC, but also get rid of all its components in your machine including system folders. We recommend to download and run free removal utilities to automatically clean your Apple Mac of StudyGeneral adware software.
How to delete StudyGeneral with MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM)
If you’re still having issues with the StudyGeneral adware removal or just wish to check your computer occasionally for adware software and other malware, then download MalwareBytes. It is free for home use, and finds and removes various unwanted software that attacks your MAC system or degrades machine performance. MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) can remove hijacker, adware software, potentially unwanted programs as well as malicious software, including ransomware and trojans.
Download MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) on your MAC by clicking on the link below.
20842 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: September 10, 2020
After the downloading process is finished, run it and follow the prompts. Press the “Scan” button to perform a system scan for the StudyGeneral adware. A system scan may take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your Apple Mac. During the scan MalwareBytes Anti Malware will scan for threats present on your MAC OS. Make sure to check mark the threats which are unsafe and then press “Remove Selected Items” button.
The MalwareBytes Anti-Malware is a free application that you can use to get rid of all detected folders, files, malicious services and so on.
How to stay safe online
Running an ad blocker program such as AdGuard is an effective way to alleviate the risks. Additionally, ad-blocking programs will also protect you from malicious ads and web sites, and, of course, block redirection chain to misleading and similar web-sites.
Installing the AdGuard is simple. First you will need to download AdGuard from the following link. Save it to your Desktop.
3677 downloads
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: January 17, 2018
Once the downloading process 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 tutorial. Press “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial which will assist you get to know AdGuard better.
Each time, when you launch your MAC, AdGuard will start automatically and stop intrusive ads, block harmful or misleading websites.
Finish words
Now your MAC should be free of the StudyGeneral adware software. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted pop-up advertisements and annoying harmful webpages) and MalwareBytes Free (to periodically scan your computer for new malicious software, browser hijackers and adware). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Mac operating system. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new hijackers, malicious software and adware are released.
If you are still having problems while trying to get rid of StudyGeneral ads from your browser, then ask for help here.