AssistiveUnit is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) belonging to the category of Adware. What does Adware do? Adware serves unwanted ads on your web browser. Some of these advertisements are scams or fake advertisements developed to trick you. Even the harmless advertisements can become really irritating. Adware software can be installed accidentally and without you knowing about it, when you open email attachments, install freeware.
Unwanted ads
Another reason why you need to delete AssistiveUnit is its online data-tracking activity. Adware is often harmless, but sometimes the adware you inadvertently download can also be spyware. Spyware can sometimes seek out your data stored on the computer, gather this information and use it to steal your identity.
Therefore, the AssistiveUnit adware does not really have beneficial features. So, we recommend you remove it ASAP. This will also prevent the adware from tracking your online activities. A full AssistiveUnit removal can be easily carried out using manual or automatic method listed below.
How does AssistiveUnit get on your computer
Most of unwanted ads and pop-ups come from internet browser toolbars and/or extensions, BHOs (browser helper objects) and optional apps. In most cases, these items claim itself as programs that improve your experience on the Internet by providing a fast and interactive homepage or a search engine that does not track you. Remember, how to avoid the unwanted apps. Be cautious, start only reputable apps which download from reputable sources. NEVER install any unknown and suspicious apps.
Threat Summary
| Name | AssistiveUnit |
| Type | adware software, potentially unwanted application (PUA), pop-ups, popup virus, pop up ads |
| Symptoms |
|
| Removal | AssistiveUnit removal guide |
How to Remove AssistiveUnit
As with removing adware software, malware or PUPs, there are few steps you can do. We recommend trying them all. If you do only one part of the instructions, then it should be run malicious software removal utility, because it should get rid of adware and stop any further infection. But to completely delete AssistiveUnit you’ll have to at least reset your browser settings such as new tab, default search provider and start page to default state, uninstall all unwanted and suspicious programs, and delete adware by malware removal utilities. Read this manual carefully, bookmark it or open this page on your smartphone, because you may need to shut down your web browser or restart your Apple Mac.
To remove AssistiveUnit, execute the following steps:
- How to remove AssistiveUnit without any software
- Automatic Removal of AssistiveUnit
- How to stay safe online
- Finish words
How to remove AssistiveUnit without any software
First try to delete AssistiveUnit adware manually; to do this, follow the steps below. Of course, manual removal of adware software requires more time and may not be suitable for those who are poorly versed in system settings. In this case, we suggest that you scroll down to the section that describes how to get rid of AssistiveUnit ads using free utilities.
Uninstall adware through the Finder
First, go to the Finder and remove dubious apps, all programs you don’t remember installing. It’s important to pay the most attention to apps you installed just before AssistiveUnit ads appeared on your internet browser. If you don’t know what a program does, look for the answer on the Net.
Open Finder and click “Applications”.
It will open a list of all programs installed on your MAC OS. Scroll through the all list, and remove any dubious and unknown software. Right click to dubious program and choose “Move to Trash”. Another method is drag the application from the Applications folder to the Trash.
Most important, scroll through the all list, and move to trash any unknown applications. Don’t forget, choose Finder -> Empty Trash.
Remove AssistiveUnit adware from Google Chrome
The adware can alter your Chrome settings without your knowledge. You may see an unrequested website as your search engine or homepage, additional extensions and toolbars. Reset Chrome internet browser will allow you to remove AssistiveUnit ads and reset the unwanted changes caused by adware. Essential information like bookmarks, browsing history, passwords, cookies, auto-fill data and personal dictionaries will not be removed.
- First, run the Google Chrome and press the Menu icon (icon in the form of three dots).
- It will display the Google Chrome main menu. Select More Tools, then press Extensions.
- You will 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 instructions: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
- Now open the Chrome menu once again, click the “Settings” menu.
- Next, click “Advanced” link, that located at the bottom of the Settings page.
- On the bottom of the “Advanced settings” page, click the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
- The Chrome will open the reset settings dialog box as 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.
Delete AssistiveUnit adware from Mozilla Firefox
Resetting Firefox browser will reset all the settings to their original state and will remove AssistiveUnit ads, malicious add-ons and extensions. Essential information such as bookmarks, browsing history, passwords, cookies, auto-fill data and personal dictionaries will not be removed.
First, open the Firefox. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (
). It will display the drop-down menu. Next, click the Help button (
).
In the Help menu click the “Troubleshooting Information”. In the upper-right corner of the “Troubleshooting Information” page click on “Refresh Firefox” button as on the image below.
Confirm your action, click the “Refresh Firefox”.
Delete AssistiveUnit from Safari
By resetting Safari browser you return your browser settings to its default state. This is first when troubleshooting problems that might have been caused by AssistiveUnit .
Click Safari menu and choose “Preferences”.
It will open the Safari Preferences window. Next, click the “Extensions” tab. Look for unknown and suspicious extensions on left panel, select it, then press the “Uninstall” button. Most important to remove all unknown extensions 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”.
Automatic Removal of AssistiveUnit
Manual removal is not always as effective as you might think. Often, even the most experienced users can not completely remove AssistiveUnit . So, we suggest to check your MAC OS for any remaining harmful components with free adware software removal apps below.
How to remove AssistiveUnit with MalwareBytes
Get rid of AssistiveUnit manually is difficult and often the adware software is not completely removed. Therefore, we advise you to run the MalwareBytes which are fully clean your Apple Mac. Moreover, this free program will help you to delete malicious software, potentially unwanted apps, toolbars and hijacker infection that your MAC may be infected too.
Visit the following page to download MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM).
20842 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: September 10, 2020
After downloading is finished, close all applications and windows on your computer. Open a directory in which you saved it. Run the saved file and follow the prompts.
Once installation is finished, you will see window as displayed in the figure below.
Now click the “Scan” button . MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) utility will start scanning the whole computer to find out the AssistiveUnit adware. This task can take some time, so please be patient. During the scan MalwareBytes will find threats exist on your Apple Mac.
When MalwareBytes has completed scanning, MalwareBytes will display a list of all items detected by the scan. Review the results once the tool has finished the system scan. If you think an entry should not be quarantined, then uncheck it. Otherwise, simply click “Remove Selected Items” button.
The Malwarebytes will now get rid of AssistiveUnit adware and move the selected items to the Quarantine.
How to stay safe online
We recommend to install an ad blocking application that can stop misleading and other unwanted web-pages. The ad blocking tool like AdGuard is a application which basically removes advertising from the World Wide Web and stops access to malicious websites. Moreover, security experts says that using adblocker software is necessary to stay safe when surfing the Net.
Installing the AdGuard is simple. First you will need to download AdGuard by clicking on the following link. Save it to your Desktop.
3677 downloads
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: January 17, 2018
After the download is finished, 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 guide that will help you get to know AdGuard better.
Each time, when you run your computer, AdGuard will start automatically and stop undesired pop up advertisements, block harmful and misleading web-sites.
Finish words
After completing the few simple steps shown above, your MAC should be free from AssistiveUnit and other malicious software. The Mozilla Firefox, Safari and Chrome will no longer display any unwanted ads. Unfortunately, if the few simple steps does not help you, then you have caught a new adware software, and then the best way – ask for help here.
