How to uninstall DeviceHelper app/extension from Mac

What is DeviceHelper

DeviceHelper is an adware application. Adware is considered by many to be synonymous with ‘malicious software’. It’s a harmful application that shows unwanted ads to computer users. Some examples include pop-up advertisements, push notifications or unclosable windows. Adware software can be installed onto your MAC OS via infected web pages, when you open email attachments, anytime you download and install free applications.

Another reason why you need to remove adware is its online data-tracking activity. Adware can collect lots of confidential info about you to get profit. Adware software can analyze your browsing, and gain access to your personal data and, afterwards, can use it for marketing purposes. Thus, there are more than enough reasons to remove adware software from your computer.

How does DeviceHelper get on your Apple Mac

In most cases, a freeware setup file includes optional programs such as this adware. So, be very careful when you agree to install anything. The best way – is to choose a Custom, Advanced or Manual installation method. Here uncheck all third-party programs in which you are unsure or that causes even a slightest suspicion. The main thing you should remember, you don’t need to install any third-party software which you don’t trust!

Threat Summary

Name	DeviceHelper, DeviceHelper 1.0 app
Type	adware software, potentially unwanted application (PUA), pop up advertisements, pop-up virus, popups
Symptoms	internet browser popups appear and recommend fake updates and other unwanted applications webpage links redirect to web-pages different from what you expected there is an unwanted program in the ‘Applications’ section of the Finder intrusive toolbars unwanted changes in your internet browser like displaying new tabs you did not open slow Internet browsing speeds CPU usage seems unusually high
Removal	DeviceHelper removal guide

How to Remove DeviceHelper adware (removal steps)

As with deleting adware, malware or potentially unwanted apps, there are few steps you may do. We recommend trying them all. If you do only one part of the tutorial, then it should be use malware removal tool, because it should remove adware software and block any further infection. But to completely get rid of DeviceHelper adware you’ll have to at least reset your web-browser settings like search provider, home page and new tab page to default state, uninstall all unwanted and suspicious software, and remove adware by malware removal tools. Read this manual carefully, bookmark it or open this page on your smartphone, because you may need to close your internet browser or restart your machine.

To remove DeviceHelper, use the steps below:

1. Remove profiles created by DeviceHelper
2. Uninstall DeviceHelper related software through the Finder
3. Remove DeviceHelper related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove DeviceHelper from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. How to stay safe online
7. Finish words

Remove profiles created by DeviceHelper

DeviceHelper 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 associated with DeviceHelper.

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

Uninstall DeviceHelper related software through the Finder

In order to get rid of browser hijackers, potentially unwanted programs and adware, open the Finder and click on “Applications”. Check the list of installed software. For the ones you do not know, run an Internet search to see if they are potentially unwanted programs, adware and browser hijackers. If yes, delete them off. Even if they are just a software which you do not use, then deleting them off will increase your Apple Mac start up time and speed dramatically.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Carefully browse through the list of installed programs and remove all suspicious and unknown applications.

Once you have found anything questionable that may be the DeviceHelper or other potentially unwanted program, then right click this program and choose “Move to Trash”. Once complete, Empty Trash.

Remove DeviceHelper related files and folders

Now you need to try to find DeviceHelper 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.

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 DeviceHelper 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: DeviceHelper.plist, search.plist, installapp.plist, macsearch.plist and com.machelper.plist. Most often, browser hijackers, adware and potentially unwanted programs create several files with similar names.

Check for DeviceHelper 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 folder. Move all suspicious folders to the Trash.

Check for DeviceHelper 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 DeviceHelper 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.macsearch.plist, com.search.plist, com.installapp.plist, com.DeviceHelper.plist and com.machelper.plist. In most cases, potentially unwanted programs, browser hijackers and adware create several files with similar names.

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

If you carefully followed the previous steps, then you should be able to get rid of DeviceHelper. Of course, very often browser hijackers, potentially unwanted programs and adware hides on a Mac computer, disguising itself as legitimate apps and files. Therefore, in some cases, it is difficult for an inexperienced user to decide whether a particular file is part of potentially unwanted programs, adware and browser hijackers. Therefore, we recommend you to use MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) to scan the Mac computer.

1. Installing the MalwareBytes is simple. First you will need to download MalwareBytes from the following link. Save it on your Windows desktop.
   
   

   Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
   20841 downloads
   Author: Malwarebytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: September 10, 2020
   
2. After downloading is finished, close all applications and windows on your MAC OS. Open a folder in which you saved it. Run the downloaded file and follow the prompts.
3. Press the “Scan” button for checking your machine for the DeviceHelper adware software. A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the count of files on your Apple Mac and the speed of your MAC OS. When a malware, adware or potentially unwanted applications are detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly.
4. Once MalwareBytes Anti Malware has finished scanning, you may check all threats found on your MAC system. Next, you need to press “Quarantine”.

Remove DeviceHelper from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you are still seeing DeviceHelper adware that won’t go away, you might have malicious addons installed on your web browser. Check your internet browser for unwanted extensions using the steps below.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right corner, click on Google Chrome’s main menu button, represented by three vertical dots. When the drop-down menu appears, choose ‘More tools’ and click on ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to remove DeviceHelper adware by reset Google 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 DeviceHelper adware 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 adblocker program for the Safari, Firefox and Google Chrome, with active user support. It does a great job by removing certain types of annoying ads, popunders, pop-ups, undesired newtab pages, and even full page advertisements and web page overlay layers. Of course, the AdGuard can stop harmful web pages automatically or by using a custom filter rule.

Installing the AdGuard is simple. First you’ll need to download AdGuard on your computer from the following link.

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

Each time, when you run your MAC, AdGuard will start automatically and stop annoying popup advertisements, block harmful and misleading webpages.

Finish words

Once you have finished the few simple steps shown above, your Apple Mac should be free from DeviceHelper adware and other malicious software. The Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari will no longer reroute you to various unwanted web-sites and online ads. 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.