How to uninstall InitiatorValue app/extension from Mac

What is InitiatorValue

InitiatorValue is supposed to be an application that will improve the browsing experience, but according to security professionals, this application is an adware. Adware is something that created in order to display third-party ads to the user without asking his permission. Adware takes control of web-browsers and reroutes them to unwanted websites and online ads every time you surf the Net. Adware can end up on your MAC system in various methods. In most cases is when you download freeware and forget to uncheck the box for the optional apps installation.

Does adware steal your confidential information? Adware be able to collect a wide variety of your user data to get profit. Adware can analyze your browsing, and gain access to your user data and, subsequently, can sell it to third parties. Thus, there are more than enough reasons to delete adware software from your Apple Mac.

If you realized any of the symptoms mentioned above, we recommend you to perform steps below to remove the adware and delete unwanted advertisements from your web browser.

How does InitiatorValue get on your machine

Adware actively distributed with free applications, as a part of the installer of these applications. Therefore, it is very important, when installing an unknown application even downloaded from well-known sites, read the Terms of use and the Software license, as well as to select the Manual, Advanced or Custom installation option. In this method, you can disable the install of unneeded web-browser plugins and programs and protect your MAC from adware. D

Threat Summary

Name	InitiatorValue, InitiatorValue 1.0 app
Type	adware software, potentially unwanted application (PUA), pop-up ads, popup virus, pop ups
Symptoms	advertising pop-ups won’t go away you keep getting redirected to dubious web sites your computer starts automatically installing unexpected software unwanted browser toolbars your internet browser settings are being changed without your request low ping but slow Internet CPU usage seems unusually high
Removal	InitiatorValue removal guide

How to Remove InitiatorValue adware (removal guide)

There are a simple manual instructions below which will help you to get rid of InitiatorValue adware from your Mac. The most effective way to remove this adware is to complete the manual removal instructions and then run MalwareBytes Anti Malware automatic tool (it is free). The manual method will assist to weaken this adware and these malicious software removal utilities will completely remove adware and revert back the Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari settings to default.

To remove InitiatorValue, execute the steps below:

1. Remove profiles created by InitiatorValue
2. Remove InitiatorValue associated software by using the Finder
3. Remove InitiatorValue related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove InitiatorValue from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. How to stay safe online
7. To sum up

Remove profiles created by InitiatorValue

InitiatorValue 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.

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 InitiatorValue.

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, which is normal.

Remove InitiatorValue associated software by using the Finder

One of the first things to attempt for removal of adware software is to check your Mac device installed programs screen and look for undesired and suspicious programs. If there are any apps you do not recognize or are no longer using, you should uninstall them. If that doesn’t work, then you may need to run malicious software removal utility such as MalwareBytes Anti-Malware.

Make sure you have closed all web browsers and other software. Next, delete any unwanted and suspicious apps from Apple Mac using the Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Look around the entire list of apps installed on your Apple Mac. Most probably, one of them is the InitiatorValue adware. Choose the questionable program or the application that name is not familiar to you and uninstall it.

Drag the dubious program from the Applications folder to the Trash.

Most important, don’t forget, choose Finder -> Empty Trash.

Remove InitiatorValue related files and folders

Now you need to try to find InitiatorValue 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 InitiatorValue 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: search.plist, InitiatorValue.plist, com.machelper.plist, installapp.plist and macsearch.plist. Most often, browser hijackers, potentially unwanted programs and adware software create several files with similar names.

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

If you carefully followed the previous steps, then you should be able to delete InitiatorValue. Of course, very often adware software, potentially unwanted programs and browser hijackers 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 browser hijackers, PUPs and adware. Therefore, we recommend you to use MalwareBytes Anti-Malware to scan the Mac device.

1. Download MalwareBytes Free on your computer from the link below.
   
   

   Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
   20841 downloads
   Author: Malwarebytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: September 10, 2020
   
2. After the download is finished, close all programs and windows on your MAC. Open a file location. Run the downloaded file and follow the prompts.
3. Press the “Scan” button to locate InitiatorValue . Depending on your machine, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. During the scan MalwareBytes Anti Malware will detect threats present on your MAC OS.
4. After finished, the results are displayed in the scan report. When you are ready, click “Quarantine”.

Remove InitiatorValue from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you have ‘InitiatorValue ‘ removal problem, then remove unwanted extensions can help you. In the steps below we will show you the way to remove harmful add-ons without reinstall. This will also help to remove InitiatorValue adware from your web browser.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right corner, click on Google Chrome’s main menu button, represented by three vertical dots. Select ‘More tools’, then ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to remove InitiatorValue 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 InitiatorValue adware software 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

Use an ad blocker utility such as AdGuard will protect you from malicious ads and content. Moreover, you can find that the AdGuard have an option to protect your privacy and stop phishing and spam web-pages. Additionally, ad blocking applications will help you to avoid annoying pop up advertisements and unverified links that also a good way to stay safe online.

Installing the AdGuard is simple. First you’ll need to download AdGuard by clicking on the following link.

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

Each time, when you start your Apple Mac, AdGuard will start automatically and stop undesired pop-up advertisements, block malicious and misleading websites.

To sum up

Now your MAC OS should be clean of the InitiatorValue adware. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted ads and intrusive harmful web sites) and MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) (to periodically scan your Apple Mac for new adwares and other malicious software).

If you are still having problems while trying to remove InitiatorValue from the Chrome, Safari and Firefox, then ask for help here here.