How to uninstall SkillApplication app/extension from Mac

What is SkillApplication

SkillApplication is a potentially unwanted application (PUA) that belongs to the Adware group. Adware displays unwanted ads on your web-browser. Some of these ads are scams or fake ads designed to trick you. Even the harmless ads can become really irritating. Adware software can be installed unintentionally and without you knowing about it, when you open email attachments, install freeware.

Does adware steal your confidential information? Adware may monetize its functionality by gathering privacy information from your surfing sessions. This confidential info, subsequently, can be easily sold to third party companies. This puts your personal info at a security risk.

Take a deep breath. Learn everything you should know about SkillApplication removal, how to get rid of any unwanted ads from your web-browser and MAC system. Find the best free adware and malicious software removal tools here!

How does SkillApplication get on your MAC OS

Most of unwanted advertisements and pop-ups come from internet browser toolbars and/or extensions, BHOs (browser helper objects) and bundled software. Most often, these items claim itself as apps that improve your experience on the Internet by providing a fast and interactive start page or a search engine that does not track you. Remember, how to avoid the unwanted programs. Be cautious, start only reputable applications which download from reputable sources. NEVER install any unknown and suspicious programs.

Threat Summary

Name	SkillApplication, SkillApplication 1.0 app
Type	adware software, potentially unwanted application (PUA), popup virus, pop ups, pop up advertisements
Symptoms	you experience lots of of unexpected advertisements when you go to a web page, you’re periodically redirected to another web-site that you do not intend to visit there is an unwanted application in the ‘Applications’ section of Finder unwanted internet browser add-ons or toolbars keep coming back unwanted changes in your web-browser such as displaying new tabs you didn’t open slow browsing Internet your browser became slower than normal
Removal	SkillApplication removal guide

How to remove SkillApplication

The following few simple steps will help you to remove SkillApplication from the Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari. Moreover, the step-by-step tutorial below will help you to remove malware, browser hijackers, PUPs and toolbars that your MAC may be infected. Please do the guidance step by step. If you need assist or have any questions, then ask for our assistance or type a comment below. Read this manual carefully, bookmark it or open this page on your smartphone, because you may need to close your web browser or restart your MAC system.

To remove SkillApplication, use the following steps:

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

Remove profiles created by SkillApplication

SkillApplication 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 the System Preferences icon ( ) in the Dock, or choose Apple menu ( ) > System Preferences.

In System Preferences, click Profiles, then select a profile associated with SkillApplication.

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 computer, which is normal.

Uninstall SkillApplication related software through the Finder

The next step to remove PUPs, browser hijackers and adware is to uninstall unknown and questionable applications. Using the Finder you can do this quickly and easily. We suggest you not to skip this step, as it often helps to get rid of browser redirects and intrusive advertisements.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

It will open a list of all software installed on your MAC OS. Scroll through the all list, and uninstall any dubious and unknown applications. Right click to suspicious program and choose “Move to Trash”. Another way is drag the program 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 SkillApplication related files and folders

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

Check for SkillApplication 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 SkillApplication 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 SkillApplication 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.installapp.plist, com.SkillApplication.plist, com.macsearch.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

Manual SkillApplication removal requires some computer skills. Some files and system entries that created by the adware can be not completely removed. We recommend that use MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) to scan the Mac device. Moreover, this application will help you to remove browser hijackers, adware software, PUPs and toolbars that your MAC system can be affected too.

Installing the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware is simple. First you will need to download MalwareBytes Anti-Malware on your machine from the following link.

When the downloading process is done, run it and follow the prompts. Press the “Scan” button for checking your computer for the SkillApplication adware software. A system scan can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your Apple Mac. While the MalwareBytes Anti Malware application is checking, you can see number of objects it has identified as threat. Review the results once the utility has finished the system scan. If you think an entry should not be quarantined, then uncheck it. Otherwise, simply click the “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes Free is a free program that you can use to delete all detected folders, files, malicious services and so on.

Remove SkillApplication from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you’re still getting SkillApplication adware software, then you can try to remove it by uninstalling malicious extensions.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top-right corner, expand the Chrome menu. When the drop-down menu appears, select ‘More tools’ and click on ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to remove SkillApplication by reset 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 issues with SkillApplication adware 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-blocking tool such as AdGuard will protect you from malicious advertisements and content. Moreover, you can find that the AdGuard have an option to protect your privacy and stop phishing and spam web-sites. Additionally, adblocker applications will allow you to avoid undesired pop-ups and unverified links that also a good way to stay safe online.

1. AdGuard can be downloaded from the following link.
   
   

   AdGuard for Mac download
   3677 downloads
   Author: © Adguard
   Category: Security tools
   Update: January 17, 2018
   
2. After downloading is complete, run the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
3. When the install is finished, click “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial which will allow you get to know AdGuard better.
4. In most cases, the default settings are enough and you do not need to change anything. Each time, when you start your MAC, AdGuard will start automatically and stop intrusive advertisements, block malicious and misleading websites.

To sum up

Once you’ve done the few simple steps outlined above, your MAC should be clean from the SkillApplication adware and other malware. The Mozilla Firefox, Safari and Chrome will no longer redirect you to an unwanted webpages and online ads. Unfortunately, if the tutorial does not help you, then you have caught a new adware, and then the best way – ask for help here.