How to uninstall TabOptimizer app/extension from Mac

What is TabOptimizer

TabOptimizer is an adware program. Adware is type of malware that can cause problems for your MAC. It can generate numerous additional pop up, banner, pop-under and in-text link ads flooding on your browser; gather your confidential data like login details, online searches, etc; run in the background and drag down your MAC running speed; give more chances for other adware, PUPs even malicious software to get on your computer.

Another reason why you need to get rid of TabOptimizer is its online data-tracking activity. It can analyze the location and which Web webpages you visit, and then present advertisements to the types of content, goods or services featured there. Adware makers can collect and sell your browsing information and behavior to third parties.

Therefore it is very important to follow the steps below as quickly as possible. The step-by-step guide will allow you to delete TabOptimizer as well as clean your web browser from any unwanted advertisements. What is more, the step-by-step guide below will help you delete other harmful programs such as unwanted toolbars and browser hijackers that can be installed onto MAC OS along with the adware.

How does TabOptimizer get on your MAC OS

The most common way to get adware is a freeware installer. In most cases, a user have a chance to disable all third-party browser extensions, but some installers are created to confuse the average users, in order to trick them into installing potentially unwanted software and adware. Anyway, easier to prevent adware rather than clean up your machine after one. So, keep your browser updated (turn on automatic updates), run good antivirus apps, double check free programs before you start it (do a google search, scan a downloaded file with VirusTotal), avoid shady and unknown web pages.

Threat Summary

Name	TabOptimizer, TabOptimizer 1.0 app
Type	adware, PUP (potentially unwanted program), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Adware/Adload!OSX, OSX.Trojan.Gen, ApplicUnwnt, Adware.MAC.Generic, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, Osx.Adware.Cimpli and MacOS.Agent-MT
Distribution	Free software installers, torrent downloads, fake software updaters and malicious popup advertisements
Symptoms	You keep getting redirected to unfamiliar webpages, unclosable window appear and recommend fake security software, there is an unexpected application in the ‘Applications’ section of the Finder, unwanted web browser toolbars, your browser start page has replaced without your permission, slow Internet or slow browsing.
Removal	TabOptimizer removal guide

How to Remove TabOptimizer (removal steps)

Not all unwanted programs such as TabOptimizer are easily uninstallable. You might see pop-ups, deals, text links, in-text ads, banners and other type of advertisements in the Firefox, Safari and Google Chrome and might not be able to figure out the program responsible for this activity. The reason for this is that many undesired apps neither appear in the Finder. Therefore in order to completely remove TabOptimizer , you need to execute the steps below. Certain of the steps will require you to restart your MAC or shut down this web page. So, read this instructions carefully, then bookmark this page or open it on your smartphone for later reference.

To remove TabOptimizer, use the steps below:

1. Remove profiles created by TabOptimizer
2. Check the list of installed applications
3. Remove TabOptimizer related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove TabOptimizer from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. How to stay safe online

Remove profiles created by TabOptimizer

TabOptimizer 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 computer. If there is Profiles in the list, then click on it, then select a profile associated with TabOptimizer.

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

Check the list of installed applications

One of the first things to attempt for removal of adware software is to check your Mac installed programs screen and look for undesired and questionable applications. If there are any software you do not recognize or are no longer using, you should delete them. If that doesn’t work, then you may need to use malware removal utility like MalwareBytes Free.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Carefully browse through the list of installed programs and delete all suspicious and unknown software.

Once you have found anything suspicious that may be the TabOptimizer adware software or other potentially unwanted program, then right click this application and select “Move to Trash”. Once complete, Empty Trash.

Remove TabOptimizer related files and folders

Now you need to try to find TabOptimizer 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.

TabOptimizer creates several files, these files must be found and removed. Below is a list of files associated with this unwanted program.

• /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.TabOptimizer.system.plist
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.TabOptimizer.service.plist
• /Library/Application Support/.(RANDOM)/System/com.TabOptimizer.system
• ~/Library/Application Support/.(RANDOM)/Services/com.TabOptimizer.service.app

Some files created by TabOptimizer are hidden from the user. To find and delete them, you need to enable “show hidden files”. To do this, use the shortcut CMD + SHIFT + . Press once to show hidden files and again to hide them. There is another way. Click Finder -> Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal. In Terminal, paste the following text: defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES

Press Enter. Hold the ‘Option/alt’ key, then right click on the Finder icon in the dock and click Relaunch.

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 TabOptimizer 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: com.net-preferences.plist, search.plist, com.TabOptimizer.service.plist, macsearch.plist, com.machelper.plist, installapp.plist and com.google.defaultsearch.plist, . Most often, potentially unwanted programs, adware and browser hijackers create several files with similar names.

Check for TabOptimizer 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 folders and files. Check the contents of suspicious folders, if there is a file with a name similar to com.TabOptimizer.system, then this folder must be deleted. Move all suspicious folders and files to the Trash.

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

We recommend using MalwareBytes Anti Malware. You can download and install MalwareBytes Free to find and delete TabOptimizer related programs from your Mac. When installed and updated, the malicious software remover automatically finds and removes all security threats present on the MAC OS.

1. Visit the following page to download the latest version of MalwareBytes for Mac OS.
   
   

   Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
   20842 downloads
   Author: Malwarebytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: September 10, 2020
   
2. Once downloading is done, close all programs and windows on your Apple Mac. Open a directory in which you saved it. Run the downloaded file and follow the prompts.
3. Press the “Scan” button to find TabOptimizer . While the MalwareBytes Anti Malware is checking, you may see how many objects it has identified either as being malicious software.
4. When the scan get finished, you may check all threats found on your MAC system. All found items will be marked. You can delete them all by simply click “Quarantine”.

Remove TabOptimizer from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

This step will show you how to get rid of malicious extensions. This can remove TabOptimizer adware and fix some browsing issues, especially after adware infection.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top-right corner, expand the Chrome menu. 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 delete TabOptimizer 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 TabOptimizer 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

In order to increase your security and protect your MAC against new annoying advertisements and harmful web-pages, you need to use ad-blocker program that stops an access to harmful ads and websites. Moreover, the application can stop the show of intrusive advertising, that also leads to faster loading of web-sites and reduce the consumption of web traffic.

Visit the following page to download AdGuard.

After the downloading process 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 instructions that will assist you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you launch your Apple Mac, AdGuard will start automatically and stop intrusive pop up ads, block malicious and misleading websites.

Finish words

After completing the guidance above, your MAC system should be clean from TabOptimizer adware and other malicious software. The Safari, Firefox and Google Chrome will no longer redirect you to various unwanted web-pages an online 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.