How to remove LaunchOptimization from Mac (Virus removal guide)

What is LaunchOptimization

LaunchOptimization is an adware application. By definition, adware is a piece of apps which displays ads on a computer. However, people basically use the word ‘adware’ to describe a form of malicious software that presents unwanted ads to the user. In many cases, this kind of adware software do not have any uninstall procedures and can use technologies that are similar to those used by malicious software to penetrate the MAC OS.

Even worse, the LaunchOptimization adware can analyze the location and which Internet web-sites you visit, and then display ads to the types of content, goods or services featured there. Adware software creators can gather and sell your browsing information and behavior to third parties.

By following few simple steps below it’s easy to scan and get rid of adware from Google Chrome, Safari and Firefox and your MAC system. Learn how to delete LaunchOptimization and adware applications, as well as how to run a full computer virus scan.

How does LaunchOptimization get on your Apple Mac

Most of unwanted advertisements and pop ups come from browser toolbars and/or add-ons, BHOs (browser helper objects) and additional apps. Most often, these items claim itself as software which 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 programs. Be cautious, run only reputable applications which download from reputable sources. NEVER install any unknown and suspicious applications.

Threat Summary

Name	LaunchOptimization
Type	adware software, PUP (potentially unwanted program), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	Adware.MAC.Generic, ApplicUnwnt, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Adware/Adload!OSX, MacOS.Agent-MT and Program:MacOS/Vigram.A
Distribution	Freeware installers, shady pop-up ads, fake software updaters and torrent downloads
Symptoms	You keep getting redirected to questionable web-sites, unclosable window appear and recommend fake Jave updates, there is an unwanted program in the ‘Applications’ section of the Finder, an unexpected toolbar appears in your web-browser, your internet browser settings are being changed without your request, slow Internet browsing speeds.
Removal	LaunchOptimization removal guide

How to Remove LaunchOptimization (removal instructions)

There exist several free adware removal utilities. Also it is possible to delete LaunchOptimization manually. But we recommend to combine all these methods below into the one removal algorithm. Follow the steps of the guide. Certain of the steps below will require you to close this webpage. So, please read the step-by-step tutorial carefully, after that bookmark it or open it on your smartphone for later reference.

To remove LaunchOptimization, complete the following steps:

1. Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device
2. Remove LaunchOptimization related apps through the Finder
3. Remove LaunchOptimization related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove LaunchOptimization from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. How to stay safe online

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

LaunchOptimization 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 related to LaunchOptimization.

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

Remove LaunchOptimization related apps through the Finder

In order to delete adware, potentially unwanted programs and browser hijackers, 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 browser hijackers, adware software and PUPs. If yes, uninstall them off. Even if they are just a software which you do not use, then removing them off will increase your Apple Mac start up time and speed dramatically.

Make sure you have closed all browsers and other apps. Next, uninstall any unrequested and suspicious apps from MAC OS using the Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Look around the entire list of software installed on your MAC. Most likely, one of them is the LaunchOptimization adware. Choose the suspicious program or the application that name is not familiar to you and remove it.

Drag the suspicious application from the Applications folder to the Trash.

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

Remove LaunchOptimization related files and folders

Now you need to try to find LaunchOptimization 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.

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

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

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

Check for LaunchOptimization 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.LaunchOptimization.system, then this folder must be deleted. Move all suspicious folders and files to the Trash.

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

Manual LaunchOptimization removal requires some computer skills. Some files and system entries that created by the adware can be not completely removed. We advise that run MalwareBytes AntiMalware to scan the Mac device. Moreover, this program will help you to remove toolbars, browser hijackers, PUPs and adware that your MAC OS may be affected too.

Visit the page linked below to download MalwareBytes AntiMalware.

When the download is finished, close all software and windows on your MAC system. Run the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes will automatically start and you can see its main screen as on the image below.

Now press the “Scan” button to perform a system scan for the LaunchOptimization adware. A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the count of files on your MAC OS and the speed of your Apple Mac. When a malware, adware or potentially unwanted apps are detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly. Wait until the the scanning is done.

Once the scanning is complete, you can check all items detected on your MAC. Review the scan results and then click the “Quarantine” button. The MalwareBytes Free will begin to get rid of LaunchOptimization adware software.

Remove LaunchOptimization from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you are still getting LaunchOptimization adware software, then you can try to get rid of it by deleting malicious addons.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
Click on ‘three dots menu’ button at the top right corner of the Google Chrome window. In the menu go to ‘More tools’, then ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to get rid of LaunchOptimization 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 LaunchOptimization 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

To put it simply, you need to use an ad-blocker tool (AdGuard, for example). It’ll block and protect you from malicious web-pages, unwanted ads and pop ups. To be able to do that, the adblocker program uses a list of filters. Each filter is a rule that describes a malicious web page, an advertising content, a banner and others. The adblocker program automatically uses these filters, depending on the websites you are visiting.

AdGuard can be downloaded from the following link.

After the downloading process is complete, run 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 unwanted popup ads, block harmful and misleading web-pages.

To sum up

Now your machine should be free of the LaunchOptimization adware. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted popups and intrusive harmful webpages) and MalwareBytes AntiMalware (to periodically scan your MAC for new malicious software, browser hijackers and adware). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Mac operating system. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new hijackers, harmful programs and adware are released.

If you are still having problems while trying to get rid of unwanted ads from your internet browser, then ask for help here.