How to uninstall PortalFlow app/extension from Mac (Virus removal guide)

What is PortalFlow

PortalFlow is an application that behaves like adware. Adware is a term that originates from ‘ad supported’ software. Most often, ‘adware software’ is considered by many to be synonymous with ‘malicious software’. Its purpose is to make revenue for its owner by showing ads to a user while the user is browsing the Net. The PortalFlow app can display unwanted advertisements, modify web-browser settings, download and install malicious browser add-ons.

The worst is, the PortalFlow adware has the ability to gather and transmit sensitive information without your knowledge. It can be used to track information about webpages visited, browser and system information, and your machine IP address.

How does PortalFlow get on your computer

Adware may be spread with the help of trojan horses and other forms of malware, but most often, adware comes along with some free software. Many makers of freeware include optional apps in their setup files. Sometimes it is possible to avoid the installation of any adware software: carefully read the Terms of Use and the Software license, choose only Manual, Custom or Advanced installation method, disable all checkboxes before clicking Install or Next button while installing new freeware.

Threat Summary

Name	PortalFlow, PortalFlow 1.0 app
Type	adware, PUP (potentially unwanted program), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	Osx.Adware.Cimpli, Adware.MAC.Generic, ApplicUnwnt, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, MacOS.Agent-MT, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, OSX.Trojan.Gen and Adware/Adload!OSX
Distribution	Free software installers, torrent downloads, dubious pop up advertisements and fake software updaters
Symptoms	When you go to a web-site, you’re often redirected to another web page that you do not intend to visit, advertising links appear in places they shouldn’t be, new entries appear in your Applications folder, unexpected browser plugins or toolbars keep coming back, your web browser home page has changed and you are unable to modify it back, speed test good but internet slow.
Removal	PortalFlow removal guide

How to Remove PortalFlow adware (removal guidance)

There present several free adware removal tools. Also it is possible to remove PortalFlow adware manually. But we recommend to combine all these methods below into the one removal algorithm. Follow the steps of the instructions. Read it once, after doing so, please bookmark this page (or open it on your smartphone) as you may need to close your web-browser or reboot your MAC.

To remove PortalFlow, perform the steps below:

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

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

PortalFlow 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 PortalFlow.

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

Remove PortalFlow related software through the Finder

Try to identify and uninstall the program that causes the appearance of intrusive advertisements or internet browser redirect, using the Applications list which is located in the Finder.

Make sure you have closed all internet browsers and other applications. Next, delete any unwanted and suspicious programs from MAC OS using the Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Look around the entire list of apps installed on your computer. Most likely, one of them is the PortalFlow adware. Choose the questionable application or the program that name is not familiar to you and delete it.

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

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

Remove PortalFlow related files and folders

Now you need to try to find PortalFlow 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

We recommend using MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM). You can download and install MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) to find and remove PortalFlow associated apps from your Mac. When installed and updated, the malicious software remover automatically searches for and removes all security threats present on the MAC OS.

Visit the page linked below to download the latest version of MalwareBytes Free for Apple Mac.

Once downloading is complete, close all applications and windows on your MAC system. Open a directory in which you saved it. Run the saved file and follow the prompts.

Once install is finished, you will see window like below.

Now press the “Scan” button to perform a system scan with this utility for the PortalFlow adware. This task can take quite a while, so please be patient. While the MalwareBytes Free is scanning, you can see how many objects it has identified either as being malware.

When that process is done, MalwareBytes Free will show you the results. You may remove items (move to Quarantine) by simply press “Quarantine” button.

The Malwarebytes will now start to get rid of PortalFlow .

Remove PortalFlow from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you’re still getting PortalFlow , then you can try to remove it by deleting malicious addons.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right hand corner, click on ‘three vertical dots’, and this will open up the main menu on Chrome. Select ‘More tools’, then ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to get rid of PortalFlow 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 issues with PortalFlow 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

Run adblocker application such as AdGuard in order to block advertisements, malvertisements, pop-ups and online trackers, avoid having to install malicious and adware browser plug-ins and add-ons that affect your MAC OS performance and impact your Apple Mac security. Surf the Internet anonymously and stay safe online!

1. Download AdGuard by clicking on the following link.
   
   

   AdGuard for Mac download
   3677 downloads
   Author: © Adguard
   Category: Security tools
   Update: January 17, 2018
   
2. Once the downloading process is complete, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
3. After the installation is finished, click “Skip” to close the install program and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial that will assist 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 run your MAC, AdGuard will start automatically and stop intrusive ads, block malicious and misleading webpages.

To sum up

Once you have finished the guide above, your MAC should be clean from this adware and other malicious software. The Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome will no longer show any unwanted ads when you browse the Web. Unfortunately, if the instructions does not help you, then you have caught a new adware software, and then the best way – ask for help.

Please create a new question by using the “Ask Question” button in the Questions and Answers. Try to give us some details about your problems, so we can try to help you more accurately. Wait for one of our trained “Security Team” or Site Administrator to provide you with knowledgeable assistance tailored to your problem with the PortalFlow adware.