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

What is OptimalSource

OptimalSource is a malicious application that belongs to the Adware category. Adware is something that developed in order to display third-party ads to you without asking permission. Adware takes control of web-browsers and redirects them to online ads and scam sites every time you surf the Internet. Adware can end up on your Apple Mac in various methods. Most commonly is when you install freeware and forget to uncheck the box for the optional software installation.

Another reason why you need to remove OptimalSource is its online data-tracking activity. It can be used to collect a wide variety of your personal info to get profit. Adware software can analyze your browsing, and gain access to your sensitive info and, subsequently, can transfer it to third parties. Thus, there are more than enough reasons to remove adware software from your Apple Mac.

How does OptimalSource get on your MAC system

Adware usually is bundled with freeware . So, when you installing freeware, carefully read the disclaimers, choose the Custom or Advanced installation option to watch for bundled apps that are being installed, because some of the software are potentially unwanted software and adware.

Threat Summary

Name	OptimalSource, OptimalSource 1.0 app
Type	adware software, potentially unwanted program (PUP), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	OSX.Trojan.Gen, Adware.MAC.Generic, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Adware/Adload!OSX, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, ApplicUnwnt, Osx.Adware.Cimpli and MacOS.Agent-MT
Distribution	Free software installers, fake update tools, suspicious pop up advertisements and torrent downloads
Symptoms	Every time you perform an Internet search, your web-browser is redirected to another web page, advertising pop-ups won’t go away, there is an unwanted application in the ‘Applications’ section of the Finder, unexpected browser plugins or toolbars keep coming back, unexpected changes in your web browser like displaying new tabs you didn’t open, your internet browser slows to a crawl.
Removal	OptimalSource removal guide

How to remove OptimalSource from Mac device

The answer is right here on this web page. We have put together simplicity and efficiency. It will help you easily to free your machine of OptimalSource . Moreover, you can select manual or automatic removal method. If you’re familiar with the computer then use manual removal, otherwise use the free antimalware tool created specifically to remove adware. Of course, you can combine both methods. Read it once, after doing so, please bookmark this page (or open it on your smartphone) as you may need to exit your internet browser or restart your computer.

To remove OptimalSource, follow the steps below:

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

Remove profiles created by OptimalSource

OptimalSource 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 software.

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

In System Preferences, click Profiles, then select a profile related to OptimalSource.

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.

Check the list of installed applications

Check the list of installed software on your Mac and delete all unknown and recently installed applications. If you see an unknown program with incorrect spelling or varying capital letters, it have most likely been installed by malicious software and you should clean it off first with malicious software removal tool like MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM).

Make sure you have closed all internet browsers and other programs. Next, uninstall any unwanted and suspicious apps from MAC system using the Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Look around the entire list of applications installed on your MAC system. Most probably, one of them is the OptimalSource adware. Select the dubious 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 OptimalSource related files and folders

Now you need to try to find OptimalSource 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.

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

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

Some files created by OptimalSource 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 OptimalSource 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, search.plist, com.OptimalSource.service.plist, com.google.defaultsearch.plist, , installapp.plist, com.net-preferences.plist and com.machelper.plist. Most often, browser hijackers, PUPs and adware create several files with similar names.

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

If you carefully followed the previous steps, then you should be able to remove OptimalSource. Of course, very often PUPs, adware software and browser hijackers hides on a Mac, 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 potentially unwanted programs, browser hijackers and adware. Therefore, we recommend you to run MalwareBytes Free to scan the Mac computer.

MalwareBytes Anti Malware can be downloaded from the following link.

When the download is complete, close all software and windows on your Apple Mac. Run the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) will automatically start and you can see its main screen such as the one below.

Now press the “Scan” button for scanning your machine for the OptimalSource adware. Depending on your MAC OS, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. During the scan MalwareBytes Free will search for threats exist on your computer.

When MalwareBytes has finished scanning, it will show the Scan Results. Once you have selected what you wish to remove from your MAC OS press the “Quarantine” button. The MalwareBytes AntiMalware will get rid of OptimalSource adware and move the selected threats to the program’s quarantine.

Remove OptimalSource from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you have ‘OptimalSource ‘ removal problem, then remove unwanted extensions can help you. In the steps below we’ll show you the solution to remove malicious extensions without reinstall. This will also help to get rid of OptimalSource adware from your internet browser.

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. 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 remove OptimalSource 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 OptimalSource adware software 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

If you browse the Internet, you can’t avoid malvertising. But you can protect your web browser against it. Download and run an ad-blocking program. AdGuard is an ad blocking which can filter out a large amount of of the malvertising, stoping dynamic scripts from loading malicious content.

Click the following link to download AdGuard.

Once downloading is done, run the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen. Follow the prompts.

Each time, when you launch your machine, AdGuard will start automatically and stop annoying pop-up ads, block harmful and misleading web-sites.

Finish words

Now your MAC should be free of the OptimalSource adware. We suggest that you keep MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) (to periodically scan your MAC OS for new adwares and other malicious software) and AdGuard (to help you block unwanted pop up advertisements and malicious web-pages). Moreover, to prevent any adware, please stay clear of unknown and third party applications.

If you need more help with OptimalSource related issues, go to here.