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

What is NetworkService

According to security professionals, NetworkService is an adware application that targets Mac computers. Adware’s basic purpose is to display ads. These ads are often presented as sponsored links, pop ups or push notifications. Clicks on the advertisements produce a monetary payoff for the adware creators. In some cases, adware can promote p*rn web-pages and adult products. Adware software may work like Spyware, since it sends confidential info such as searches and trends to advertisers.

Another reason why you need to remove NetworkService is its online data-tracking activity. It can be used to collect marketing-type data about you that can be later used for marketing purposes. You don’t know if your home address, account names and passwords are safe. So, you should delete the adware immediately. Here, in this blog post below, you can found the helpful instructions on How to uninstall NetworkService and get rid of annoying ads from your MAC for free.

How does NetworkService get on your MAC

Many of the free applications out there install browser toolbars, hijackers, adware and PUAs along with them without your knowledge. One has to be attentive while installing freeware in order to avoid accidentally installing bundled apps. It’s important that you pay attention to the EULA (End User License Agreements) and select the Custom, Manual or Advanced installation mode as it will typically disclose what bundled apps will also be installed.

Threat Summary

Name	NetworkService, NetworkService 1.0 app
Type	adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, ApplicUnwnt, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, MacOS.Agent-MT, Adware/Adload!OSX, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, Adware.MAC.Generic and OSX.Trojan.Gen
Distribution	Free software installers, torrent downloads, dubious pop up ads and fake software updaters
Symptoms	Your web browser is redirected to websites you did not want, pop-ups and newtab pages are loaded without your request, your MAC system starts automatically installing unwanted software, an unexpected extension appears in your web-browser, your internet browser start page has replaced and you are unable to change it back, slow browsing Internet.
Removal	NetworkService removal guide

How to remove NetworkService

Not all adware applications such as NetworkService are easily uninstallable. You might see pop ups, deals, text links, in-text advertisements, banners and other type of advertisements in Google Chrome, Safari and Mozilla Firefox and might not be able to figure out the program responsible for this activity. The reason for this is that many unwanted software neither appear in the Finder. Therefore in order to fully remove NetworkService , you need to use the following steps. Some of the steps will require you to reboot your MAC or exit this website. So, read this guide carefully, then bookmark this page or open it on your smartphone for later reference.

To remove NetworkService, follow the steps below:

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

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

NetworkService 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 related to NetworkService.

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 device, which is normal.

Uninstall NetworkService associated software by using the Finder

Go to the Finder and delete questionable apps, all programs you do not remember installing. It is important to pay the most attention to programs you have recently installed. If you do not know what a program does, look for the answer on the Net.

1. Open the Finder.
2. Click “Applications”.
3. It will show a list of all programs installed on the computer.
4. Scroll through the all list, and delete questionable and unknown programs. Pay maximum attention to the program you installed last.
5. Drag the dubious program from the Applications folder to the Trash.
6. Empty Trash.

Remove NetworkService related files and folders

Now you need to try to find NetworkService 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

We recommend using MalwareBytes Anti Malware to scan the Mac for potentially unwanted programs, browser hijackers and adware. This free tool is an advanced malicious software removal program created by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This program uses the world’s most popular anti malware technology. It is able to help you remove ransomware and other security threats from your Mac device for free.

1. Download MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) on your MAC from the following link.
   
   

   Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
   20841 downloads
   Author: Malwarebytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: September 10, 2020
   
2. When downloading is done, close all apps and windows on your machine. Open a file location. Run the downloaded file and follow the prompts.
3. Click the “Scan” button to begin checking your Apple Mac for the NetworkService . While the MalwareBytes Free is checking, you may see how many objects it has identified either as being malware.
4. Once that process is done, it will open the Scan Results. Review the report and then click “Quarantine”.

Remove NetworkService from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

Annoying NetworkService adware or other symptoms of adware software in your browser is a good reason to locate and get rid of malicious extensions. This is an easy way to restore web-browsers settings and not lose any important information.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top-right corner, expand the Google 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 remove NetworkService adware software 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 NetworkService 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

The AdGuard is a very good ad-blocking program for the Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Safari, with active user support. It does a great job by removing certain types of annoying advertisements, popunders, pop ups, intrusive newtabs, and even full page ads and web-page overlay layers. Of course, the AdGuard can block malicious webpages automatically or by using a custom filter rule.

1. Download AdGuard by clicking on the link below.
   
   

   AdGuard for Mac download
   3677 downloads
   Author: © Adguard
   Category: Security tools
   Update: January 17, 2018
   
2. When downloading is done, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
3. Once the installation is done, press “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or click “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 don’t need to change anything. Each time, when you start your computer, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop annoying ads, block harmful and misleading webpages.

Finish words

Now your MAC system should be free of the NetworkService adware. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted pop ups and intrusive malicious web sites) and MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) (to periodically scan your MAC for new adwares and other malicious software).

If you are still having problems while trying to remove NetworkService ads from the Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Safari, then ask for help here here.