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

What is AssistiveConsole

AssistiveConsole is an adware application that targets Mac platform. Adware can cause many troubles such as unwanted ads and pop-ups on your browser, redirect your searches to advertising web pages, browser crashes and slow loading web-pages. Adware often installs on the machine with the free applications.

Does adware software steal your confidential information? The AssistiveConsole adware can analyze the location and which World Wide Web web sites you visit, and then show ads to the types of content, goods or services featured there. Adware software creators can collect and sell your browsing information and behavior to third parties.

Adware is usually written in ways common to malicious software, spyware and browser hijackers. In order to get rid of AssistiveConsole, you will need use the following steps or run a free adware removal utility listed below.

How does AssistiveConsole get on your Apple Mac

Adware most likely to occur during the setup of freeware due the fact that malicious software like this are usually hidden in the installer. Thus, if you’ve installed some freeware using Quick(Standard) method, you may have let adware get inside your MAC. Keep in mind that the Quick mode is unreliable because it do not warn about additional apps. Thus, optional software will be installed automatically unless you choose Advanced/Custom mode and disable its installation.

Threat Summary

Name	AssistiveConsole
Type	adware, potentially unwanted program (PUP), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	OSX.Trojan.Gen, MacOS.Agent-MT, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, Adware.MAC.Generic, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, ApplicUnwnt and Adware/Adload!OSX
Distribution	Freeware installers, torrent downloads, fake update tools and suspicious pop up advertisements
Symptoms	When you go to a web site, you are occasionally redirected to another web page that you do not intend to visit, popups and newtabs are loaded without your request, your MAC OS starts automatically installing unexpected programs, new toolbars in your web browser, your Mac settings are being modified without your request, low ping but slow Internet.
Removal	AssistiveConsole removal guide

How to Remove AssistiveConsole adware (removal guide)

There exist several free adware removal tools. Also it is possible to get rid of AssistiveConsole adware manually. But we advise to combine all these solutions below into the one removal algorithm. Follow the steps of the guide. Some of the steps below will require you to close this web site. So, please read the step-by-step guidance carefully, after that bookmark it or open it on your smartphone for later reference.

To remove AssistiveConsole, use the steps below:

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

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

AssistiveConsole 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.

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 AssistiveConsole.

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 computer, which is normal.

Remove AssistiveConsole related programs through the Finder

It’s of primary importance to identify and remove PUPs, browser hijackers and adware through ‘Applications’ section of your Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications” as displayed in the following example.

You will see a list of software installed on your computer. We recommend to pay maximum attention to the application you installed last. Most likely, it is the AssistiveConsole adware. If you are in doubt, you can always check the program by doing a search for her name in Google, Yahoo or Bing.

Once the program which you need to remove is found, simply right press on its name, and choose “Move to Trash”.

Don’t forget, choose Finder, then “Empty Trash”.

Remove AssistiveConsole related files and folders

Now you need to try to find AssistiveConsole 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

We suggest using MalwareBytes. You can download and install MalwareBytes Free to detect and get rid of AssistiveConsole associated apps from your Mac. When installed and updated, the malware remover automatically detects and deletes all security threats exist on the MAC OS.

Download MalwareBytes Free from the link below.

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

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

Now click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan with this utility for the AssistiveConsole adware. Depending on your MAC OS, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. While the tool is scanning, you can see how many objects and files has already scanned.

Once MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) has completed scanning, MalwareBytes Anti-Malware will show a scan report. Once you’ve selected what you wish to delete from your MAC click the “Quarantine” button. The MalwareBytes Anti-Malware will start to remove AssistiveConsole adware.

Remove AssistiveConsole from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you are still seeing AssistiveConsole that won’t go away, you might have harmful add-ons installed on your web-browser. Check your internet browser for unwanted extensions using the steps below.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top-right corner, expand the Chrome menu. 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 AssistiveConsole adware 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 problems with AssistiveConsole 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

One of the worst things is the fact that you cannot stop all harmful web-pages using only built-in MS Windows capabilities. However, there is a program out that you can use to block unwanted web browser redirects, ads and pop-ups in any modern internet browsers including Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Safari. It’s named Adguard and it works very well.

Please go to the following link to download AdGuard.

When the download is done, 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 guide. Press “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick instructions that will help you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you launch your computer, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop unwanted pop-up advertisements, block harmful and misleading webpages.

To sum up

Once you have removed the adware using this instructions, Safari, Firefox and Chrome will no longer display any AssistiveConsole ads when you browse the World Wide Web. Unfortunately, if the guidance 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 AssistiveConsole adware.