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

What is DefaultEntry

DefaultEntry is an adware application that targets Mac computers. Adware is type of malicious software developed to inject advertisements into your Internet browsing or even desktop experience. DefaultEntry can display unwanted ads, alter your home page, search engine, search results, or even add toolbars to your internet browser. It run in the background when browse the Web, and can slow down your Mac and affect its performance.

Does adware steal your confidential data? The DefaultEntry adware can gather your Internet surfing activity by recording URLs visited, IP addresses, web browser version and type, cookie information, Internet Service Provider (ISP) and web-sites visited. Such kind of behavior can lead to serious security problems or sensitive info theft. This is another reason why the adware should be uninstalled as soon as possible.

So, DefaultEntry is quite dangerous. So, we suggest you remove it from your Mac without a wait. Follow the tutorial presented below to remove DefaultEntry from your computer and get rid of unwanted ads from Chrome, Safari and Firefox.

How does DefaultEntry get on your Apple Mac

The majority of adware spreads along with freeware or even paid applications which World Wide Web users can easily download online. The setup files of such programs, most often, clearly show that they will install additional software. The option is given to users to block the install of any third-party software. So, in order to avoid the installation of any adware: read all disclaimers and install screens very carefully, choose only Custom or Advanced install type and uncheck all additional programs in which you are unsure.

Threat Summary

Name	DefaultEntry
Type	adware, PUP (potentially unwanted program), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	ApplicUnwnt, MacOS.Agent-MT, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, Adware/Adload!OSX, Adware.MAC.Generic and Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload
Distribution	Free software installers, malicious pop-up advertisements, fake update tools and torrent downloads
Symptoms	When you go to a web site, you’re constantly redirected to another web site that you do not intend to visit, unclosable window appear and recommend fake security software, your MAC OS starts automatically installing unexpected software, unwanted web browser toolbars, your web-browser home page has modified and you are unable to modify it back, slow Internet browsing speeds.
Removal	DefaultEntry removal guide

How to remove DefaultEntry adware

There are a few methods that can be used to delete the adware. But, not all malicious apps such as this adware can be completely removed using only manual solutions. In many cases you are not able to uninstall any adware software using standard Mac options. In order to delete DefaultEntry adware you need complete a few manual steps and use reliable removal tools. Most IT security researchers states that MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) utility is a right choice. The free application is able to look for and remove DefaultEntry adware software from your MAC and restore your web browser settings to defaults.

To remove DefaultEntry, execute the steps below:

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

Remove profiles created by DefaultEntry

DefaultEntry 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 associated with DefaultEntry.

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.

Remove DefaultEntry related programs through the Finder

Check the list of installed software on your Mac device and remove all unknown and recently installed apps. If you see an unknown application with incorrect spelling or varying capital letters, it have most likely been installed by malware and you should clean it off first with malicious software removal utility such as MalwareBytes.

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

Remove DefaultEntry related files and folders

Now you need to try to find DefaultEntry 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.

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

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

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

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

Check for DefaultEntry 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 DefaultEntry 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.macsearch.system.plist, com.installapp.system.plist, com.machelper.system.plist, com.search.system.plist and com.DefaultEntry.system.plist. In most cases, PUPs, 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 DefaultEntry. Of course, very often browser hijackers, adware and potentially unwanted programs hides on a Mac device, 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 browser hijackers, potentially unwanted programs and adware. Therefore, we advise you to use MalwareBytes AntiMalware to scan the Mac.

1. Installing the MalwareBytes is simple. First you will need to download MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) by clicking on the following link.
   
   

   Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
   20841 downloads
   Author: Malwarebytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: September 10, 2020
   
2. After the downloading process is complete, please close all applications and open windows on your computer. Run the downloaded file. Follow the prompts.
3. The MalwareBytes Anti Malware will start and open the main window.
4. Further, click the “Scan” button to look for DefaultEntry adware. A system scan can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your MAC OS. While the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) program is checking, you may see count of objects it has identified as threat.
5. Once finished, MalwareBytes Free will show a list of all items found by the scan.
6. Review the scan results and then click the “Remove Selected Items” button.
7. Close the AntiMalware and continue with the next step.

Remove DefaultEntry from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

Remove unwanted extensions is a simple solution to remove DefaultEntry and return web browser’s settings that have been replaced by adware.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top-right corner, expand the 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 get rid of DefaultEntry 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 DefaultEntry 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

Run an ad blocking tool such as AdGuard will protect you from malicious advertisements and content. Moreover, you may find that the AdGuard have an option to protect your privacy and stop phishing and spam websites. Additionally, ad-blocker applications will help you to avoid intrusive pop up advertisements and unverified links that also a good way to stay safe online.

1. AdGuard can be downloaded from the following link.
   
   

   AdGuard for Mac download
   3677 downloads
   Author: © Adguard
   Category: Security tools
   Update: January 17, 2018
   
2. When the downloading process is complete, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
3. When the installation is done, press “Skip” to close the install program and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial which will help 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 run your machine, AdGuard will start automatically and stop unwanted ads, block malicious and misleading web sites.

To sum up

After completing the step-by-step instructions outlined above, your MAC OS should be free from DefaultEntry adware and other malware. The Chrome, Safari and Mozilla Firefox will no longer redirect you to various unwanted web-sites such as DefaultEntry. Unfortunately, if the steps does not help you, then you have caught a new adware, and then the best way – ask for help here.