What is FrequencyProject
FrequencyProject is an Adware application that targets Mac platform. Adware is type of malicious software developed to inject ads into your Internet browsing or even desktop experience. FrequencyProject can display unwanted ads, alter your homepage, search engine, search results, or even add toolbars to your web-browser. It run in the background when you surf the World Wide Web, and can slow down your MAC and affect its performance.
Another reason why you need to remove the FrequencyProject adware is its online data-tracking activity. It can collect user info, including:
- IP addresses;
- URLs visited;
- search queries/terms;
- clicks on links and ads;
- internet browser version information.
Do not panic because we have got the solution. Here’s a guidance on how to get rid of FrequencyProject adware from the Apple Mac and get rid of intrusive ads.
How does FrequencyProject get on your Apple Mac
Most of unwanted advertisements and pop-ups come from web browser toolbars and/or extensions, BHOs (browser helper objects) and third-party programs. Most commonly, these items claim itself as programs that improve your experience on the Internet by providing a fast and interactive startpage or a search provider that does not track you. Remember, how to avoid the unwanted software. Be cautious, start only reputable applications which download from reputable sources. NEVER install any unknown and dubious apps.
Threat Summary
Name | FrequencyProject |
Type | adware, PUP (potentially unwanted program), Mac malware, Mac virus |
Detection Names | ApplicUnwnt, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, MacOS.Agent-MT, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, Adware/Adload!OSX, Adware.MAC.Generic and Osx.Adware.Cimpli |
Distribution | Freeware installers, fake update tools, dubious pop up advertisements and torrent downloads |
Symptoms | You keep getting redirected to unfamiliar websites, advertising links appear in places they shouldn’t be, new entries appear in your Applications folder, unwanted internet browser toolbars, your Mac settings are being modified without your request, your web-browser slows to a crawl. |
Removal | FrequencyProject removal guide |
How to remove FrequencyProject from Mac computer
Fortunately, it is not hard to delete FrequencyProject . In the following steps, we will provide two ways to free your MAC of this adware. One is the manual removal solution and the other is automatic removal method. You can choose the method that best fits you. Please follow the removal guidance below to delete FrequencyProject adware right now!
To remove FrequencyProject, perform the steps below:
- Remove profiles created by FrequencyProject
- Check the list of installed applications
- Remove FrequencyProject related files and folders
- Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
- Remove FrequencyProject from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
- How to stay safe online
Remove profiles created by FrequencyProject
FrequencyProject 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 FrequencyProject.
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.
Check the list of installed applications
In order to remove FrequencyProject you need to do is to delete unknown and questionable programs from your MAC system using the Finder. When uninstalling potentially unwanted programs, browser hijackers and adware, check the list of installed apps and try to find dubious programs and remove them all. Pay special attention to recently installed programs, as it’s most probably that FrequencyProject сame along with it.
Open Finder and click “Applications”.
Very carefully look around the entire list of programs installed on your computer. Most likely, one of them is the FrequencyProject adware software. Once you have found a suspicious, unwanted or unused application, right click to it and select “Move to Trash”. Another method is drag the program from the Applications folder to the Trash.
Don’t forget, choose Finder -> “Empty Trash”.
Remove FrequencyProject related files and folders
Now you need to try to find FrequencyProject 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.
FrequencyProject creates several files, these files must be found and removed. Below is a list of files associated with this unwanted program.
- /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.FrequencyProject.system.plist
- ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.FrequencyProject.service.plist
- /Library/Application Support/.(RANDOM)/System/com.FrequencyProject.system
- ~/Library/Application Support/.(RANDOM)/Services/com.FrequencyProject.service.app
Some files created by FrequencyProject 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 FrequencyProject 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.net-preferences.plist, com.FrequencyProject.service.plist, macsearch.plist, installapp.plist, com.machelper.plist, search.plist and com.google.defaultsearch.plist, . Most often, adware software, PUPs and browser hijackers create several files with similar names.
Check for FrequencyProject 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.FrequencyProject.system, then this folder must be deleted. Move all suspicious folders and files to the Trash.
Check for FrequencyProject 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 FrequencyProject 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.installapp.system.plist, com.FrequencyProject.system.plist, com.machelper.system.plist, com.macsearch.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
If you’re still having issues with the FrequencyProject removal or just wish to scan your Mac device occasionally for adware software and other malware, then download MalwareBytes Free. It’s free for home use, and finds and deletes various undesired programs that attacks your machine or degrades Apple Mac performance. MalwareBytes Anti-Malware can remove adware software, toolbars, browser hijackers and potentially unwanted programs as well as malware, including ransomware and trojans.
- Visit the following page to download MalwareBytes.
Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
20841 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: September 10, 2020
- When the downloading process is done, close all apps and windows on your Apple Mac. Open a folder in which you saved it. Run the downloaded file and follow the prompts.
- Click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan for the FrequencyProject adware. A scan may take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the count of files on your MAC OS and the speed of your MAC. When a threat is found, the count of the security threats will change accordingly.
- After MalwareBytes has finished scanning, you’ll be shown the list of all detected items on your machine. Next, you need to click “Quarantine”.
Remove FrequencyProject from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
If you are still getting FrequencyProject ads, then you can try to remove it by removing malicious addons.
Google Chrome | Mozilla Firefox |
---|---|
You can also try to remove FrequencyProject adware by reset Chrome settings. |
If you are still experiencing issues with FrequencyProject removal, you need to reset Mozilla Firefox browser. |
Safari | |
|
How to stay safe online
Run ad-blocking program like AdGuard in order to block ads, malvertisements, pop-ups and online trackers, avoid having to install malicious and adware browser plug-ins and add-ons which affect your Apple Mac performance and impact your machine security. Browse the Internet anonymously and stay safe online!
Visit the following page to download AdGuard.
3677 downloads
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: January 17, 2018
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. Click “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick guidance that will help you get to know AdGuard better.
Each time, when you launch your machine, AdGuard will start automatically and stop annoying pop ups, block harmful and misleading web-sites.
To sum up
Once you have removed the adware software using this few simple steps, Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari will no longer display any unwanted ads. Unfortunately, if the few simple steps does not help you, then you have caught a new adware, and then the best way – ask for help here.