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

What is AccessibleSection

According to security researchers, AccessibleSection is an adware application that targets Apple computers. Adware is form of malware designed to display unwanted ads. It can generate numerous additional pop up, banner, pop-under and in-text link advertisements flooding on your browser; gather your privacy information like login details, online searches, etc; run in the background and drag down your MAC running speed; give more chances for other adware, potentially unwanted applications even malicious software to get on your MAC computer.

Even worse, AccessibleSection has the ability to gather a wide variety of your personal information such as what web-pages you are opening, what you are looking for the Internet and so on. This privacy info, later, may be sold to third party companies. So you should remove the adware ASAP. Here, in this article below, you can found the best possible tutorial on How to remove AccessibleSection and get rid of annoying ads from your MAC.

How does AccessibleSection get on your MAC system

The most common way to get adware is a freeware installer. Most often, a user have a chance to disable all third-party modules, but certain installers are designed to confuse the average users, in order to trick them into installing PUPs and adware software. Anyway, easier to prevent adware rather than clean up your computer after one. So, keep your browser updated (turn on automatic updates), use good antivirus apps, double check free software before you run it (do a google search, scan a downloaded file with VirusTotal), avoid shady and unknown web-sites.

Threat Summary

Name	AccessibleSection, “AccessibleSection 1.0 extension”
Type	adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, ApplicUnwnt, Adware.MAC.Generic, Adware/Adload!OSX, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A and MacOS.Agent-MT
Distribution	Freeware installers, shady popup advertisements, fake software updaters and torrent downloads
Symptoms	Your web-browser is redirected to web-pages you did not want, unwanted advertising links appear on websites that you are visiting, there is an unwanted application in the ‘Applications’ section of the Finder, an unwanted extension appears in your internet browser, your browser start page has replaced and you are unable to modify it back, slow browsing Internet.
Removal	AccessibleSection removal guide

How to Remove AccessibleSection adware (removal guide)

The answer is right here on this page. We have put together simplicity and efficiency. It will help you easily get rid of AccessibleSection adware from your Mac. Moreover, you can choose manual or automatic removal solution. If you are familiar with the machine then use manual removal, otherwise run the free antimalware tool developed specifically to get rid of adware. Of course, you can combine both methods. Some of the steps below will require you to exit this web-page. So, please read the few simple steps carefully, after that bookmark it or open it on your smartphone for later reference.

To remove AccessibleSection, follow the steps below:

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

Remove profiles created by AccessibleSection

AccessibleSection 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 Apple menu ( ) > System Preferences.

In System Preferences, select Profiles. if there is no Profiles in the list of preferences, that means there are no profiles installed on the Mac device. If there is Profiles in the list, then click on it, then select a profile associated with AccessibleSection.

To delete a malicious profile, click on the minus button ( – ) located at the bottom-left of the Profiles screen.

Delete AccessibleSection related apps through the Finder

Try to identify and delete the application that causes the appearance of unwanted advertisements or internet browser redirect, using the Applications list which is located in the Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Carefully browse through the list of installed programs and delete all questionable and unknown applications.

When you’ve found anything dubious that may be the AccessibleSection adware or other PUP, then right click this application and choose “Move to Trash”. Once complete, Empty Trash.

Remove AccessibleSection related files and folders

Now you need to try to find AccessibleSection 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

You can delete AccessibleSection related files automatically through the use of MalwareBytes AntiMalware. We suggest this free malicious software removal utility because it can easily delete PUPs, toolbars, browser hijackers and adware with all their components such as files, folders and system entries.

1. Visit the page linked below to download the latest version of MalwareBytes Anti Malware for Apple Mac.
   
   

   Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
   20843 downloads
   Author: Malwarebytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: September 10, 2020
   
2. After the downloading process is finished, close all programs and windows on your MAC system. Open a directory in which you saved it. Run the downloaded file and follow the prompts.
3. Click the “Scan” button for scanning your MAC for the AccessibleSection adware software. Depending on your MAC OS, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. When a malicious software, adware or potentially unwanted programs are detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly. Wait until the the checking is done.
4. Once that process is finished, you’ll be displayed the list of all found items on your MAC OS. You may remove threats (move to Quarantine) by simply click “Quarantine”.

Remove AccessibleSection from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

Remove unwanted extensions is a easy method to remove AccessibleSection adware and revert back web browser’s settings that have been replaced by adware software.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right corner, click on Chrome’s main menu button, represented by three vertical dots. 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 AccessibleSection 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 issues with AccessibleSection 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

Use an adblocker utility like AdGuard will protect you from malicious ads and content. Moreover, you may find that the AdGuard have an option to protect your privacy and block phishing and spam websites. Additionally, ad-blocking applications will allow you to avoid unwanted pop up advertisements and unverified links that also a good way to stay safe online.

Click the following link to download AdGuard.

After the downloading process is finished, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen. Follow the prompts.

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

To sum up

We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted popups and intrusive malicious websites) and MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) (to periodically scan your Apple Mac for new malware, hijackers and adware). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Mac operating system. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new browser hijackers, malicious applications and adware software are released.

If you are still having problems while trying to remove AccessibleSection adware from your web browser, then ask for help here.