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

What is ReviewVenture

ReviewVenture is an adware application that targets Mac platform. Adware is something which developed in order to show third-party ads to the user without asking permission. Adware takes control of internet browsers and redirects them to scam sites every time users browse the Web. Adware can end up on MAC computers in various ways. In most cases is when users download freeware and forget to uncheck the box for the third-party software installation.

Another reason why you need to remove ReviewVenture is its online data-tracking activity. It can gather your Internet browsing activity by recording URLs visited, IP addresses, web-browser version and type, cookie information, Internet Service Provider (ISP) and webpages visited. Such kind of behavior can lead to serious security problems or user data theft.

As evident, the adware is quite dangerous. So, we recommend you get rid of it from your computer as soon as possible. Follow the guide presented below to uninstall ReviewVenture from your MAC and get rid of unwanted ads from Chrome, Firefox and Safari.

How does ReviewVenture get on your MAC

The most common way to get adware is a freeware installer. In most cases, a user have a chance to disable all bundled software, but some installers are developed to confuse the average users, in order to trick them into installing PUPs and adware.

Anyway, easier to prevent adware rather than clean up your MAC after one. So, keep your web browser updated (turn on automatic updates), run good antivirus software, double check free applications before you launch it (do a google search, scan a downloaded file with VirusTotal), avoid misleading and unknown web-sites.

Threat Summary

Name	ReviewVenture, “ReviewVenture 1.0 extension”
Type	adware software, potentially unwanted application (PUA), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	MacOS.Agent-MT, Adware.MAC.Generic, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, ApplicUnwnt, OSX.Trojan.Gen and Adware/Adload!OSX
Distribution	Freeware installers, fake software updaters, misleading popup ads and torrent downloads
Symptoms	The webpage links redirect to a web-pages different from what you expected, pop-ups and newtab pages are loaded without your request, there is an unwanted application in the ‘Applications’ section of the Finder, unwanted browser toolbars, your Mac settings are being altered without your request, slow browsing Internet.
Removal	ReviewVenture removal guide

How to remove ReviewVenture from Mac device

The following step-by-step guidance will help you to uninstall ReviewVenture and get rid of unwanted ads from the Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Chrome. Moreover, the instructions below will help you to remove malware, hijackers, PUPs and toolbars that your MAC may be infected. Please do the guide step by step. If you need assist or have any questions, then ask for our assistance or type a comment below. Certain of the steps below will require you to close this web page. So, please read the steps carefully, after that bookmark it or open it on your smartphone for later reference.

To remove ReviewVenture, execute the following steps:

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

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

ReviewVenture 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 ReviewVenture.

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.

Delete ReviewVenture related programs through the Finder

In order to delete adware, PUPs and browser hijackers, open the Finder and click on “Applications”. Check the list of installed applications. For the ones you do not know, run an Internet search to see if they are adware software, browser hijackers and PUPs. If yes, delete them off. Even if they are just a applications which you do not use, then deleting them off will increase your MAC system start up time and speed dramatically.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

It will show a list of all software installed on your MAC. Scroll through the all list, and remove any suspicious and unknown software. Right click to dubious application and choose “Move to Trash”. Another method is drag the program from the Applications folder to the Trash.

Most important, scroll through the all list, and move to trash any unknown applications. Don’t forget, choose Finder -> Empty Trash.

Remove ReviewVenture related files and folders

Now you need to try to find ReviewVenture 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

We suggest using MalwareBytes to scan the Mac device for potentially unwanted programs, adware software and browser hijackers. This free utility is an advanced malware removal application created by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This program uses the world’s most popular antimalware technology. It is able to help you get rid of browser hijackers and other security threats from your Apple computer for free.

Download MalwareBytes Anti-Malware on your computer from the following link.

When the downloading process is complete, close all windows on your MAC OS. Further, run the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes AntiMalware will automatically start and you can see its main window such as the one below.

Next, click the “Scan Now” button to start checking your MAC system for the ReviewVenture adware. This process may take quite a while, so please be patient. While the tool is scanning, you may see count of objects and files has already scanned.

When the scanning is finished, you’ll be displayed the list of all detected items on your MAC. Next, you need to click the “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes AntiMalware will remove ReviewVenture and move the selected items to the program’s quarantine.

Remove ReviewVenture from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

Remove unwanted extensions is a easy method to remove ReviewVenture adware and return 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. 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 ReviewVenture 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 ReviewVenture adware software 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

We advise to install an ad-blocker application. The ad-blocker tool like AdGuard is a application that basically removes advertising from the Web and stops access to malicious web-pages. Moreover, security experts says that using ad-blocker applications is necessary to stay safe when surfing the Internet.

Click the following link to download the latest version of AdGuard for Apple Mac.

Once the download is finished, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen. Follow the prompts.

Each time, when you launch your MAC, AdGuard will start automatically and stop annoying pop-ups, block harmful and misleading web-pages.

To sum up

Once you have removed the ReviewVenture adware using the step-by-step instructions, Safari, Google Chrome and Firefox will no longer display any unwanted advertisements. 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.