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

What is ShareAdvantage

ShareAdvantage is an adware application that targets Mac platform. Adware is type of malicious software that can cause issues for Mac computers. ShareAdvantage can generate numerous additional popup, banner, pop-under and in-text link advertisements flooding on your internet browser; collect your privacy data like login details, online searches, etc; run in the background and drag down your machine running speed; give more chances for other adware, potentially unwanted apps even malware to get on your MAC.

Even worse, the adware can monetize its functionality by collecting privacy information from your browsing sessions. This confidential information, afterwards, can be easily used for marketing purposes. This puts your personal information at a security risk.

Below we are discussing the methods which are very effective in uninstalling adware. The tutorial will also assist you to remove ShareAdvantage from your MAC for free.

How does ShareAdvantage 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 unnecessary applications, but some installers are created to confuse the average users, in order to trick them into installing adware. Anyway, easier to prevent adware rather than clean up your Apple Mac after one. So, keep your web browser updated (turn on automatic updates), use good antivirus software, double check freeware before you run it (do a google search, scan a downloaded file with VirusTotal), avoid dubious and unknown web sites.

Threat Summary

Name	ShareAdvantage
Type	adware software, PUP (potentially unwanted program), Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Osx.Adware.Cimpli, ApplicUnwnt, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Adware.MAC.Generic, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, Adware/Adload!OSX and MacOS.Agent-MT
Distribution	Freeware installers, misleading pop up ads, torrent downloads and fake updaters
Symptoms	You keep getting redirected to suspicious webpages, adverts appear in places they shouldn’t be, unwanted program installed without your knowledge, new toolbars suddenly added on your browser, your web browser search provider has modified without your permission, slow Internet or slow browsing.
Removal	ShareAdvantage removal guide

How to Remove ShareAdvantage (Adware removal steps)

Fortunately, we’ve an effective method that will assist you manually or/and automatically delete ShareAdvantage from your Mac computer and bring your web browser settings, including new tab, search provider by default and start page, back to normal. Below you will find a removal steps with all the steps you may need to successfully get rid of adware software and its traces. Read this manual carefully, bookmark it or open this page on your smartphone, because you may need to exit your web browser or reboot your computer.

To remove ShareAdvantage, perform the steps below:

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

Remove profiles created by ShareAdvantage

ShareAdvantage 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 ShareAdvantage.

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.

Uninstall ShareAdvantage associated software by using the Finder

It is of primary importance to identify and remove browser hijackers, adware and potentially unwanted programs through ‘Applications’ section of your Finder.

Make sure you have closed all web browsers and other software. Next, uninstall any undesired and suspicious applications from MAC OS using the Finder.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Look around the entire list of software installed on your computer. Most likely, one of them is the ShareAdvantage adware software. Choose the questionable program or the program that name is not familiar to you and uninstall it.

Drag the suspicious application from the Applications folder to the Trash.

Most important, don’t forget, select Finder -> Empty Trash.

Remove ShareAdvantage related files and folders

Now you need to try to find ShareAdvantage 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

Manual ShareAdvantage removal requires some computer skills. Some files and system entries that created by the adware can be not fully removed. We suggest that use MalwareBytes to scan the Apple computer. Moreover, this program will allow you to remove adware, potentially unwanted programs, browser hijackers and toolbars that your computer may be affected too.

MalwareBytes Anti-Malware can be downloaded from the following link.

Once the downloading process is finished, close all windows on your Apple Mac. Further, run the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes AntiMalware will automatically run and you may see its main window like below.

Next, press the “Scan Now” button to perform a system scan with this utility for the ShareAdvantage . A system scan can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your MAC OS. During the scan MalwareBytes Anti-Malware will search for threats exist on your Apple Mac.

When the scanning is complete, MalwareBytes Anti-Malware will open a screen that contains a list of malicious software that has been detected. Review the scan results and then press the “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes will start to get rid of ShareAdvantage adware.

Remove ShareAdvantage from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you have ‘ShareAdvantage adware software’ removal problem, then remove unwanted add-ons can help you. In the steps below we’ll show you the way to remove malicious extensions without reinstall. This will also help to get rid of ShareAdvantage adware from your internet browser.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right corner, click on Google 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 delete ShareAdvantage 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 issues with ShareAdvantage 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

It’s important to run ad blocking apps such as AdGuard to protect your Apple Mac from harmful web-pages. Most security experts says that it’s okay to block advertisements. You should do so just to stay safe! And, of course, the AdGuard can to block misleading and other unwanted webpages.

1. Visit the page linked below to download AdGuard.
   
   

   AdGuard for Mac download
   3677 downloads
   Author: © Adguard
   Category: Security tools
   Update: January 17, 2018
   
2. Once the downloading process is done, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
3. Once the setup is complete, click “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial that will help you get to know AdGuard better.
4. In most cases, the default settings are enough and you do not need to change anything. Each time, when you start your MAC, AdGuard will start automatically and stop intrusive ads, block malicious and misleading web-pages.

Finish words

We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted pop-up advertisements and annoying harmful web-sites) and MalwareBytes (to periodically scan your machine for new malicious software, browser 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 hijackers, malicious programs and adware software are released.

If you are still having problems while trying to delete ShareAdvantage from your browser, then ask for help here.