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

What is CommonBrowser

CommonBrowser is an adware application that targets Apple computers. Adware is form of malicious software that can cause problems for your Mac. CommonBrowser 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 web-browser running speed; give more chances for other adware, PUAs even malicious software to get on your MAC computer.

Does adware software steal your confidential information? CommonBrowser can monetize its functionality by collecting personal information from your surfing sessions. This sensitive information, subsequently, can be easily used for marketing purposes. This puts your confidential information at a security risk.

How does CommonBrowser get on your MAC

Adware usually spreads along with free software . So, when you installing free applications, carefully read the disclaimers, choose the Custom or Advanced installation option to watch for additional software that are being installed, because certain of the programs are PUAs and adware.

Threat Summary

Name	CommonBrowser
Type	adware, PUP (potentially unwanted program), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, MacOS.Agent-MT, Adware/Adload!OSX, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Adware.MAC.Generic and ApplicUnwnt
Distribution	Freeware installers, fake software updaters, torrent downloads and malicious pop-up ads
Symptoms	When you go to a web-site, you’re frequently redirected to another webpage that you do not intend to visit, unwanted ads appear on web pages that you are visiting, there is an unexpected program in the ‘Applications’ section of the Finder, unwanted web-browser toolbars, unexpected changes in your web-browser such as using a new default search engine, low ping but slow Internet.
Removal	CommonBrowser removal guide

How to remove CommonBrowser from Mac computer

If you have constant pop-ups or unwanted ads, slow MAC, crashing system issues, you are in need of adware removal assistance. The few simple steps below will guide you forward to get CommonBrowser adware software removed and will allow you get your Apple Mac operating at peak capacity again.

To remove CommonBrowser, use the following steps:

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

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

CommonBrowser 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 software.

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. If there is Profiles in the list, then click on it, then select a profile associated with CommonBrowser.

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

Remove CommonBrowser associated software by using the Finder

In order to remove CommonBrowser you need to do is to remove unknown and suspicious applications from your machine using the Finder. When removing adware software, browser hijackers and potentially unwanted programs, check the list of installed programs and try to find dubious applications and delete them all. Pay special attention to recently installed apps, as it’s most likely that CommonBrowser сame along with it.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Carefully browse through the list of installed applications and remove all suspicious and unknown apps.

After you have found anything questionable that may be the CommonBrowser adware or other potentially unwanted program, then right click this application and select “Move to Trash”. Once complete, Empty Trash.

Remove CommonBrowser related files and folders

Now you need to try to find CommonBrowser 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

We suggest using MalwareBytes AntiMalware to scan the Mac device for PUPs, browser hijackers and adware software. This free tool is an advanced malware removal program designed by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This application uses the world’s most popular antimalware technology. It is able to help you delete browser hijackers and other security threats from your Apple computer for free.

1. MalwareBytes AntiMalware can be downloaded from the following link.
   
   

   Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
   20841 downloads
   Author: Malwarebytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: September 10, 2020
   
2. After the download is done, close all applications and windows on your machine. Open a file location. Run the downloaded file and follow the prompts.
3. Click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan with this tool for the CommonBrowser . This process can take some time, so please be patient. When a threat is found, the number of the security threats will change accordingly.
4. When the scan is done, a list of all items detected is produced. Review the scan results and then click “Quarantine”.

Remove CommonBrowser from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

This step will show you how to get rid of malicious add-ons. This can remove CommonBrowser adware software and fix some browsing problems, especially after adware software infection.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right hand corner, click on ‘three vertical dots’, and this will open up the main menu on Chrome. 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 CommonBrowser 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 CommonBrowser 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

If you browse the World Wide Web, you can’t avoid malvertising. But you can protect your internet browser against it. Download and run an ad-blocker program. AdGuard is an ad-blocker that can filter out tons of of the malicious advertising, blocking dynamic scripts from loading harmful content.

AdGuard can be downloaded from the following link.

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

Each time, when you launch your Apple Mac, AdGuard will start automatically and stop intrusive advertisements, block harmful and misleading web pages.

Finish words

We suggest that you keep MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (to periodically scan your MAC system for new adware and other malicious software) and AdGuard (to help you stop annoying popup ads and malicious webpages). Moreover, to prevent any adware, please stay clear of unknown and third party applications.

If you need more help with CommonBrowser adware related issues, go to here.