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

What is SmartLauncher

SmartLauncher is an adware application that targets Mac computers. Adware’s basic purpose is to display unwanted advertisements. These advertisements are often shown as sponsored links, pop ups, push notifications and even fake virus alerts. Clicks on the advertisements produce a monetary payoff for the adware developers. Adware can work like Spyware, since it sends privacy information such as searches and trends to advertisers.

Even worse, adware has the ability to gather lots of user information about you which can be later transferred to third parties. You don’t know if your home address, account names and passwords are safe. So, if you happen to encounter the adware, then be quick and take effort to remove it sooner.

Adware is usually written in ways common to malicious software, spyware and hijackers. In order to get rid of SmartLauncher adware, you will need complete the following steps or run a free adware removal utility listed below.

How does SmartLauncher get on your MAC OS

Adware spreads as a part of various freeware. This means that you need to be very careful when installing software downloaded from the Web, even from well-known download sites. Be sure to read the Terms of Use and the Software license, choose only the Manual, Advanced or Custom installation mode, switch off all bundled modules and apps are offered to install.

Threat Summary

Name	SmartLauncher, “SmartLauncher 1.0”
Type	adware, potentially unwanted program (PUP), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Adware/Adload!OSX, MacOS.Agent-MT, ApplicUnwnt, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, Adware.MAC.Generic and Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload
Distribution	Free software installers, torrent downloads, fake software updaters and shady pop-up ads
Symptoms	When you go to a web site, you’re automatically redirected to another webpage that you do not intend to visit, unclosable window appear and recommend fake Flash updates, your MAC OS starts automatically installing unwanted apps, unexpected web-browser add-ons or toolbars keep coming back, your internet browser home page has replaced without your permission, your internet browser slows to a crawl.
Removal	SmartLauncher removal guide

How to remove SmartLauncher adware

When the adware gets installed on your computer without your knowledge, it’s not easy to delete. In many cases, there is no Uninstall program that simply delete SmartLauncher from your MAC. So, we advise using well-proven free removal utility such as MalwareBytes AntiMalware. But the best way to delete SmartLauncher adware will be to perform several manual steps, after that additionally scan your computer with antimalware utilities.

To remove SmartLauncher, execute the steps below:

1. Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device
2. Check the list of installed software
3. Remove SmartLauncher related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove SmartLauncher from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. How to stay safe online

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

SmartLauncher 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 SmartLauncher.

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

Check the list of installed software

Go to the Finder and remove dubious applications, all programs you do not remember installing. It’s important to pay the most attention to software you have recently installed. If you do not know what a program does, look for the answer on the Web.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Very carefully look around the entire list of software installed on your Apple Mac. Most probably, one of them is the SmartLauncher adware software. Once you have found a dubious, unwanted or unused program, right click to it and select “Move to Trash”. Another solution is drag the program from the Applications folder to the Trash.

Don’t forget, choose Finder -> “Empty Trash”.

Remove SmartLauncher related files and folders

Now you need to try to find SmartLauncher 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

We advise using MalwareBytes. You can download and install MalwareBytes AntiMalware to scan for and delete SmartLauncher related apps from your Mac device. When installed and updated, the malicious software remover automatically searches for and removes all security threats exist on the computer.

Download MalwareBytes Anti-Malware on your MAC OS by clicking on the link below.

When the downloading process is complete, run it and follow the prompts. Click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan for the SmartLauncher adware. A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your Apple Mac and the speed of your machine. During the scan MalwareBytes will look for threats exist on your MAC. You may remove threats (move to Quarantine) by simply press the “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes is a free application that you can use to get rid of all detected folders, files, malicious services and so on.

Remove SmartLauncher from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you are still getting SmartLauncher , then you can try to remove it by deleting harmful addons.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top right hand corner, click on ‘three vertical dots’, and this will open up the main menu on Google 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 SmartLauncher 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 SmartLauncher 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 want to get rid of annoying ads, internet browser redirects and pop ups, then install an ad-blocking program such as AdGuard. It can block unwanted ads and pop ups, stop websites from tracking your online activities when using the Google Chrome, Safari and Mozilla Firefox. So, if you like browse the Web, but you don’t like annoying ads and want to protect your Apple Mac from harmful web-sites, then the AdGuard is your best choice.

1. Please go to the following link to download AdGuard.
   
   

   AdGuard for Mac download
   3677 downloads
   Author: © Adguard
   Category: Security tools
   Update: January 17, 2018
   
2. When downloading is finished, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
3. After the installation is done, press “Skip” to close the install 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 run your computer, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop unwanted advertisements, block harmful and misleading web pages.

To sum up

We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted ads and unwanted harmful webpages) and MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (to periodically scan your MAC for new adware and other malicious software).

If you are still having problems while trying to delete SmartLauncher ads from Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Safari, then ask for help here.