Removing Adware From Your Mac

If you have adware on your Mac, it is fairly easy to remove. In fact, Apple provides a handy page with clear steps at http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203987. In this episode, follow along as I go through the steps to check my Mac for adware.

Comments: 24 Responses to “Removing Adware From Your Mac”

    Divine
    9 years ago

    Adware Medic?

      9 years ago

      What about it? I don't recommend any third-party "cleaners" or the like. At best, it will just do what Apple recommends. At worst it will do less, or even worse do things that aren't necessary that may affect your Mac in other ways.

        Divine
        9 years ago

        Glad to hear. Doing it the way mentioned in the video will only take 2 hours. With Adwaremedic it takes 15 seconds. You pick.

          9 years ago

          It shouldn't take anywhere near 2 hours to follow Apple's instructions.

    Cornerstar31
    9 years ago

    Also install extensions like WOT(Web of Trust) and Adguard to prevent you from visiting harmful sites, and block Ads, they will also block the very annoying YouTube and Facebook ads. Don't use Google, Bing or Yahoo as your search engine. Because those companies do anything to harm your privacy. Use duckduckgo instead. Another good alternative to Facebook is Ello.
    There's also a nice free program called Onyx, it's a very good program to clean your Mac. Way better then the Mackeeper scam

      9 years ago

      Interesting suggestions. I don't agree with some. You can use Google without privacy concerns if you set it right and understand Google's transparency. Facebook alternatives aren't any good unless all of your friends are there as well.
      And most of all, I don't suggest that anyone use ad blockers. Why? If you do, then sites like MacMost will be gone soon. Seriously. If a site has too many ads for you, then don't visit it.

    SR
    9 years ago

    I agree with Divine. It might not take 2 hours but watching this I found myself thinking "Here we go again, a long list of steps to take . . . " One runs into this continuously and constantly -- all the things you have to do before you can actually get to work doing what you want.

    So it would in fact be more helpful for MacMost to review the utility programs rather than simply going through the steps that are clearly in the help doc.

    And if the utilities don't make the grade let us know!

      9 years ago

      These steps are only needed if you have the problem. Most users will never need to worry about it.
      As for which utilities to do this don't make the grade: ALL of them. I don't recommend using any such one. Just follow my three rules and in case you don't find out about those rules until it is too late, then this information here is available to help you get back on track.
      See http://macmost.com/virus-and-malware
      And http://macmost.com/the-practical-guide-to-mac-security

        Gary
        9 years ago

        How can say "All of them" are bad when other reviewers have spoken highly of them? I agree with the other posters that software like AdwareMedic, which is free BTW, can be useful. And getting back to your comment about software being bad why don't you give specifics? Why don't you review them? i understand your a mac fanboy but some objectivity about macs would be appreciated. thank you for your vids they are useful even if I disagree with you.

          9 years ago

          I don't do reviews. I do how-to videos. The reason I'm not interested in doing reviews is that it takes too much time to properly review a product. The time will never justify the income on a site like this one.
          I will feature products that I happen to use and can recommend, and warn about ones I believe to have a down side. But doing actual product reviews is not practical.
          None of these kinds of "cleaner" products make the grade because none of them are necessary. I never said they were "bad" -- just not something you need nor something I can recommend. I've seen them cause problems, and even if they don't they create a false sense of security.
          As for objectivity, those who look at MacMost regularly know I often don't like Apple products if I think they are poorly done or have some other issue. Examples: Apple Watch, iWeb, early iPhones being AT&T-only, and so on.

            Gary
            9 years ago

            My apologies I didn't mean to offend you. Your vids are spot on. I just took issue with your comments about ad removal apps

    Patrick Mc Namee
    9 years ago

    Gary, Great stuff as usual, please keep it up.

    Steve K
    9 years ago

    Would following the Apple list you showed us be a candidate for something like an Automator or Applescript sequence or some sort of python routine? Just curious. I'm not really a programmer but I bet somebody is!

    Thanks and keep up the great work. Always very helpful!

      9 years ago

      Security issues would probably prevent that. You don't want scripts that can get into your system and library folders and do things to them.

    Robyn
    9 years ago

    Great tutorial Gary

    Joseph
    9 years ago

    Gary thanks you for all the tips. I find them helpful and informative. I learn something about my Mac with each tutorial. Why would you want to buy some app and run it when you can learn to do it yourself?

    See
    9 years ago

    Hi Gary,
    I went through the list on the apple page and found some files that I am not sure whether to eliminate. On the web, it seems some people are concerned about them, but it is not clear. My computer has been running badly recently, so I am troubleshooting.
    Here are the extensions:
    com.google.keystone.agent.plist
    com.google.keystone.daemon.plist
    and /Library/Google/GoogleSoftwareUpdate/TicketStore/Keystone.ticketstore.
    Are these suspicious files, and should they be removed?
    Thanks

      9 years ago

      A quick search tells me that these are just used by Google Chrome for updates. What is your concern with them? They don't seem to be anything to do with adware or malware.

        See
        9 years ago

        Hi Gary,
        For one thing, I don't have Google Chrome installed on my computer, and I never have. But also, this software updater seeks to update every ten minutes, which is excessive and uses resources that potentially slows my older mac. Thirdly, it updates without asking for permission. Considering all this, why would I want to have it? Thanks for your reply.

          9 years ago

          It is fine if you don't want to have it. But labeling it as dangerous or adware isn't the same thing. I doubt you'll see any change in performance by just getting rid of Google software update, so I would keep looking if you are having trouble.

            See
            9 years ago

            Thank you Gary, I appreciate your reply. I questioned this because it fit the protocol that apple listed above, in terms of file names to remove, but wanted to be sure.

    Simon
    9 years ago

    Is your book on Mac Security:

    http://macmost.com/the-practical-guide-to-mac-security

    available on Amazon UK ?

    Simon
    9 years ago

    Ah brilliant. Thanks :)

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