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

What is ProType

According to security experts, ProType is an adware application. Adware is is a form of software responsible for unwanted advertisements. Some adware software will bring up adverts when you is browsing the World Wide Web, while other will build up a profile of your surfing habits in order to target adverts. In general, adware have to be installed on your MAC OS, so it’ll tend to be bundled with other programs in much the same method as potentially unwanted software.

The ProType app can cause unwanted redirects, unclosable windows or inline text links with advertising you do not want. These ads are used to promote sales or web-traffic to malicious web-sites or publisher in order to generate profit. Another reason why you need to remove the adware is its online data-tracking activity. It has the ability to gather and transmit user data without your knowledge. ProType can be used to track information about web sites visited, web browser and system information, and your MAC OS IP address.

In the few simple steps below, we will explain best possible ways on how to remove ProType adware from your Apple Mac and free your web-browser of annoying advertisements.

How does ProType get on your machine

Adware may be spread with the help of trojan horses and other forms of malware, but most commonly, adware is bundled within some free software. Many authors of free programs include additional applications in their installer. Sometimes it is possible to avoid the install of any adware software: carefully read the Terms of Use and the Software license, choose only Manual, Custom or Advanced installation mode, uncheck all checkboxes before clicking Install or Next button while installing new freeware.

Threat Summary

Name	ProType, ProType 1.0 app
Type	adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	Adware.MAC.Generic, Program:MacOS/Vigram.A, Adware/Adload!OSX, ApplicUnwnt, Osx.Adware.Cimpli, OSX.Trojan.Gen, MacOS.Agent-MT and Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload
Distribution	Freeware installers, torrent downloads, misleading pop-up ads and fake update tools
Symptoms	When you go to a web page, you’re constantly redirected to another web-site that you do not intend to visit, you experience a huge number of of unexpected pop-up windows, your Apple Mac starts automatically installing unwanted apps, unwanted internet browser addons or toolbars keep coming back, your web browser homepage has changed and you are unable to change it back, slow Internet browsing speeds.
Removal	ProType removal guide

How to Remove ProType (removal guide)

The adware software is a form of malware that you might have difficulty in removing it from your MAC. Luckily, you have found the effective ProType adware removal guidance in this blog post. Both the manual removal solution and the automatic removal way will be provided below and you can just select the one that best for you. If you’ve any questions or need assist then type a comment below. Some of the steps below will require you to exit this webpage. So, please read the guide carefully, after that bookmark it or open it on your smartphone for later reference.

To remove ProType, perform the steps below:

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

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

ProType 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 ProType.

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, which is normal.

Remove ProType associated software by using the Finder

Check out the Finder (Applications section) to see all installed programs. If you see any unknown and suspicious programs, they are the ones you need to delete.

Open Finder and click “Applications” as shown below.

You will see a list of software installed on your machine. We recommend to pay maximum attention to the program you installed last. Most probably, it’s the ProType adware. If you’re in doubt, you can always check the program by doing a search for her name in Google, Yahoo or Bing.

When the program which you need to delete is found, simply right press on its name, and select “Move to Trash”.

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

Remove ProType related files and folders

Now you need to try to find ProType 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

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

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

After the download is finished, close all programs and windows on your MAC system. Run the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes will automatically start and you can see its main screen as on the image below.

Now click the “Scan” button to locate ProType adware. A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your MAC system and the speed of your MAC. While the utility is scanning, you can see number of objects and files has already scanned.

Once the scanning is finished, MalwareBytes will display you the results. Review the report and then press the “Quarantine” button. The MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) will remove ProType and move the selected items to the Quarantine.

Remove ProType from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

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

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top-right corner, expand the Google Chrome menu. 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 delete ProType adware software 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 ProType removal, you need to reset Mozilla 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

One of the worst things is the fact that you cannot block all harmful webpages using only built-in Microsoft Windows capabilities. However, there is a program out that you can use to stop intrusive web-browser redirects, ads and popups in any modern browsers including Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Chrome. It is called Adguard and it works very well.

1. Click the link below to download AdGuard.
   
   

   AdGuard for Mac download
   3761 downloads
   Author: © Adguard
   Category: Security tools
   Update: January 17, 2018
   
2. When the downloading process is done, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
3. When the installation is finished, click “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or press “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 don’t need to change anything. Each time, when you start your machine, AdGuard will start automatically and stop annoying ads, block malicious and misleading web pages.

Finish words

Now your machine should be clean of the ProType adware. We suggest that you keep MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) (to periodically scan your computer for new adwares and other malware) and AdGuard (to help you stop annoying pop-up advertisements and harmful web pages). Moreover, to prevent any adware, please stay clear of unknown and third party apps.

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