How to Remove Mac Purifier

Mac Purifier promotes itself as a tool that cleans and optimizes Macintosh computers with ease. At first glance, computer users are pleased with this program due to the many features it has to offer. It asserts to find clutter, junk files, and obsolete files in the system. Mac Purifier seems to be a perfect tool to free up hard disk space from unnecessary files. However, the user begins to suspect its ingenuity when it demands to purchase the full version before it can run fixes on the computer.

Mac Purifier is a rogue application

Mac Purifier is a Macintosh version of a dubious PC optimization tool called PC Purifier. These two versions are very similar in making users so anxious about the status of the computer. The program will produce bogus alerts and warnings stating several troubles with the system. Mac Purifier also issues shady scan results to persuade users into purchasing the full version of the software.

As you can notice, Mac Purifier is very similar to most rogue applications that aim to steal money from users by selling inefficient products. In addition, this program usually arrives on the computer unexpectedly by means of software bundles. It may get inside the system and be unknown to the user while installing freeware or third-party software that was obtained from distrustful websites.

Screenshot of Mac Purifier

Get rid of Mac Purifier

After learning that your computer is not safe while Mac Purifier is around, you have no other recourse but to remove this rogue program immediately. Letting it stay on the computer may lead to further adware or malware troubles. To effectively remove Mac Purifier, please follow the steps outlined on this page. Scan the computer with the suggested anti-malware tool to find and delete malicious objects related to Mac Purifier.

Procedures to Remove Mac Purifier

This section contains complete instructions to assist you in removing potentially unwanted program from Mac computer.

Procedures published on this page are written in method that can be easily understand and execute by Mac users.

Quick Fix - Scan the Mac Computer with Combo Cleaner

Combo Cleaner is a trusted Mac utility application with complete antivirus and optimization features. It is useful in dealing with adware and malware. Moreover, it can get rid of unwanted program like Mac Purifier. You may need to purchase full version if you require to maximize its premium features.

1. Download the tool from the following page:

2. Double-click the downloaded file and proceed with the installation.

3. In the opened window, drag and drop the Combo Cleaner icon onto your Applications folder icon.

Install Combo Cleaner

4. Open your Launchpad and click on the Combo Cleaner icon.

5. Wait until antivirus downloads its latest virus definition updates and click on "Start Combo Scan" to start removing Mac Purifier.

Combo Cleaner Scanner

6. As shown in the image below, Combo Cleaner accurately detects Mac Purifier rogue program. Proceed with the removal of the virus by upgrading Combo Cleaner to full version.

Combo Cleaner Scan Result

Free features of Combo Cleaner include Disk Cleaner, Big Files finder, Duplicate files finder, and Uninstaller. To use antivirus and privacy scanner, users have to upgrade to a premium version.

Proceed with the rest of the removal steps if you are comfortable manually removing malicious objects associated with the threat.

Step 1 : Quit Mac Purifier Process

Before proceeding with the steps below, please close Mac Purifier window if in case it is open.

1. Go to Launchpad, Utilities folder, open Activity Monitor.

2. Choose All Processes from the upper right corner of the window.

3. Under Process Name column, look for Mac Purifier. Click the name to select the malicious process.

4. Next, click the Quit Process button located in the upper left corner of the window.

Force Quit Apps

5. When prompted, click on Force Quit.

6. You may now delete or remove files that belongs to Mac Purifier. Proceed to the next steps.

Step 2 : Delete Mac Purifier Login Items

Some malware also installs login item into compromised account under System Preferences. This object automatically runs Mac Purifier during user log in.

1. Go to Apple menu and choose System Preferences.

2. Select Users & Groups from the preferences window.

3. You may need to Unlock this area in order to make changes. Click on the Lock icon on lower left corner of the window.

4. Next, select user account that runs Mac Purifier.

5. Click on Login Items tab.

6. Select Mac Purifier from listed entries and click on the minus [-] button and confirm your actions. Please see image below for reference.

Screenshot of Login Items

As stated, the creation of Login Items or profile is case-to-case basis. Some unwanted application may add their entry on this section but others are not concern on making one. So, if Mac Purifier Login item is not present, please continue with the succeeding steps.

Step 3 : Delete Mac Purifier Application

1. Go to Finder.

2. On the menu, click Go and then, select Applications from the list to open Applications Folder.

3. Find Mac Purifier or any unwanted program.

Delete Unwanted App

4. Drag the Mac Purifier to Trash Bin to delete the application from Mac.

5. Right-click on Trash icon and click on Empty Trash.

Step 4 : Delete Malicious Files that have installed Mac Purifier

1. Select and copy the string below to your Clipboard by pressing Command + C on your keyboard.

~/Library/LaunchAgents

2. Go to your Finder. From the menu bar please select Go > Go to Folder...

3. Press Command + V on your keyboard to paste the copied string. Press Return to go to the said folder.

Command + V

4. You will now see a folder named LaunchAgents. Take note of the following files inside the folder:

    If you cannot find the specified file, please look for any unfamiliar or suspicious entries. It may be the one causing Mac Purifier to be present on your Mac. Arranging all items to see the most latest ones may also help you identify recently installed unfamiliar files. Please press Option + Command + 4 on your keyboard to arrange the application list in chronological order.

    Option+Command+4

    5. Drag all suspicious files that you may find to Trash.

    6. Repeat Step 2, numbers 1-5 procedures on the following folder (without ~):

    /Library/LaunchAgents

    7. Please restart the computer.

    8. Open another folder using the same method as above. Copy and Paste the following string to easily locate the folder.

    ~/Library/Application Support

    9. Look for suspicious objects or folders with the following names and drag them to the Trash.

      10. Repeat procedures 8 and 9 on the following folders if necessary.

      ~/Library/Caches

      11. Go to your Finder and open the Applications Folder. Look for subfolders with names similar above and drag them to Trash.

      12. Lastly, please Empty your Mac's Trash bin.

      Step 5 : Run another Scan using MBAM Tool for Mac

      1. Download Malwarebytes Anti-malware for Mac from the link below.

      2. Run Malwarebytes Anti-malware for Mac. It will check for updates and download if most recent version is available. This is necessary in finding recent malware threats including Mac Purifier.

      3. If it prompts to close all running web browser, please do so. Thus, we advise you to PRINT this guide for your reference before going offline.

      4. Once it opens the user interface, please click on Scan button to start scanning your Mac computer.

      MBAM for Mac

      5. After the scan, Malwarebytes Anti-malware for Mac will display a list of identified threats, Mac Purifier is surely part of it. Be sure to select all items in the list. Then, click Remove button to clean the computer.

      6. You may now restart the computer.

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