AccessibleBoost Adware - How to remove

AccessibleBoost is adware that affects macOS devices. It changes browser settings to promote certain sites and manipulates webpages to inject ads. It can also log private information. In the long run, AccessibleBoost causes internet connection issues and could slow down the Mac. To remove AccessibleBoost, find its files and delete them, remove all malware, and fix the system settings that AccessibleBoost changed.

About AccessibleBoost:

Type of threat	Adware, trojan.
Removing AccessibleBoost	Delete AccessibleBoost and related files, extensions, apps, find and remove malware with anti-malware apps (Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes), check and fix System Preferences settings.
How AccessibleBoost gets installed	Advertised online as a needed software update, installs AccessibleBoost without informing the user.
Effects on the infected Mac	Search redirects, pop-up ads, and excessive ads, slow Mac and slow internet connection.

How to remove AccessibleBoost

Delete malicious files

Reboot your Mac into safe mode. Safe mode will stop AccessibleBoost and other unnecessary apps from running automatically. Hold the Shift button during the boot to access safe mode as it’s explained in this Support.apple.com article.

Run an anti-malware scan (with Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, or another app that you are comfortable using). AccessibleBoost will be detected by most scanners as AdLoad, AdWare, or Malicious (Virustotal.com).

AccessibleBoost likely places files in your Library folders to keep itself from being removed. As long as you’re in safe mode, you should review the contents of those folders and delete the files that are related to AccessibleBoost.

Open Finder -> Go -> Go to Folder and type in:

• /Library/LaunchDaemons,
• /Library/Application Support,
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents,
• ~/Library/Application Support.

Look in them for files with suspicious names – ConnectionIndexer, com.QueueAlgorithm.plist, and similar names; files and folders named a random set of characters; files that were added recently). As well as files with “AccessibleBoost” in their names, of course.

Suspicious browser extensions also need to be deleted.

Check OS settings

There’s still something to do for getting rid of AccessibleBoost in System Preferences:

• In Profiles, select all items that you did not add yourself, then remove them by pressing the minus ‘-‘ button at the bottom of the window. Profiles are used by AccessibleBoost to force web browsers to open certain sites and redirect searches.
• In Users & Groups -> Login Items, select and remove items that you didn’t add.
• Open Network -> Advanced -> Proxies, then deselect proxies if you didn’t select them. AccessibleBoost and other AdLoad infections sometimes use this setting to hijack internet traffic.

What is AccessibleBoost

Adware

AccessibleBoost is adware of the AdLoad family. It hijacks traffic, changes what sites web browsers open, and logs data about the victim.

If your browser suddenly started opening Yahoo, Safe Finder, or another site to deliver your search results, if there are too many ads, random sites open in your new tabs, you can’t open some sites, or experience other internet connection problems, then adware probably infected your Mac.

AccessibleBoost has the ability to collect data about your computer, as well as your browsing data. This data is useful for advertisers who want to target users. It’s a huge privacy problem.

The AccessibleBoost app runs with browsers. There’s also an AccessibleBoost extension for some Safari versions.

Trojan

AccessibleBoost usually spreads as fake Flash Player updates:

• Warnings that Flash Player needs to be updated appear online, mostly on (not exactly legal) sites for movie and TV show streaming.
• Although the warnings are only ads, people mistake them for real warnings and download the files that these pop-ups are offering.
• Installation instructions tell users to get around Gatekeeper’s warnings (not in these exact words) to install Flash Player, along with AccessibleBoost adware.

Trojans are programs that trick victims into downloading and installing malware themselves. Keep in mind that AccessibleBoost is not related to Flash Player or to Adobe whatsoever. But since Flash’s name is so widely known and trusted, it’s still used by malicious actors to trick people into downloading and installing shady files.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Remove suspicious browser extensions

How to remove AccessibleBoost Adware from Safari:Top

Remove malicious extensions

• Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences.
  
• Select Extensions and uninstall AccessibleBoost Adware and other suspicious extensions.
  
• If your homepage was changed, click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences and choose General tab. Enter preferable URL to the homepage field.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings(older versions) If you are still experiencing any issues related to AccessibleBoost Adware, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Reset Safari…
  
• Select which options you want to reset (usually all of them come preselected) and click on the Reset button.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

TopHow to remove AccessibleBoost Adware from Google Chrome on Mac:

• Open Chrome browser.
• Enter in the url field “chrome://extensions” address and hit Enter.
• Find AccessibleBoost Adware on the extensions list and click on the recycle bin icon next to it.
• Click on 'Chrome' button at the top left corner. Select 'Preferences' on a drop-down menu box.
• Find 'Search' options on Settings tab. If your search engine is changed, click 'Manage Search Engines' and set your preferred search engine.
• On the same page find 'Show home button' checkbox and change your homepage.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to AccessibleBoost Adware, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• On the 'Preferences' menu window, scroll down to the bottom and find 'Reset settings' button. Click it.
• Confirm your selection and click 'Reset' on the following window.

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program. Top

How To remove AccessibleBoost Adware from Firefox on Mac OS:

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla window and select the “Add-ons” icon (Or press cmd+Shift+A on your keyboard).
• Go through Extensions list, remove everything AccessibleBoost Adware related and items you do not recognise. If you do not know the extension and it is not made by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft, Oracle or Adobe then you probably do not need it.
• Enter “about:preferences” in URL bar and hit enter.
• Open Search settings tab.
• If your search engine is changed, click 'Default Search Engines' and set your preferred search engine.
• If your homepage was changed, click on the Firefox menu in the top right corner, select Preferences-> General. Enter a preferable URL to the home page field.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to AccessibleBoost Adware, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla Firefox window. Click on the Help button.
• Choose Troubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
• Click on the Refresh Firefox button.
• Click on the Refresh Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.

If the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program to identify malicious entries.