AristotleLookup Mac Malware - How to remove

AristotleLookup is a malicious app and browser extension that causes problems including web search redirects. AristotleLookup can be removed manually or with an anti-malware app, and it definitely needs to be removed as soon as it’s discovered. Otherwise, AristotleLookup could fill your screen with ads, steal private data from your web browser, and download other malware.

In short about AristotleLookup:

Type of threat	Adware.
How AristotleLookup works	Hijacks browser settings to manipulate internet searches, adds itself to startup, refuses to be removed.
How it got installed	Bundled with free apps, installed with fake software updates.
Removing AristotleLookup	Delete it with anti-malware apps (Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, others), delete AristotleLookup’s files, profiles, app, and browser extensions.

Problems caused by AristotleLookup

You might first notice AristotleLookup on your Mac when it appears in a pop-up, asking for you to allow it to accept incoming network connections. Whether you allow or deny, the pop-up appears again and again.

AristotleLookup is an app and a browser extension. It changes network settings that cause internet slowdown. It installs a couple of configuration profiles to force your browsers to go to certain websites (like Anysearchmanager) when you try to use internet search. And AristotleLookup gets added to your startup apps.

Trying to delete AristotleLookup or undo its settings doesn’t usually work because these changes get reversed every time you restart your Mac. More unwanted apps might show up, like SystemHelper, GlobalDeskSearch, UniversalWebSearch, StudyDisplay, NameSync, and others. They usually use an icon of a white magnifying glass on a green circle (though the shade of green varies).

Internet connection might be a bit unstable, with it dropping and some online apps (the browser, the email app) crashing from time to time.

Another notable thing is that AristotleLookup the browser extension has access to the sites that you visit, which means that it can read not just what sites you go to, but what you search for and which ads you click on. When just your browsing history can reveal sensitive information, it’s disturbing how bad AristotleLookup having access to all your data on all sites could be.

Information about what you do online is great for advertisers, though. And that’s AristotleLookup’s main goal – to flood you with ads and to make you click on the links it wants you to click on. Manipulating the browsing of all their victims – allows AristotleLookup’s creators to make money.

How adware gets installed

You didn’t install AristotleLookup on your Mac for its great features, no question about it. So, how did it appear? There are a few possibilities:

• AristotleLookup was bundled with a free app. Some free apps include optional offers – applications that get installed automatically with the app, unless you explicitly refuse them. These offers tend to be hidden and tucked in terms of service or advanced installation settings. They’re easy to miss.
• Malware in the form of fake software updates. Fake updates, such as the ones that look like Flash Player, are used to trick people into downloading and installing malware and adware. AristotleLookup is very likely to spread this way.
• There’s the chance that a trojan that was already on your Mac downloaded and installed AristotleLookup at some point. It should be removed along with AristotleLookup so that it won’t cause any more problems.

Using a good anti-malware program would be helpful in avoiding infections. It’s also important to be careful and skeptical online. Remember that there are a lot of malicious websites out there that’ll say anything to trick people.

How to remove AristotleLookup

The best and quickest way to remove AristotleLookup is with an anti-malware app, like Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, etc. Because removing AristotleLookup normally doesn’t work, you need to find and delete some specific files, and anti-malware programs make it much easier than doing it manually.

However, you can do it manually.

First, it’s recommended to start your Mac in safe mode. Just hold the Shift button while you reboot. This stops third-party apps from running.

Then open Finder, Go -> Go to Folder. Type in the folder names “Library/LaunchDaemons”, “/Library/LaunchAgents”, “~/Library/LaunchAgents”. Find and delete the files with “AristotleLookup” in their names.

Also, go to System Preferences -> Profiles and remove the profiles with “AristotleLookup” in their name. For a lot of people, that’ll be all the profiles on their Mac.

In System Preferences -> Users & Groups -> Login Items, remove any items that you don’t want to run automatically whenever you start your Mac.

Finally, remove the AristotleLookup app from the Applications folder and the AristotleLookup extension from your web browsers (instructions below).

It’s still advisable to scan your Mac for other malware, just to make sure it’s clean.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Remove AristotleLookup extensions

How to remove AristotleLookup Mac Malware from Safari:Top

Remove malicious extensions

• Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences.
  
• Select Extensions and uninstall AristotleLookup Mac Malware 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 AristotleLookup, 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 AristotleLookup Mac Malware from Google Chrome on Mac:

• Open Chrome browser.
• Enter in the url field “chrome://extensions” address and hit Enter.
• Find AristotleLookup Mac Malware 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 AristotleLookup, 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 AristotleLookup Mac Malware 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 AristotleLookup Mac Malware 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 AristotleLookup Mac Malware, 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.