DivisionInitiator Malware - How to remove

DivisionInitiator may look harmless, but it’s an adware infection that changes the settings of your browser and collects data about your online behavior. With DivisionInitiator, you may see pop-up ads a lot more often, as well as experience technical issues.

To delete DivisionInitiator, it’s needed to remove files associated with it and to fix the settings that it changed. After, it’s important to keep an eye on these settings to make sure that DivisionInitiator doesn’t return.

About DivisionInitiator:

Classification	Trojan, adware.
Effects of DivisionInitiator on a computer	Web browsers change how they search the internet, open random websites with no explanation, some sites don’t work, unfamiliar apps appear out of nowhere.
How adware gets installed	Included in the installers of other apps, disguised as trustworthy software.
How to remove DivisionInitiator	Delete DivisionInitiator and other malware yourself and with anti-malware tools (Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, others), fix the settings that DivisionInitiator changed.

What is DivisionInitiator

There is a family of malicious apps that attack macOS devices. UtilityData, WebNewSearch, SignalBalance, and many others. They usually have a green or blue-green icon with a magnifying glass. Sometimes they show up one-by-one, other times – in groups. They may start up with your web browsers. If you drag them to Trash, they probably don’t stay there and return the next time you start your Mac.

You may notice some issues that come with DivisionInitiator:

• Your web browsers opening unexpected sites.
• Strange pop-ups that only ask you to click OK.
• Some websites refusing to open.
• New unfamiliar apps showing up.

DivisionInitiator is apps like it are adware infections. They change settings in your web browsers, especially Safari. They may also change your Network settings to redirect your traffic to a certain server. In addition, they collect data about your device and internet usage.

Most likely, DivisionInitiator installed a few configuration profiles to control your settings.

How adware infects Macs

Though DivisionInitiator may look like it appeared randomly, that can’t be the case. Most likely, a malicious advertisement or a trojan caused DivisionInitiator to be downloaded and installed. Think about whether you installed anything around the time that DivisionInitiator showed up on your Mac.

Malicious actors create websites and installers that appear trustworthy (often, they use the icons and name of a reputable company) – but they really just install a bunch of malware.

Scammers show fake warnings about important updates for your browsers, macOS, Adobe apps, and other software. The files that are actually in these “updates” are adware infections and other malicious software.

MacOS is protected by Gatekeeper and other technologies. This is why the installer responsible for DivisionInitiator has unusual installation instructions, such as using context menus and dealing with meaningless pop-up windows.

How to remove DivisionInitiator

To delete DivisionInitiator completely, you need to:

• Delete all malicious files.
• Find and fix the settings that DivisionInitiator changed.

Remove all malware

Start by going into safe mode (Support.apple.com). Reboot and hold the Shift key until you see the Apple logo.

Now, open Finder -> Applications and drag DivisionInitiator and other unwanted apps to Trash.

Use an antivirus app, such as Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, and others to find other malicious files.

In Finder, open Go -> Go to Computer in the menu. Search for “DivisionInitiator” and delete the files that are found.

If you want to dive deeper, there’s an article on how malware hides on Macs.

Fix your Mac’s settings

DivisionInitiator likely made some changes to your settings. To fix them open System Preferences:

• Profiles. Delete all unfamiliar profiles by selecting them and pressing the delete key or the minus button at the bottom of the Profiles window. DivisionInitiator may use profiles to control other settings.
• Users & Groups -> Login Items. Like with profiles, delete unfamiliar items. These are files and scripts that run when you log in to your Mac.
• Network -> Advanced -> Proxies. Deselect proxies that you didn’t set up.
• Extensions. Remove suspicious extensions.

Later, check these settings again. If they revert, then DivisionInitiator or other malware wasn’t completely removed.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Remove unwanted extensions

How to remove DivisionInitiator 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 DivisionInitiator 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 DivisionInitiator Malware, 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 DivisionInitiator Malware from Google Chrome on Mac:

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