ExecutiveOperation Adware - How to remove

ExecutiveOperation is malware that attacks Macs, causing web browsers to open unwanted websites. It’s just adware, but nevertheless, it is annoying. You can remove the ExecutiveOperation app, however, this might not be enough – the adware may return. To remove ExecutiveOperation permanently, find and delete files related to it and fix the settings that had been hijacked by ExecutiveOperation.

ExecutiveOperation in short:

Threat type	Adware, trojan.
Problems with ExecutiveOperation	It hijacks your browser, opening promoted sites and logging your data, it can be difficult to remove.
How malware infects Macs	Advertised online with deceptive messages.
How to remove ExecutiveOperation	Delete malicious files manually or with an anti-malware app (Combo Cleaner, others), fix system preferences and browser settings.

Problems with ExecutiveOperation

Adware infection

ExecutiveOperation is an app that gets installed without your consent. It just appears. It starts up on its own or when you open one of your web browsers, usually Safari.

You may also notice that the behavior of your browsers has changed:

• A changed home page and new tab page.
• The search results are returned by an unexpected website.
• Random new tabs open in your browser.
• There are more ads than usual.

These things are either caused by the ExecutiveOperation app or by malware that came with it.

ExecutiveOperation is an adware infection – it injects ads into your screen, opens promoted webpages, and also logs your data.

Worst of all, ExecutiveOperation can be a little tricky to remove. Deleting the app by simply dragging it to Trash may not work.

Trojan

Most likely, you didn’t install ExecutiveOperation yourself. At least, not intentionally. It may have come hidden inside the installer of another app.

This sort of malware distribution – being hidden inside an installer that appears to be safe – qualifies ExecutiveOperation as a trojan.

Fake Flash Player installers are a classic example. Even though Flash Player is barely used anymore, the Web is still full of bogus Flash update prompts, fake browser updates, and other deceptive messages.

Even if you don’t have any antivirus apps, Apple’s built-in security tools should recognize the malware. For example, ExecutiveOperation is detected by quite a few scanners (Virustotal.com). However, ExecutiveOperation (or the app that brought it) may have used unusual installation instructions to trick you into getting around those security measures.

How to remove ExecutiveOperation

The ExecutiveOperation app can be deleted by dragging it to Trash (Support.apple.com), however, this may not work permanently.

If ExecutiveOperation returns or gets replaced by a very similar app, such as ElementaryUnit, ControlFraction, and others, then you may have to do a bit more to remove these infections:

• Start your Mac in safe mode.
• Delete all malware with an anti-malware app.
• Check your System Preferences and fix the settings as needed.
• Check your browser settings.

Delete malicious files

Turn on your Mac and immediately hold the Shift key while it’s still starting to enter safe mode (Support.apple.com).

You can open Finder, Go, Computer and search for “ExecutiveOperation”. Delete the files that come up. The problem is, some malicious files may not be so easy to find. You can read about how malware persists on Macs to learn more.

Use anti-malware apps like Combo Cleaner to scan your Mac and remove the files associated with ExecutiveOperation. It’s likely that there are some files saved on your Mac that are allowing ExecutiveOperation to return after it’s deleted.

Check system preferences

Open your System Preferences. It’s time to repair the damage that ExecutiveOperation may have done to your settings:

• Look for Profiles. If the icon is there, open it and remove all the entries that you did not add yourself.
• Open Users & Groups, Login Items. Once again, remove all the items that you did not add.
• Go to Network, Advanced, Proxies. If there are proxies selected that you did not configure, then you may want to remove them.

As for your browser settings, the instructions are below. You should check your default search engine, home page, and new tab settings. The redirects to suspicious sites, like Search-fine.com or Safe Finder, should stop once all the malware is gone and all the settings are fixed.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Restore browser settings

How to remove ExecutiveOperation 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 ExecutiveOperation 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 ExecutiveOperation 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 ExecutiveOperation Adware from Google Chrome on Mac:

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