GeneralLaunch Mac Malware - How to remove

If GeneralLaunch appeared in your Dock and your browser changed its home page, your Mac got an adware infection. GeneralLaunch infects Macs by hijacking their browsers, showing pop-up ads, forcing the browser to open malicious websites, and might cause issues with accessing the internet. And removing GeneralLaunch isn’t entirely straightforward. Luckily, it’s totally doable, either by using an antivirus app, or by finding and deleting the malicious files manually.

Short GeneralLaunch description:

Type of threat	Adware, browser hijacker, trojan.
Infection consequences	Pop-up ads, hijacked browser home page and search engine.
How the malware got installed	Downloaded with fake software updates, installed by infected installers of free or pirated apps, promoted by other adware viruses that had already infected your Mac.
How to get rid of GeneralLaunch	Use antivirus apps (Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, etc.), remove Profiles, apps, browser extensions, and files that belong to GeneralLaunch.

GeneralLaunch – Mac Malware

With a name like GeneralLaunch, this malware is pretty hard to research. That might be the goal. GeneralLaunch belongs to the same family of adware as UniversalToolSearch, CommonBrand, UpgradeAgent, etc. The harder it is for victims to find info on their attackers, the better for the cybercriminals who profit from GeneralLaunch.

GeneralLaunch changes your main page and search engine in your browser. For example, you may use Safari with the default new tab page (the one with your most visited pages listed there). GeneralLaunch changes that – it sets some random search site instead, like Any Search Manager by Safe Finder.

GeneralLaunch has a few goals:

• to show pop-up ads on your screen,
• to force you to visit sites that are associated with GeneralLaunch (for example, sites owned by the same people who made GeneralLaunch),
• to gather data on you, which can later be sold.

All in all, GeneralLaunch was created to make money by forcing victims to see ads. Then, GeneralLaunch’s makers sell that ad space to any advertisers who want in, potentially letting dangerous and harmful content to spread.

While GeneralLaunch is installed in your Mac, you may see an application by this name, a browser extension, a Profile in your system preferences, and a proxy server in your Network settings.

How GeneralLaunch Got Installed

Fake Software Updates

You might see lots and lots of fake Adobe Flash update pop-ups. GeneralLaunch spreads by using them. Malicious sites use the image and name of Adobe Flash Player, Apple macOS, or other trusted software to spread their malicious apps.

The important thing to understand is that all of these Flash pop-ups are absolutely and completely fake. They come from lots of different websites, they show windows that look like macOS system windows, they take over your screen, and they try to force you to download whatever malicious files they’re pushing. They’re made by malicious actors to spread malware, and there’s nothing else to it.

Chances are that you don’t even have Adobe Flash installed – and it’s not like you need it, as most sites work just fine without it. The times when the Flash player was required to browse the internet are behind us. And still, scammers and cybercriminals keep using its name and image in their malicious ads.

Never ever agree to download any of this malware, and if you download it, then never open the files. The ads won’t go away and the situation will only get worse if you give in to the scams. Instead, close your browser tab (press Cmd and W together), or force quit your browser (hold Alt+Cmd+Esc).

Infected Installers

Another way that GeneralLaunch gets installed is by being bundled in the installers of other apps. The usual suspects are various cracks, keygens, activated, unlocked, “free” installers for expensive software. In other words, pirated software. Always scan installers with antivirus apps before you run them.

GeneralLaunch may be offered as a way to “enhance your browser”, but it only hijacks its settings.

How to Remove GeneralLaunch

You may have tried removing GeneralLaunch in the normal way – by dragging it to Trash – and failed. GeneralLaunch has rooted itself in your system and reinstalls if it’s removed. The good news is, it’s absolutely possible to remove it.

First, it may be good for you to start your Mac in safe mode. Reboot your Mac and then hold the Shift key while it boots up till you see the login screen. Safe mode prevents unnecessary apps from running. It stops lots of useful processes, but it also stops malware. Safe mode won’t apply when you turn on your Mac without holding the Shift key, so just reboot it normally next time.

The best way to remove malware is with an anti-malware program, for example, Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, etc.

To get rid of GeneralLaunch manually, start by opening your System Preferences and look for Profiles. Remove profiles named GeneralLaunch. Then try removing GeneralLaunch from your Applications folder and your browsers (instructions below). Check for malware that looks like GeneralLaunch but uses different names. Remove it, too.

As a last resort, look for suspicious files in these folders:

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

You can open these files by opening Finder, Go, Go to Folder. Then type in the folder’s name. Then, look for files named “GeneralLaunch” and delete them.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Remove GeneralLaunch Browser Extension

How to remove GeneralLaunch 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 GeneralLaunch 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 GeneralLaunch Mac 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 GeneralLaunch Mac Malware from Google Chrome on Mac:

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