RotatorAssist Malware - How to remove

RotatorAssist is Mac adware that is so persistent that it can be hard to remove. RotatorAssist is called adware because it changes browser settings, redirects links and searches, fills the screen with ads, and can even read some personal data. Other infections might come together with RotatorAssist, too – and they can be difficult to remove. However, it’s important to get rid of RotatorAssist, as its ads are intrusive and potentially dangerous.

About RotatorAssist:

Type of threat	Adware.
RotatorAssist infection symptoms	Problems with the internet connection, too many ads, redirects, pop-ups in the browser.
Removing RotatorAssist	Delete malicious files yourself or with an anti-malware app (Combo Cleaner, others), remove the adware leftovers, fix the browser settings.
How to avoid adware	Block suspicious sites, pay attention to security warnings, be aware of what you click on online.

Problems caused by RotatorAssist

Adware

RotatorAssist may create network issues, causing some or all websites to be inaccessible. Not just websites, but also online apps like the App Store and Email. The issue is most likely a proxy that RotatorAssist sets found in System Preferences, Network, Advanced.

If it doesn’t break the internet connection, RotatorAssist hijacks the search engine settings. Thanks to it, search results are delivered by a site like Yahoo. Nothing wrong with Yahoo, just that a lot of browser hijackers force it on browsers. Thanks to RotatorAssist redirecting searches, a lot of ads are shown with the search results. Besides, the victim’s search queries get exposed to whatever sites RotatorAssist promotes, which is a privacy issue.

Speaking of privacy issues, RotatorAssist might install a browser extension with the same name. This browser extension can read data on all the sites, including private information like passwords and usernames.

With longer browsing sessions, pop-up ads start appearing. In some cases, the web browser crashes. In others, malicious ads fill the screen. Most likely, RotatorAssist’s owners make money off of advertising. These ads bring their own dangers, including scams and malware.

Persistent malware

Trying to remove RotatorAssist like a normal app or attempting to revert its changes doesn’t really work. It might disappear for a while, but it comes back, possibly as soon as the next login, often with more malicious apps, like UniversalWebResults, StockCommon, and others.

The settings that RotatorAssist affects are those that allow it to remain installed – while messing with the victim’s web browsing and stealing their data. Check this post about the persistence strategies of Mac malware.

First, it’s configuration profiles – various settings that are forced on your Mac. Legitimately used by administrators to manage school and company computers, profiles are sometimes abused by malicious apps. They’re easy to install and remove, but hard to notice if you don’t know to look for them. They can be found in System Preferences by clicking on the Profiles item.

It’s also login items – what apps start automatically when you turn on your Mac. Found on System Preferences, Users & Groups, Login Items. RotatorAssist might not be visible in these settings but its files should still be found in the folders “/Library/LaunchAgents”, “/Library/LaunchDaemons”, and “~/Library/LaunchAgents” (accessible through the Go to Folder dialogue in Finder’s Go menu).

To remove RotatorAssist, you need to first remove its configuration profiles and the files in the Library folders. Otherwise, it could come back.

How to remove RotatorAssist

The fastest way to remove RotatorAssist is to use an anti-malware application, like Combo Cleaner. Most of the time, anti-malware programs can detect suspicious files and remove them. If they can’t, either use another anti-malware program or remove RotatorAssist manually.

To get rid of RotatorAssist by yourself, start your Mac in safe mode (boot or reboot your Mac and hold Shift until you see “Safe Boot” on your screen). Safe mode is for stopping RotatorAssist and other malware from running as soon as you boot your Mac: they can’t do it in safe mode.

Then, remove RotatorAssist’s profiles and library files that I mentioned earlier. This should get rid of all the malicious code that RotatorAssist uses to mess with your Mac.

Then, check your browser and network settings, such as their default search engine settings and your network settings.

Remember to remove the malicious RotatorAssist app and browser extensions, as well as to delete the file that initially infected your Mac (It might be called “Player”, “AdobeFlash”, or something similar). And try to stay away from sites that try to convince you to download a file. Your legitimate programs don’t use random internet pop-ups to let you know about software updates; only malicious actors do this.

How to avoid adware

RotatorAssist is adware, so of course it uses deceptive installation tactics. There are various ways that malware can make it onto a Mac:

• Webpages that are designed to look trustworthy and convince you to download and install a malicious file by claiming that it’s an important update. These pages appear as pop-up ads on various unscrupulous websites.
• Malicious links and files social media messages and spam emails.
• Malicious links in forums and under posts and videos, often promising a free movie or app.
• Old links and old websites that have been abandoned and got infected with malicious code.

RotatorAssist snakes its way onto Macs through deception and it would help immensely to just be more skeptical and careful online. Also, read the warnings in your system pop-ups: if some unfamiliar app is asking for access, stop and think whether you should allow it.

If you often visit sites that show excessive ads, consider using an ad-blocker or an anti-malware tool to block suspicious websites.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Manually change browser settings

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

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