SignalBalance Malware - How to remove

SignalBalance is an adware infection that attempts to take over your browsing so that it can offer you sponsored content. It also logs data about your browsing history. Worst of all, if you notice SignalBalance and trash it, it might return a few hours or days later. SignalBalance needs to be removed, but you might need to take a few more steps to achieve that.

About SignalBalance:

Type of threat	Adware, browser hijacker.
How SignalBalance works	It redirects your internet traffic, it changes your browser’s search settings, it logs data about your computer and your browsing habits.
How it spreads	Malicious ads and redirects on infected sites, infected free app installers.
How to remove SignalBalance	Delete malware and suspicious files manually and with the help of an anti-malware app (Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, and others), remove the SignalBalance app and browser extension.

How SignalBalance affects Macs

Adware

SignalBalance is a name used by some Android apps, as well as a term occasionally used in audio hardware descriptions. But in this case, SignalBalance is a name given to a macOS adware infection.

SignalBalance exists as an app found in Finder’s Applications folder, and it has a browser extension component found in Safari’s Preferences, Extensions. Although, SignalBalance might not be visible in extensions, even when it is installed.

Some anti-malware programs detect SignalBalance (the app) as AdLoad, AdAgent, Adware, Malicious, and Suspicious: Virustotal.com.

Changed browser settings

Most of these detection names mean that SignalBalance focuses on displaying ads on your screen, mostly in your browser. It does this by changing the search and home page preferences in your browsers, especially in Safari:

• Your home page and new tab page may be taken over by SearchSnow, SearchMarquis, Safe Finder, Yahoo, etc. And your search results may be delivered by an unusual website.
• Even if you don’t use Safari, you might notice strange behavior, like pages not loading and links being wrong.
• You may see more unfamiliar browser extensions being installed in your browsers.

Pop-ups and changed system settings

MacOS may warn you that SignalBalance is dangerous, that it’s trying to make changes, access the web, etc. Or you may see bizarre (very large, very empty pop-ups with just an “OK” button) that SignalBalance shows to cover up these warnings. And of course, SignalBalance collects data such as what sites you visit and what you search for. The SignalBalance extension can even read your passwords (you should probably change your passwords after you remove SignalBalance).

One of the least visible things that SignalBalance does is set up a proxy to send your internet traffic to a server controlled by the people who control SignalBalance. System Preferences, Network, Advanced, Proxies, the box on the left – deselect unwanted options and click OK. Although, as long as SignalBalance isn’t removed, it’ll keep reverting this setting back.

How adware spreads

Fake software updates and infected freeware installers may be used to spread SignalBalance.

Did you recently download and install something from the internet (not from the App store)? Adobe Flash Player has its image used by scammers all the time to push malware, but scammers have enough imagination to come up with any scenario to trick people.

The riskiest sites to visit are torrenting, free movie and TV show, browser gaming sites, and various pirating sites. However, any small site can get infected with malicious ads and redirects. Then there are spam emails and malicious links in social media comments and posts. It’s almost inevitable that you will encounter malware masquerading as a software update from time to time.

You can use ad blockers and anti-malware apps to block suspicious websites, however, malicious actors rotate their sites all the time, so you have to be careful yourself.

How to remove SignalBalance

Delete SignalBalance

To find and delete SignalBalance the app and the browser extension, start by booting into safe mode (Support.apple.com).

Then, go to System Preferences (in the Dock or the Apple menu), Profiles (if it’s there), and then remove all the profiles that you (or your admin) did not add. Also in System Preferences, Users & Groups, select Login Items. Delete all the entries that you don’t recognize.

Scan your computer with an anti-malware app, such as Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, and others.

Manually delete malware

The reason that SignalBalance can return after you drag it to Trash is that it leaves some files in your Library folders and configures your Mac to run those files every time you log in to your Mac. The folders that hold SignalBalance’s files may be /Library/LaunchAgents, ~/Library/LaunchAgents, /Library/LaunchDaemons, /Library/Application Support, ~/Library/Application Support. You can navigate to these hidden folders with the Go to Folder option in Finder, Go.

Look for files with names for apps that you don’t have, as well as files whose date added matches the time that SignalBalance first appeared. Look for files whose names match SignalBalance’s format, such as FrequencySkill, AssistiveModule, and UtilityData. Then delete the suspicious files, but don’t remove them from Trash, in case you just deleted a legitimate file. Deleting legitimate files from these folders won’t break your Mac but it may cause unintended effects for your apps.

You can also use Time Machine and restore your Mac to an earlier date.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Fix browser settings

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

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