WizApp Malware - How to remove

WizApp is a malicious app that affects Macs. It causes the browsers to use the wrong search engines and to display pop-up ads. It can cause the Mac to slow down a lot. And if WizApp is installed, it is likely that other similar infections are also present. WizApp infects Macs through infected installers and through fake software updates. Removing WizApp can be complicated because this malware hides multiple files and settings that all need to be deleted: plist files, profiles, browser extensions, profiles, network settings, and apps.

In short about WizApp:

Classification	Adware, browser hijacker.
Removing WizApp	Find and remove malicious items (with Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, or others), delete the files and settings that belong to WizApp, remove bad browser extensions.
Effects on the Mac	Slow internet connection, slow Mac, pop-ups and search redirects in the browser.
How WizApp gets installed	Bundled with free installers, advertised online as software updates.

How WizApp works

Effects on the Mac

WizApp is the name of a few legitimate apps, however, the one we’re talking about today is an adware infection. Its creators pick names for their malware that are vague and mundane, however, WizApp malware is quite serious.

You might have noticed WizApp after seeing a message from your Mac that said “WizAppDaemon will damage your computer”. Or maybe you got another warning: “Do you want the application “WizApp” to accept incoming network connections?”. Or perhaps you saw WizApp because it was constantly starting with your browser despite seemingly doing nothing.

When WizApp is installed, it makes changes to the Mac:

• It installs a browser extension that forces SearchMarquis, SearchBaron, Yahoo, SafeFinder, or another search engine.
• Even worse, the WizApp extension can read your data on any site that you visit. It is able to inject ads into each of those pages, as well as read your passwords and other private information.
• WizApp is difficult to remove. It comes back after being normally deleted.
• Some users report that their Mac is running slow. Internet connectivity issues might come up.
• Other apps similar to WizApp may be installed.
• Some users have difficulties logging into their iCloud or other accounts.

WizApp should be removed as soon as possible. All it does is advertise to users and spy on them while making itself very hard to remove. The ads it shows are potentially harmful.

How WizApp spreads

It is most likely that WizApp was downloaded and installed by you unknowingly.

One very popular method used by crooks is to create websites that impersonate a trusted company (such as Adobe) and claim to offer their product for download (such as Flash Player). Then the crooks buy ads for their site on various streaming sites. They make the ads look like real warnings, saying things like “Your Flash Player might be out of date”. WizApp and other adware may be hidden in the fake Flash installer. So, if you ever remember installing a software update due to a warning on a website, you might have been tricked by scammers.

Many kinds of malware are spread via fake Flash Player updates.

Another way that WizApp might have been installed is by being bundled with a free installer. Infected app installers can be found online, on websites that make many free apps available for download, as well as on developer sites. Be careful when downloading free apps. The developers of WizApp and other malware may use partner programs to get any freeware distributor to spread WizApp. Stick to the App Store when possible.

When WizApp is downloaded, it might show a few strange pop-ups, such as “Installation complete”, that only ask you to click the “OK” button. Malicious apps do this to hide real system messages and to trick people to give the malware trust and privileges.

How to remove WizApp

Delete malware

Uninstalling WizApp is not very straightforward. Especially when it’s possible that infections other than WizApp are installed and I can’t tell you what they’re called exactly. Every person’s case is different.

WizApp is very much like SearchRange, OperativeField, UtilityData, etc. So, similarly named files and browser extensions might be present on your device. Other malicious files and folders are named a string of random characters. And occasionally, a malicious app steals a trusted company’s name, for example, MacPerformance.

So, it’s advisable to start by running an anti-malware scan. You might want to start your Mac in safe mode first (reboot and hold the Shift button until your Mac boots up) – still will not allow WizApp to start up. Scan your Mac with an anti-malware app that you trust (Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, others). They should detect malicious files for you.

Alternatively, open Finder -> Go -> Computer and search for “WizApp”. Or use the Go to Folder dialog to navigate to /Library/Application Support, /Library/LaunchAgents, /Library/LaunchDaemons, and the ~/Library variations. Look for files with “WizApp” in their names, such as com.WizAppDaemon.plist, com.WizApp.plist, and WizAppDaemon.app. Look for other suspicious files. Delete them. You might be asked to type in your password.

Restore settings

Check your other settings. Anti-malware apps don’t always fix this stuff but it is necessary to get rid of WizApp:

• System Preferences -> Profiles. Profiles have legitimate uses but they’re often abused by malware. Select entries that you did not create and delete them.
• System Preferences -> Network -> Advanced -> Proxies. The SOCKS proxy is legitimate but sometimes is abused by malware. If WizApp caused you issues with the internet connection and SOCKS is selected, untick it and save.
• In your web browsers, Settings/Preferences -> Extensions. Browser extensions can be useful but some are malicious. Remove browser extensions that you did not install yourself.
• Also in web browsers, Settings -> Search engine. You should be free to set whatever site you want here.

If you deleted all traces of WizApp and other adware, then your Mac should work as expected now. If adware reappears, then some of its components might have been left behind. Malicious Mac apps use many tools to remain installed.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Restore browser settings

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

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