In this article, we will reveal all the important details related to the undesired appearance of LaunchSystem adware and all issues related to its presence on a Mac. Since LaunchSystem adware poses a certain danger to the security of your macOS, we recommend that you consider the immediate removal of harmful files.
LaunchSystem Mac Adware
LaunchSystem is a program for Mac that has the purpose to monetize its presence on the system. To do this, it displays various offers. Before it can display offers, the program needs to alter specific settings. This, in turn, lowers online security and makes the system more vulnerable to malware attacks.
LaunchSystem is categorized as a potentially unwanted program because it lands on macOS without users’ permission. The program is not malicious even considered to be a Mac virus by many affected users.
If you see LaunchSystem adware on your Mac, we recommend that you check the security of your system and ensure that no suspicious or potentially harmful files are running on it.
LaunchSystem Adware Summary
| Name | LaunchSystem |
| Type | Adware, Browser Hijacker, PUP |
| Short Description | A questionable application that appears in the Applications list on your Mac. It performs browser modifications without your knowledge. The program may hijack Safari, Chrome and other browsers installed on your Mac. |
| Symptoms | The homepage, new tab page and search engine in preferred web browser may be set to display a hoax search engine. Browser slowdowns may occur due to increased number of online ads. The program may start every time you start the affected Mac. |
| Distribution Method | Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages, Corrupted Websites, Fake Flash Player Updates |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
Download
Malware Removal Tool
|
| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss LaunchSystem Adware. |
More Details About LaunchSystem Adware on Mac
Being detected as a potentially unwanted program by different anti-malware tools, LaunchSystem is proved to be a program that is better to not be running on a MacOS.
Another definition of this app is ad-supported software or adware. Such apps may endanger the overall macOS security with the generation of lots of intrusive ads.
Programs of this type are well known to be spread via shady methods that trick people into installing them without noticing. It is very likely that LaunchSystem adware has landed on your Mac by being part of a software bundle or as an extra added to a freeware package.
To prevent installing undesired apps inadvertently, always opt for the custom software installation approach and avoid automated installers. The moment you select the Custom/Advanced option, you get the chance to unmark any added or recommended software products and proceed with the install process safely. So we recommend that you select this option whenever it is available in apps installers.
As regards the impact of LaunchSystem adware, once installed this PUP applies lots of modifications that affect system performance and online browsing. After the changes, the program may become able to redirect browsers to bogus websites and display suspicious ads on all sites you visit.
The program can be developed to affect Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, or Safari. LaunchSystem may be used for the spread of the so-called Yahoo redirect virus as well. If this happens, it means that LaunchSystem is configured to act like an adware and a browser hijacker simultaneously.
Note that as long as you have an ad-supported software running on your Mac, your affected browsers could be inundated with many annoying ads including:
- Pop-ups.
- Banners.
- Highlighted text ads.
- Ad-supported search results.
Beware of all these ads. It is recommendable to avoid visiting promoted web pages as they could cause some serious security issues.
We recommend that you follow the detailed removal guide below to clean your Mac and secure it against other PUPs. If you want to complete the removal process within a few minutes then consider the help of the presented anti-malware program. Having an active anti-malware program on the device will prevent browser infections like LaunchSystem adware from infecting installed browsers and the operating system.
How to Remove LaunchSystem Adware from macOS
In order to remove LaunchSystem adware along with all its entries on the system, you should complete several removal steps in a precise order. The guide below presents steps that contain manual and automatic approaches. In order to fully get rid of files installed by undesired programs and strengthen macOS security, we recommend that you combine the steps. Some of the files associated with the adware cannot be removed manually except you are an experienced computer user. So the manual adware removal might be quite a complicated process that requires advanced computer skills. If you don’t feel comfortable with the manual steps, navigate to the automatic part of the guide.
In case you have further questions or need additional help with the removal process, don’t hesitate to leave us a comment.
Gergana Ivanova
Highly motivated writer with 5+ years of experience writing for ransomware, malware, adware, PUPs, and other cybersecurity-related issues. As a writer, I strive to create content that is based on thorough technical research. I find joy in the process of creating articles that are easy to understand, informative, and useful. Follow me on Twitter (@IRGergana) for the latest in the field of computer, mobile, and online security.
Follow Me:
Steps to Prepare Before Removal:
Before starting to follow the steps below, be advised that you should first do the following preparations:
- Backup your files in case the worst happens.
- Make sure to have a device with these instructions on standy.
- Arm yourself with patience.
- 1. Scan for Mac Malware
- 2. Uninstall Risky Apps
- 3. Clean Your Browsers
Step 1: Scan for and remove LaunchSystem Adware files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as LaunchSystem Adware, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Quick and Easy Mac Malware Video Removal Guide
Bonus Step: How to Make Your Mac Run Faster?
Mac machines maintain probably the fastest operating system out there. Still, Macs do become slow and sluggish sometimes. The video guide below examines all of the possible problems that may lead to your Mac being slower than usual as well as all of the steps that can help you to speed up your Mac.
Step 2: Uninstall LaunchSystem Adware and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
2. Find Activity Monitor and double-click it:
3. In the Activity Monitor look for any suspicious processes, belonging or related to LaunchSystem Adware:
4. Click on the "Go" button again, but this time select Applications. Another way is with the ⇧+⌘+A buttons.
5. In the Applications menu, look for any suspicious app or an app with a name, similar or identical to LaunchSystem Adware. If you find it, right-click on the app and select “Move to Trash”.
6. Select Accounts, after which click on the Login Items preference. Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to LaunchSystem Adware. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
7. Remove any leftover files that might be related to this threat manually by following the sub-steps below:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove LaunchSystem Adware via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
1. Click on "Go" and Then "Go to Folder" as shown underneath:
2. Type in "/Library/LauchAgents/" and click Ok:
3. Delete all of the virus files that have similar or the same name as LaunchSystem Adware. If you believe there is no such file, do not delete anything.
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 3: Remove LaunchSystem Adware – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
LaunchSystem Adware-FAQ
What is LaunchSystem Adware on your Mac?
The LaunchSystem Adware threat is probably a potentially unwanted app. There is also a chance it could be related to Mac malware. If so, such apps tend to slow your Mac down significantly and display advertisements. They could also use cookies and other trackers to obtain browsing information from the installed web browsers on your Mac.
Can Macs Get Viruses?
Yes. As much as any other device, Apple computers do get malware. Apple devices may not be a frequent target by malware authors, but rest assured that almost all of the Apple devices can become infected with a threat.
What Types of Mac Threats Are There?
According to most malware researchers and cyber-security experts, the types of threats that can currently infect your Mac can be rogue antivirus programs, adware or hijackers (PUPs), Trojan horses, ransomware and crypto-miner malware.
What To Do If I Have a Mac Virus, Like LaunchSystem Adware?
Do not panic! You can easily get rid of most Mac threats by firstly isolating them and then removing them. One recommended way to do that is by using a reputable malware removal software that can take care of the removal automatically for you.
There are many Mac anti-malware apps out there that you can choose from. SpyHunter for Mac is one of the reccomended Mac anti-malware apps, that can scan for free and detect any viruses. This saves time for manual removal that you would otherwise have to do.
How to Secure My Data from LaunchSystem Adware?
With few simple actions. First and foremost, it is imperative that you follow these steps:
Step 1: Find a safe computer and connect it to another network, not the one that your Mac was infected in.
Step 2: Change all of your passwords, starting from your e-mail passwords.
Step 3: Enable two-factor authentication for protection of your important accounts.
Step 4: Call your bank to change your credit card details (secret code, etc.) if you have saved your credit card for online shopping or have done online activiites with your card.
Step 5: Make sure to call your ISP (Internet provider or carrier) and ask them to change your IP address.
Step 6: Change your Wi-Fi password.
Step 7: (Optional): Make sure to scan all of the devices connected to your network for viruses and repeat these steps for them if they are affected.
Step 8: Install anti-malware software with real-time protection on every device you have.
Step 9: Try not to download software from sites you know nothing about and stay away from low-reputation websites in general.
If you follow these reccomendations, your network and Apple devices will become significantly more safe against any threats or information invasive software and be virus free and protected in the future too.
More tips you can find on our MacOS Virus section, where you can also ask any questions and comment about your Mac problems.
About the LaunchSystem Adware Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this LaunchSystem Adware how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific macOS issue.
How did we conduct the research on LaunchSystem Adware?
Please note that our research is based on an independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware definitions, including the various types of Mac threats, especially adware and potentially unwanted apps (PUAs).
Furthermore, the research behind the LaunchSystem Adware threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.