ChangeParameter Mac Malware - How to remove

ChangeParameter is a malicious app that attacks Macs. It hijacks web browsers, forces them to display ads, and collects data about the victim. ChangeParameter gets installed thanks to malicious ads and it remains installed by changing certain system settings. As a result, it can be difficult to remove permanently.

About ChangeParameter:

Type of threat	Adware, browser hijacker.
How ChangeParameter harms a computer	It forces the victim to visit unwanted websites and to see an excessive number of ads, it collects data about the user, it downloads and installs other adware.
How adware gets installed	Advertised with fake warnings to update software, embedded in the installers of other apps.
Removing ChangeParameter	Remove all malware (Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, others), delete ChangeParameter’s files, settings, app, and extension.

About ChangeParameter

Detected as malware

ChangeParameter’s app (Virustotal.com) and extension (Virustotal.com) are detected by some antivirus programs as Malicious, AdWare, and AdLoad.

With time, more scanners will detect it. ChangeParameter deserves that.

Makes unwanted changes to the browser

Here’s what ChangeParameter did to be labeled malicious:

• It infects Macs through malicious advertisements. In other words, it’s a trojan.
• It changes network settings to hijack the victim’s internet traffic. The crooks behind ChangeParameter can use this to spy on people and to open unwanted sites (advertisements) in their browsers.
• It forces web browsers to use a certain search engine (often it’s Safe Finder).
• It logs user information. It can even see everything that you do in your browser thanks to the ChangeParameter extension.

Not to mention all the technical issues that ChangeParameter may cause:

• Crashing apps, especially online ones like web browsers, streaming apps, and email.
• Websites not loading.
• Unexpected pop-ups.
• Hijacked mouse cursor.

Gets installed secretly

Most likely, you downloaded an infected installer for an app that downloaded ChangeParameter without telling you.

If you download free apps from disreputable sites, always be careful of bundles. Scan the files that you download with an anti-malware app or an online scanner.

Be wary of unusual installation instructions. Apple has Gatekeeper and other technologies to protect you. Be aware of apps that try to get around that.

It’s possible that ChangeParameter is only one of a few apps that appear unexpectedly. For example, if you delete ChangeParameter, it may return, or it may be replaced with DominantMapper, OperativeProgram, and other apps. Or these additional apps may appear alongside ChangeParameter.

How to remove ChangeParameter

ChangeParameter can be very persistent and refuse to be deleted. Thus, its removal process is a bit more time-consuming than that of a normal app:

• You need to find and delete files related to ChangeParameter.
• You need to change some settings in your System Preferences to prevent ChangeParameter from returning.
• Finally, browser settings can be reviewed and changed if needed.

Restore your System Preferences

Delete the ChangeParameter app (Finder, the Applications folder), but that’s not all.

You may need to start your Mac in safe mode to actually delete ChangeParameter, though. To use safe mode, reboot your Mac and hold the Shift key as it’s booting until you see the Apple logo. Safe mode stops unnecessary apps from running and will stop ChangeParameter from interfering with its own deletion.

Then, there are some settings that ChangeParameter set that need to be fixed:

• System Preferences -> Profiles. Delete unknown profiles. These are used to force settings on your Mac.
• System Preferences -> Network -> Advanced -> Proxies. If there’s a proxy set and you if didn’t configure it, deselect it. This is the intermediary server between your Mac and the internet that is sometimes abused by malware.
• System Preferences -> Users & Groups -> Login Items. Remove unwanted items. These are the files that are run/opened when you start your Mac.
• System Preferences -> Extensions. Remove suspicious extensions.

A bit later, check these settings again. If ChangeParameter was not properly removed, it will revert the settings.

Delete ChangeParameter’s files

It’s advisable to try an anti-malware program first. An app such as Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, or another one could save you some effort. Especially because they’re able to check all of your files.

Besides scanning your Mac, you could look for malicious files yourself in the  ~/Library/LaunchAgents, ~/Library/Application Support, /Library/Application Support, /Library/LaunchDaemons folders. Use the Finder -> Go -> Go to Folder dialog to access these files.

Also, open Finder -> Go -> Computer, find all the files that have “ChangeParameter” in their names, and delete them.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Check your browser settings

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

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