How to remove BrowserFormula (Mac)

What is BrowserFormula

BrowserFormula is a type of adware targeting macOS systems that generates intrusive advertisements such as pop-ups, banners, and coupons. This unwanted software not only disrupts the user browsing experience but also poses significant privacy risks by collecting data like visited websites, search queries, and potentially sensitive information. Security vendors commonly detect BrowserFormula as malicious due to its association with promoting deceptive and potentially harmful content. Its presence can lead to system slowdowns, crashes, and interference with legitimate applications. Installation often occurs through deceptive pop-up ads, bundled software installers, or unreliable third-party sources. Due to its resilient nature, BrowserFormula can resist removal attempts and may reinstall itself if not completely eradicated. Prompt and thorough removal is critical to protecting system security and user privacy.

How BrowserFormula infects Mac computers

BrowserFormula typically infects Macs through deceptive software distribution methods, primarily bundled with free applications or via malicious advertisements. Users often encounter pop-ups or misleading ads that entice them to download the adware, presenting it as a legitimate tool or enhancement. Once installed, BrowserFormula integrates itself into the system, altering browser settings and delivering intrusive advertisements. This adware exploits the user’s tendency to rush through installation processes, leading them to inadvertently agree to the installation of unwanted software by skipping over critical steps labeled “Advanced” or “Custom.” Furthermore, it can collect sensitive user data, including browsing habits and personal information, raising significant privacy and security concerns. To mitigate the risk of infection, users should exercise caution when downloading software, ensuring they only use reputable sources and carefully reviewing installation prompts.

1. Download BrowserFormula Removal Tool
2. Remove BrowserFormula from Login Items
3. Remove/Uninstall BrowserFormula from Applications
4. Remove BrowserFormula from browsers
5. Reset browser settings
6. Remove BrowserFormula files and folders
7. Block BrowserFormula ads and pop-ups
8. How to protect from threats, like BrowserFormula

Remove BrowserFormula manually for free

Note: BrowserFormula sets up to start on macOS startup. Therefore, before starting the removal, perform these steps:

1. Open System Preferences, choose Users & Groups.
2. Choose your account (set up as Current User).
3. Click Login Items tab.
4. Find “BrowserFormula” entry. Select it, and click the “-“ (minus) button to remove it.

Note 2: BrowserFormula won’t quit just by closing it, therefor use Force Quit to end the process.

1. Press 3 buttons at the same time: Option, Command, and Esc (Escape). This is similar to Control-Alt-Delete on a Windows PC.
2. Choose BrowserFormula in the list.
3. Click Force Quit button.

Here is a manual step-by-step tutorial for full BrowserFormula removal from your computer. This works 99% and was checked with the latest versions of BrowserFormula installer on operating systems with the latest updates and browser versions.

Remove BrowserFormula from Applications

Remove BrowserFormula from Mac:

1. In the Finder sidebar, click Applications.
2. BrowserFormula might have an Uninstaller. If you see Uninstall BrowserFormula or BrowserFormula Uninstaller, double-click it and follow the onscreen instructions.
3. Otherwise, drag BrowserFormula from the Applications folder to the Trash (located at the end of the Dock).
4. Then choose Finder > Empty Trash.

Cannot uninstall BrowserFormula

If you can’t uninstall BrowserFormula using instructions above, or it keeps coming back, you can use free AppCleaner for Mac to remove all residual data and libraries of BrowserFormula. Follow instructions below:

1. Download free AppCleaner.
2. Drag BrowserFormula from Applications folder to AppCleaner window.
3. Choose files and folders you want to remove along with BrowserFormula.
4. Click Delete button.

Remove BrowserFormula add-on from your browsers

Removing BrowserFormula from Applications often does not bring the desired effect. It is a browser extension, and it may still be active in Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Here are instructions on how to remove the BrowserFormula extension from your browsers manually.

Safari:

1. Start Safari on your Mac, click Safari to open drop-down menu and choose Preferences
2. Click Extensions tab.
3. Find BrowserFormula extension.
4. Click Uninstall button to remove it.

Google Chrome:

1. Start Google Chrome browser
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) chrome://extensions.
3. Find BrowserFormula extension.
4. Click the trash can icon to remove it.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Start Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) about:addons.
3. Choose BrowserFormula extension.
4. Click Disable or Remove button.

Reset browser settings

To finish BrowserFormula removal, reset your browser settings to make sure, there are no leftover items in browser folders.

Reset Safari:

1. Start Safari on your Mac, click Safari to open drop-down menu and choose Preferences
2. Go to the Privacy section of Safari’s preferences.
3. Click Remove All Website Data button.
4. In the opened window, click Remove Now button to remove data stored by websites in Safari.
5. Go to the Advanced section of Safari’s preferences.
6. Click the Show Develop menu in menu bar option.
7. In the menu, click Develop and select Empty Caches from this menu.
8. Again, go to Safari menu and choose Clear History….
9. Choose to clear all history and click Clear History button.

Reset Google Chrome:

1. Start Google Chrome browser
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) chrome://settings.
3. Scroll down and find Show advanced settings link.
4. Click on it and scroll down to the bottom again.
5. Click Reset settings button and click Reset to confirm.

Reset Mozilla Firefox:

1. Start Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) about:support.
3. Click Refresh Firefox… button.
4. Click Refresh Firefox to confirm.

Remove following files and folders of BrowserFormula


~/Library/Application Support/.[random_string]/Services/com.BrowserFormula.service.app
~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.BrowserFormula.service.plist
/Library/Application Support/.[random_string]/System/com.BrowserFormula.system
/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.BrowserFormula.system.plist


Download AdGuard for Mac to block malicious pop-ups, that promote BrowserFormula

AdGuard is the best ad-blocker, internet filtering, and internet security application for macOS. It can cut out unwanted banners from site pages, block pop-ups, stop redirects, and prevent users from visiting potentially dangerous resources. Use it to stop ads promoting BrowserFormula in browsers.

Download AdGuard for Mac

How to protect Mac OSX from adware, like BrowserFormula

Mac OSX is known to be one of the safest operating systems, and for a long time, there was no need for antivirus products for Mac. But with the growing popularity of Mac computers and notebooks and evolving technology, viruses, trojans, adware, toolbars, hijackers, and other malware paved the way for Mac users. We recommend you to use one of the best anti-malware for Mac available — Malwarebytes for Mac.

Download Malwarebytes for Mac