How to remove HitchSpace (Mac)

What is HitchSpace

HitchSpace is an adware program that belongs to the AdLoad malware family. It infects Mac computers and runs intrusive advertisement campaigns. Adware like HitchSpace can display ads on visited websites, promote online scams, untrustworthy software, and potentially harmful software. It may also collect sensitive information, such as visited URLs, viewed webpages, search queries, and personal data, which can be sold to third parties or abused for profit. The presence of HitchSpace on a Mac can result in system infections, privacy issues, financial losses, and identity theft. Remember to be cautious when browsing the internet and downloading software to avoid adware infections. Regularly scan your Mac with a reputable antivirus program to ensure it remains free of adware and other malicious software.

How HitchSpace infects Mac computers

HitchSpace typically infects a Mac through deceptive methods. It often appears as a regular, harmless application, promising various functionalities to entice users into downloading and installing it. However, these features are usually fake and nonoperational. Once installed, it can start running intrusive advertisement campaigns and collecting sensitive data.

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

Remove HitchSpace manually for free

Note: HitchSpace 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 “HitchSpace” entry. Select it, and click the “-“ (minus) button to remove it.

Note 2: HitchSpace 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 HitchSpace in the list.
3. Click Force Quit button.

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

Remove HitchSpace from Applications

Remove HitchSpace from Mac:

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

Cannot uninstall HitchSpace

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

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

Remove HitchSpace add-on from your browsers

Removing HitchSpace 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 HitchSpace 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 HitchSpace 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 HitchSpace 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 HitchSpace extension.
4. Click Disable or Remove button.

Reset browser settings

To finish HitchSpace 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 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 HitchSpace


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


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

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 HitchSpace in browsers.

Download AdGuard for Mac

How to protect Mac OSX from adware, like HitchSpace

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