How to remove LogFormat (Mac)

What is LogFormat

LogFormat is a recently discovered adware targeting Mac computers, identified as part of the AdLoad malware family. This malicious program is designed to run intrusive advertisement campaigns, posing significant risks to device security and user privacy. LogFormat displays various types of advertisements, including pop-ups and banners, during browsing sessions. Its ad display behavior is conditional, potentially not activating if certain criteria such as browser compatibility, user geographical location, or specific website visits are not met. Despite this, the mere presence of LogFormat on a system compromises its security and user safety, even without displaying ads. The ads promoted by LogFormat often lead to dubious content, including online scams, unreliable or harmful software, and malware. These can be particularly dangerous as they may trigger unauthorized downloads or stealth installations of harmful programs. While some legitimate content might occasionally be advertised, it is rarely endorsed by official sources, with promotion likely conducted by scammers for illicit gains. Unlike some malware, LogFormat has been observed to possess browser hijacker functionalities, modifying browser settings without user consent and causing unwanted redirects to potentially malicious websites.

How LogFormat infects Mac computers

LogFormat’s installation is often the result of users unknowingly agreeing to install it, possibly through deceptive advertisements or software bundling. Once installed, it can display malicious ads leading to phishing websites, scams, or malicious downloads, collect and share personal information without consent, hijack web browser settings, install unwanted software, track and sell user data, interfere with system performance, exploit vulnerabilities, and compromise online accounts. The presence of LogFormat on a Mac can lead to system infections, privacy breaches, financial losses, and identity theft, underscoring the importance of its removal and the adoption of safe computing practices to prevent future infections.

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

Remove LogFormat manually for free

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

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

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

Remove LogFormat from Applications

Remove LogFormat from Mac:

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

Cannot uninstall LogFormat

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

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

Remove LogFormat add-on from your browsers

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

Reset browser settings

To finish LogFormat 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 LogFormat


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


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

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 LogFormat in browsers.

How to protect Mac OSX from adware, like LogFormat

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.