How to remove NetFormatBoost (Mac)

What is NetFormatBoost

NetFormatBoost adware is a type of adware that infects Mac computers and alters the browser settings to display unwanted advertisements. It is classified as a potentially unwanted application (PUA) and can be installed onto your Apple Mac unknowingly. NetFormatBoost adware creates several files that must be found and removed, and some files created by NetFormatBoost are hidden from the user. Once installed, NetFormatBoost will redirect your browser search queries through NetFormatBoost Search, which will redirect to search result pages from search.yahoo.com. This is most likely done to generate advertising revenue by using Yahoo Search for its search results. Use instructions on this page to remove NetFormatBoost from Safari or Google Chrome.

How NetFormatBoost infected your Mac

NetFormatBoost can infect Macs through various methods, including fake software updates, bundled freeware or shareware programs, spam email attachments, and rogue software updaters/installers. It is important to be cautious when downloading and installing software and to avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading data from unfamiliar websites.

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

Remove NetFormatBoost manually for free

Note: NetFormatBoost sets up to start on Mac OS 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 “NetFormatBoost” entry. Select it, and click the “-“ (minus) button to remove it.

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

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

Remove NetFormatBoost from Applications

Remove NetFormatBoost from Mac:

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

Cannot uninstall NetFormatBoost

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

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

Remove NetFormatBoost add-on from your browsers

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

Reset browser settings

To finish NetFormatBoost 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 NetFormatBoost


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


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

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 NetFormatBoost in browsers.

How to protect Mac OSX from adware, like NetFormatBoost

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.