Warning
Create a Time Machine backup before major updates, disk operations, or security changes on macOS.
What you will achieve
Clean suspicious Mac software without scam “cleaner” apps making it worse.
1) Boot Safe Mode and inspect startup items
- Start in Safe Mode, then sign in.
- Check System Settings → General → Login Items and remove unknown entries.
2) Remove profiles and browser extensions
- Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Profiles.
- Delete unexpected profiles.
- Remove suspicious Safari/Chrome extensions.
3) Run Apple malware checks
sudo /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c 'Print :Label' /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.XProtectFramework.PluginService.plist