How to remove AccessDefault (Mac)

What is AccessDefault

AccessDefault is an adware-based application that runs unwanted browser changes across Macintosh systems. These changes can be vividly seen in the extensive appearance of new ads and banners during the browsing session. The quality and type of such ads are low and targeted on an individual basis. AccessDefault can analyze your location to display ads relevant to your region. It is also possible that AccessDefault collects personal data like passwords, IP addresses, geolocations, and other types of intel entered whilst surfing the web. Besides being classified as adware, AccessDefault also shares many similarities with browser hijackers, which invade browser settings to change search engines along with your default homepage. This is meant to redirect users through chains of dubious engines helping developers in the generation of fake traffic. In case you spot any of such changes sticking around your browser, it is the sign to ring the bell and delete AccessDefault from your computer immediately. Below, you can find professional instructions to do it.

How AccessDefault infected your computer

Adware and other types of unwanted software find success infecting inexperienced and unattentive users. This can be seen when people opt for downloads from Torrent-sharing websites that advertise free, cracked, or pirated software. Most users do not pay the necessary attention to repacks downloaded from third-party resources. They often rush towards the end of a setup skipping over multiple settings. Specifically, users are unlucky to miss additional sections (e.g. “Advanced”, “Custom”, etc.), which contain promotional offers. Leaving such settings untouched or intentionally selected will lead to the installation of an unwanted piece. As a rule, such offers may be presented as something “useful”, but yet it is quite seldom to be the truth at the end of the day. In addition to that, it is quite reasonable to say that you could install AccessDefault via suspicious ads or links designed to open websites equipped with executable scripts. Such scripts are known to launch the installation of software in the background to prevent users from spotting it out.

Remove AccessDefault manually for free

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

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

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

Remove AccessDefault from Applications

Remove AccessDefault from Mac:

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

Cannot uninstall AccessDefault

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

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

Remove AccessDefault add-on from your browsers

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

Reset browser settings

To finish AccessDefault 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 AccessDefault


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


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

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 AccessDefault in browsers.

Download AdGuard for Mac

How to protect Mac OSX from adware, like AccessDefault

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