How to remove DockMode (Mac)

What is DockMode

DockMode is an unwanted app that belongs to the AdLoad malware family, which is notorious for developing a number of similar-functioning adware infections. DockMode is one of them as it modifies browser settings to promote intrusive advertisements, which will appear in vast amounts on various pages that users visit. Such ads often contain redirects to scam pages, adult websites, malicious pages distributing malware, and other dubious/dangerous resources as well. In addition, software like DockMode can hijack browser settings to install new search engines and run data surveillance (e.g., history, geolocation, IP addresses, passwords, credit card credentials, etc.) while users browse the web. Thus, DockMode’s presence may lead to privacy threats, financial losses, and other kinds of risks for users infected by it and hence it needs to be removed. Learn the complete and trace-free removal process to get rid of the unwanted program in our instructions below.

How DockMode infected your computer

Fake Adobe Flash Player installers/updates are often the ones used for spreading adware infections. Users may download them via rogue notifications or ads claiming the user’s software is outdated or completely absent. While Flash Player may be outdated or not installed indeed, unofficial pages promoting its installation or updating might deliver infections and should not be trusted. Adware and other unwanted/malicious software may also be proliferated using the “bundling” method. Although it is also used by legitimate and trustworthy software vendors, many cybercriminals abuse it to integrate adware (or other software) as additional offers into third-party program installers. These extra offers are usually made hard to see in the “Advanced”, “Custom”, and “Manual” sections/types of installation. Unless users deselect them on their own, they will get installed on the system along with the program that users intended to install initially. It is recommended to avoid downloading software from unofficial and pirated third-party pages and beware of clicking dubious ads leading to shady web pages. Read our guide below to learn more about protection against such threats in the future.

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

Remove DockMode manually for free

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

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

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

Remove DockMode from Applications

Remove DockMode from Mac:

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

Cannot uninstall DockMode

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

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

Remove DockMode add-on from your browsers

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

Reset browser settings

To finish DockMode 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 DockMode


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


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

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 DockMode in browsers.

Download AdGuard for Mac

How to protect Mac OSX from adware, like DockMode

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