How to remove FractionData (Mac)

What is FractionData

FractionData is an adware-type application with browser hijacker characteristics that targets Mac users. Once installed, it delivers intrusive advertisements and redirects browser search queries to generate advertising revenue. It often presents itself as a legitimate and useful application, tricking users into downloading and installing it. However, its advertised functionality is rarely operational. Once installed on a Mac, FractionData hijacks the browser homepage and search engine, displaying unwanted advertisements not originating from the sites users are browsing. It uses a browser extension or program to redirect browser search queries through FractionData Search, which then redirects to search result pages from search.yahoo.com. This is likely done to generate advertising revenue by using Yahoo Search for its search results. FractionData also opens new tabs in the browser that display advertisements trying to sell software, push fake software updates, and tech support scams. It can significantly degrade and slow down the system, making changes to browser settings to illegally promote fake search engines. This adware also collects personal information, putting user privacy at risk.

How FractionData infects Mac computers

FractionData is typically installed by users, either knowingly or unknowingly. It is often offered through advertisements or bundled with other software, which can leave users puzzled about its origin. Some free downloads do not adequately disclose that other software will also be installed, and users may find that they have installed FractionData without their knowledge. Adware like FractionData can also get installed on Mac operating systems without users’ knowledge through shady methods that trick users into installing it unwittingly. These methods include software bundles, software packages, scam websites, and misleading ads.

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

Remove FractionData manually for free

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

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

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

Remove FractionData from Applications

Remove FractionData from Mac:

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

Cannot uninstall FractionData

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

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

Remove FractionData add-on from your browsers

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

Reset browser settings

To finish FractionData 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 FractionData


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


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

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 FractionData in browsers.

Download AdGuard for Mac

How to protect Mac OSX from adware, like FractionData

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