How to remove Mulkey (Mac)

What is Mulkey

Mulkey is an adware-type application that primarily targets macOS systems. This software is known for running intrusive advertisement campaigns that disrupt the user experience by delivering various pop-ups and banners. It often exhibits traits typical of browser hijackers, modifying browser settings to promote fake search engines while tracking user data. Distribution methods for Mulkey commonly include deceptive pop-up ads, bundled software installations, and fake updates, such as those for Adobe Flash Player. Once installed, it can lead to significant privacy concerns, as it may collect sensitive information like browsing habits and personal details. Users experiencing Mulkey-related issues are advised to take immediate action to remove the application and mitigate potential risks to their systems.

How Mulkey infects Mac computers

Mulkey adware primarily infects Mac systems through deceptive distribution methods, often bundled with legitimate software that users download from unofficial or third-party websites. This technique, known as “bundling,” allows Mulkey to be packaged with desired applications, making it easy for users to inadvertently install it. Additionally, it often masquerades as a critical update—most notably, fake Adobe Flash Player updates—that prompts users to download and install the adware under the guise of enhancing their system functionality. Once installed, Mulkey begins displaying intrusive advertisements, hijacking browser settings, and tracking user data, thereby compromising privacy and degrading the overall browsing experience. Users typically fall victim to Mulkey due to rushed installation processes, overlooking important installation steps or terms that disclose the inclusion of unwanted applications. To mitigate the risk of such infections, it is crucial to download software only from official sources and carefully examine installation prompts for any bundled threats.

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

Remove Mulkey manually for free

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

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

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

Remove Mulkey from Applications

Remove Mulkey from Mac:

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

Cannot uninstall Mulkey

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

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

Remove Mulkey add-on from your browsers

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

Reset browser settings

To finish Mulkey 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 Mulkey


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


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

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 Mulkey in browsers.

Download AdGuard for Mac

How to protect Mac OSX from adware, like Mulkey

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