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  • Active
  • Severity: Medium
  • Adware
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Feb 2021

How to remove SystemMonitor

A step-by-step removal guide for affected devices. Follow the verified procedure below — most readers complete it in under 10 minutes.

Julie Splinters · Anti-malware specialist

SystemMonitor – is an adware-type program that bombards its users with all kinds of advertisements

SystemMonitor adware

SystemMonitor is a potentially unwanted program because it shows deceptive ads, redirects users to hazardous affiliated websites, and collects browsing-related data. Furthermore, it exploits the legitimate “Managed by your organization” feature on Google Chrome browsers to make it harder to remove it. It's worth mentioning that this PUP can affect any device (Mac, Windows, Android) and any browser (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, etc.).

In most cases, SystemMonitor ads don't originate from websites that you're visiting. The displayed ads may include explicit, misleading, inappropriate content and can come in many forms – pop-ups, banners, in-text hyperlinks, or can even cover the whole browser window.

If any of these ads are clicked, you might be redirected to a malicious site, where more PUPs or even malware can be downloaded. If you have this adware installed on your device, you came to the right place to find out how to get rid of it once and for all and to find out more about these types of infections.

name SystemMonitor
Type PUP, adware, redirect virus
symptoms A slower internet connection and overall device performance, intrusive ads and redirects to dubious websites
Risks Redirects might lead to shady portals where users will be pushed to install additional PUPs, give up their private details, etc.
Additional info To establish persistence, this adware adds the “Managed by your organization” feature
Distribution Deceptive ads, software bundles
detection names Trojan.Win32.Ekstak.ainyd, Spyware.FickerStealer, Trojan:Win32/Ymacco.AA23,
Trojan.Gen.MBT, RDN/Generic Downloader.x[1]
Removal To completely eliminate this PUP from any device, users must use a trustworthy anti-malware tool
system fix To restore corrupted system files and wipe tracking cookies, use the FortectIntego system optimizer

As we've mentioned before, SystemMonitor redirects and ads may endanger users. Adware operators don't care where their money comes from, as long as it keeps coming. So users could get redirected to sites with explicit or even malicious content, where their devices could get infected with severe malware.

A technique called drive-by downloads[2] doesn't even require the user to click on anything in a redirected website. The virus payload file, if programmed to, could get downloaded automatically. Furthermore, SystemMonitor adware can record your browsing habits and details, such as:

  • most visited sites,
  • search queries,
  • device and browser details,
  • IP addresses,
  • geolocation, etc.

This data is usually used to make ads just for you. But there's no guarantee that such details won't be shared with third-parties that could misuse this information for mischievous deeds. It is unsafe to use this adware. Thus we recommend users remove SystemMonitor from their devices immediately.

Reliable anti-malware software will be required for this task. If you don't own one, we recommend either SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes. Either of these apps is capable of identifying, locating, isolating, and removing the adware with all of its particles. Launch the security tool, scan the whole system, and stick to the AV tool recommendations to proceed.

Manual SystemMonitor removal might be necessary to get rid of the irritating “Managed by your company” error. At the bottom of this article, we've provided detailed free instructions on removing this feature from Google Chrome browsers.

If you've clicked on any SystemMonitor ads or were redirected to questionable sites, you have to scan your device for system irregularities and tracking cookies. Experts[3] have agreed that the best all-around tool for that is the powerful FortectIntego system repair software.

SystemMonitor virus

Avoid software from deceptive ads and bundles

Although adware, browser hijackers, and other potentially unwanted programs have been around for a while now, people still get tricked into installing them. There are two main ways that PUPs are installed – either through deceptive ads or with software/freeware bundles.

Misleading ads on shady websites can tell that you desperately need to update your outdated software or install an AV tool because a virus was detected. Internet users have to remember one thing – no website can determine if your software is out of date or whether you have a malware infection. Please don't believe what you see in ads and download only legitimate, verified software straight from its developers.

Another trick that PUP operators use is adding their creations to software or freeware bundles. Apps in these packs are pre-selected for installation, so as soon as Standard/Recommended/Quick installation is chosen, all apps, including PUPs, are installed. If there is no other way to obtain a program that you want apart from a bundle, select the Advanced/Custom mode and deselect all additional apps you don't want. 

Remove SystemMonitor to evade other PUPs and malware

Potentially unwanted programs aren't as hazardous as malware,[4], but that doesn't mean that it's safe to keep using them. Like the SystemMonitor virus, adware severely impedes the browsing experience by bombarding its users with ads, redirects and may lead to other PUP installations. 

Therefore, you should remove SystemMonitor from your device as soon as possible. The best way to do that is by entrusting this task to a professional anti-malware tool that will do it automatically. Furthermore, keep your AV tool virus database updated regularly so it could stop PUPs and malware from infecting your machine.

You might have to finish SystemMonitor removal manually. It might seem challenging, but we're here to help, so stick to our guidelines below, and you'll be done within a couple of minutes. Afterward, run system diagnostics with powerful system repair tools to delete tracking cookies and get your device back to normal.

Uninstall from Windows

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 7/XP

Remove the unwanted program:

  1. In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
  2. If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.Uninstall the unwanted program from Windows

Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

Reset Internet Explorer

Remove dangerous add-ons:

  1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
  2. Pick Manage Add-ons.
  3. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Change your homepage if it was altered:

  1. Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
  2. Select Internet Options.
  3. In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
  4. Click Apply and then select OK.Reset IE homepage

Delete temporary files:

  1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
  2. Under Browsing history, click Delete...
  3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.Clear temporary files from Internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer:

  1. Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
  2. Select Reset.
  3. In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.Reset Internet Explorer

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

  1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
  2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
  3. Click Remove.Remove extensions from Edge

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.Reset MS Edge

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2

Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
  2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.

Reset Google Chrome:

If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2

Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
  2. Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.Remove extensions from Safari

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari

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