How to remove AccessDefault from Mac

Easy tips to delete AccessDefault

AccessDefault is an adware type application that also poses browser hijacker’s characteristic. In other word, this app serves various intrusive ads and also modifies browser settings to promote an address of a fake search engine. Additionally, it has data tracking capability. Since users download/ install unknowingly, unintentionally, it is deemed to be a potentially unwanted application.

The AccessDefault adware enables the placement of third party graphical content on any visited websites. It displays pop-ups, banners, coupons, surveys and other intrusive advertisements having feature to limit the websites’ visibility and downgrade browsing speed. Those intrusive ads endorse various sale-oriented pages, rogue, untrustworthy, deceptive/ scam, compromised and malicious sites.

Furthermore, some of these ads can be triggered to execute certain scripts designed to download/ install PUAs without users’ consent.  Being a browser hijacker, AccessDefault also makes alteration to browsers’ settings to promote fake search engine address. Usually, this type of apps assign browsers’ default search engine, homepage and new tab so that each opened tab and entered query on the URL bar open the promoted URL address.

Fake search engines are not capable of generating their own search results and therefore they tend to redirect to Yahoo, Bing or Google or other genuine ones. Browser hijackers can reassign any changes to the browsers’ settings and thus restoration to the previous browsers’ settings option is not possible without removing them.

Another detail about PUAs like adware and browser hijackers is that they have the dangerous data tracking feature. The data of their interest include:

• IP addresses,
• Search queries,
• Viewed pages,
• URLs visited,
• ISPs,
• Geo-locations and etc.

These details could be shared with third parties/ potent crooks. Thus, the presence of unwanted app could cause severe system infection, privacy issues, monetary loss and much more.  To protect the system integrity and personal safety, you should immediately remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/ plug-ins installed on your system.

How did AccessDefault enter my system?

PUPs can be downloaded/ installed together with regular software. This deceptive marketing method of packing one app with unwanted and malicious addition is termed as software bundling. Rushed the download and installation processes increase the risk of inadvertent installation of bundled content to the device.

Intrusive ads can be used to spread PUAs as well. Upon being clicked, these ads can execute certain scripts to make stealthy download/ installation. It is important to note that these ads usually appear on various questionable pages. In other word, it might be an indication that some PUA is already running inside which is showing such ads after doing suspicious activities- do make sure about it.

How to prevent PUAs installation?

It is advised to research software well before their download/ install and/or purchase. All downloads should have to be done using official websites and direct links. Dubious downloading channels such as unofficial and free file hosting sites, p2p networks and other third party downloaders- often offer dubious and/or bundled content.

During downloading/ installation, read all terms, study possible option, use Custom/Advanced settings and opt out all additionally attached apps and decline all offers. Additionally, do not click on any ads appear on any shady pages. These ads could be designed to open another suspicious website or to cause unwanted downloads by running malicious scripts.

Remove Files and Folders Related to AccessDefault

Open the “Menu” bar and click the “Finder” icon. Select “Go” and click on “Go to Folder…”

Step 1: Search the suspicious and doubtful malware generated files in /Library/LaunchAgents folder

Type /Library/LaunchAgents in the “Go to Folder” option

In the “Launch Agent” folder, search for all the files that you have recently downloaded and move them to “Trash”. Few of the examples of files created by browser-hijacker or adware are as follow, “myppes.download.plist”, “mykotlerino.Itvbit.plist”, installmac.AppRemoval.plist”, and “kuklorest.update.plist” and so on.

Step 2: Detect and remove the files generated by the adware in “/Library/Application” Support folder

In the “Go to Folder..bar”, type “/Library/Application Support”

Search for any suspicious newly added folders in “Application Support” folder. If you detect any one of these like “NicePlayer” or “MPlayerX” then send them to “Trash” folder.

Step 3: Look for the files generated by malware in /Library/LaunchAgent Folder:

Go to Folder bar and type /Library/LaunchAgents

You are in the “LaunchAgents” folder. Here, you have to search for all the newly added files and move them to “Trash” if you find them suspicious. Some of the examples of suspicious files generated by malware are “myppes.download.plist”, “installmac.AppRemoved.plist”, “kuklorest.update.plist”, “mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist” and so on.

Step4: Go to /Library/LaunchDaemons Folder and search for the files created by malware

Type /Library/LaunchDaemons in the “Go To Folder” option

In the newly opened “LaunchDaemons” folder, search for any recently added suspicious files and move them to “Trash”. Examples of some of the suspicious files are “com.kuklorest.net-preferences.plist”, “com.avickUpd.plist”, “com.myppes.net-preference.plist”, “com.aoudad.net-preferences.plist” and so on.

Step 5: Use Combo Cleaner Anti-Malware and Scan your Mac PC

The malware infections could be removed from the Mac PC if you execute all the steps mentioned above in the correct way. However, it is always advised to be sure that your PC is not infected. It is suggested to scan the work-station with “Combo Cleaner Anti-virus”.

Once the file gets downloaded, double click on combocleaner.dmg installer in the newly opened window. Next is to open the “Launchpad” and press on “Combo Cleaner” icon. It is advised to wait until “Combo Cleaner” updates the latest definition for malware detection. Click on “Start Combo Scan” button.

A depth scan of your Mac PC will be executed in order to detect malware. If the Anti-virus scan report says “no threat found” then you can continue with guide further. On the other hand, it is recommended to delete the detected malware infection before continuing.

Now the files and folders created by the adware is removed, you have to remove the rogue extensions from the browsers.

Remove AccessDefault from Internet Browsers

Delete Doubtful and Malicious Extension from Safari

Go to “Menu Bar” and open “Safari” browser. Select “Safari” and then “Preferences”

In the opened “preferences” window, select “Extensions” that you have recently installed. All such extensions should be detected and click the “Uninstall” button next to it. If you are doubtful then you can remove all the extensions from “Safari” browser as none of them are important for smooth functionality of the browser.

In case if you continue facing unwanted webpage redirections or aggressive advertisements bombarding, you can reset the “Safari” browser.

“Reset Safari”

Open the Safari menu and choose “preferences…” from the drop-down menu.

Go to the “Extension” tab and set the extension slider to “Off” position. This disables all the installed extensions in the Safari browser

Next step is to check the homepage. Go to “Preferences…” option and choose “General” tab. Change the homepage to your preferred URL.

Also check the default search-engine provider settings. Go to “Preferences…” window and select the “Search” tab and select the search-engine provider that you want such as “Google”.

Next is to clear the Safari browser Cache- Go to “Preferences…” window and select “Advanced” tab and click on “Show develop menu in the menu bar.“

Go to “Develop” menu and select “Empty Caches”.

Remove website data and browsing history. Go to “Safari” menu and select “Clear History and Website Data”. Choose “all history” and then click on “Clear History”.

Remove Unwanted and Malicious Plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox

Delete AccessDefault add-ons from Mozilla Firefox

Open the Firefox Mozilla browser. Click on the “Open Menu” present in the top right corner of the screen. From the newly opened menu, choose “Add-ons”.

Go to “Extension” option and detect all the latest installed add-ons. Select each of the suspicious add-ons and click on “Remove” button next to them.

In case if you want to “reset” the Mozilla Firefox browser then follow the steps that has been mentioned below.

Reset Mozilla Firefox Settings

Open the Firefox Mozilla browser and click on “Firefox” button situated at the top left corner of the screen.

In the new menu, go to “Help” sub-menu and choose “Troubleshooting Information”

In the “Troubleshooting Information” page, click on “Reset Firefox” button.

Confirm that you want to reset the Mozilla Firefox settings to default by pressing on “Reset Firefox” option

The browser will get restarted and the settings changes to factory default

Delete Unwanted and Malicious Extensions from Google Chrome

Open the chrome browser and click on “Chrome menu”. From the drop down option, choose “More Tools” and then “Extensions”.

In the “Extensions” option, search for all the recently installed add-ons and extensions. Select them and choose “Trash” button. Any third-party extension is not important for the smooth functionality of the browser.

Reset Google Chrome Settings

Open the browser and click on three line bar at the top right side corner of the window.

Go to the bottom of the newly opened window and select “Show advanced settings”.

In the newly opened window, scroll down to the bottom and choose “Reset browser settings”

Click on the “Reset” button on the opened “Reset browser settings” window

Restart the browser and the changes you get will be applied

The above mentioned manual process should be executed as it is mentioned. It is a cumbersome process and requires a lot of technical expertise. And hence it is advised for technical experts only. To be sure that your PC is free from malware, it is better that you scan the work-station with a powerful anti-malware tool. The automatic malware removal application is preferred because it doesn’t requires any additional technical skills and expertise.

Download the application and execute it on the PC to begin the depth scanning. Once the scanning gets completed, it shows the list of all the files related to AccessDefault. You can select such harmful files and folders and remove them immediately.