Remove SuccessAdvanced Hijacker From Mac

SuccessAdvanced: Complete Uninstall Guide

SuccessAdvanced is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) that affects the time online because it changes the browser’s settings and preferences. Judging on its attributes and behavior, it can be categorized as both adware as well as a browser hijacker. This Mac virus aims to display advertisements, sponsored material, promotional content, and other online material while the victims are surfing the web. Due to this, the related third-party companies, sites, and advertisers grab the attention, collect the views and page visits. The involvement of third-party creates more issues. As soon as you notice the altered homepage, default search engine, or other settings and preferences, you should terminate this intruder.

SuccessAdvanced Implements Various Evil Deeds:

SuccessAdvanced should not be called a virus because it’s not a malicious app or an infection that causes severe damage on the Mac. There are numerous such browser hijackers that aim to perform specific activities during the online sessions. It’s a PUP not a malware, but its relation with other unwanted program creators and annoying apps can trigger more issues. There is no value in using this page as a search engine or a browsing tool at all. The aim of this threat remains the same- generate revenue for the authors.

Due to SuccessAdvanced intrusion, redirects and pop-up ads, banners, reroutes, and other contents appear that can lead to malevolent online sites and services which may trigger installations of spiteful applications. When this adware is running inside your computer, other PUPs can easily find their way on the machine. Sadly, it’s not easy to spot when the infection got its way on the device. Silence and persistence are the main issues with such intruders. You might also suffer from the damage that the threat creates.

Unfortunately, intruders like SuccessAdvanced can create issues with the work-station in a serious way because the registry gets modified and other system parts get affected. These browser-based infections have data-tracking abilities as well. It collects information that includes: browsing and search engine histories, IP addresses, personally identifiable details like credit card numbers, saved passwords etc. Afterwards, the gathered data is shared with interested third-parties and can be utilized for customizing advertisements, making fraudulent transactions, online purchases, and so on. To summarize, presence of this nasty PUP in your Mac can lead to severe privacy issues, identity theft, huge monetary losses, system infections. Thus, SuccessAdvanced removal should not be delayed.

PUP Spread Through Deceptive Methods:

The main way that such potentially unwanted programs get distributed involves misleading online messages, promotional ads, services that display commercial content. You might be asked to update your Java or Adobe Flash Player using a given link that actually results in the installation of PUP. You should pay attention to any suspicious content and make sure to rely on trustworthy sites and software providers.

Freeware installation can result in an adware or hijacker installed on the computer without your knowledge at all. You can avoid such instances if you run a proper installation of the program by using Advanced or Custom options. This way you can avoid unwanted freeware bundling. Do not install software from promotional ads and always rely on systems security tools. To avoid more issues related with this intruder, you must remove SuccessAdvanced from the Mac without wasting any time.

Remove Files and Folders Related to SuccessAdvanced

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 SuccessAdvanced 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 SuccessAdvanced 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 SuccessAdvanced. You can select such harmful files and folders and remove them immediately.