How To Remove DataQuest Adware From Mac System

Simple Steps To Delete DataQuest Adware From PC

DataQuest Adware is a kind of potentially unwanted application which silently infiltrates the Mac computers and then performs a series of malevolent deeds in the background. This perilous adware bombards your system screen with thousands of annoying ads and pop-ups all over the day and makes it very difficult for you to surf the Internet efficiently like before. These ads are in multiple forms such as deals, offers, coupons, banners, discounts etc. that are based on pay-per-click mechanism and earn revenues for the creators upon being clicked. These adverts include paid links and tapping upon them lead you to unknown web pages that are trying to increase their popularity and gain more visits.

The sole motive of the developers of DataQuest Adware is to promote third-party products, services and websites and make quick profits from rookie users. With each redirection on the affiliated domains, this nasty PUP makes commission for the developers. However, noticeable thing here is that this nasty adware might also redirect you to malware-laden sites that are filled with with malicious contents and cause more hazards to your computer. You might be also rerouted to web portals where tons of fake security warnings are displayed claiming that some issues have been detected in your system and then forced to install rogue software or buy worthless product. And hence, we highly advise to avoid interacting with these ads adverts no matter how attractive or useful they look and try to remove DataQuest Adware virus from the work-station as soon as possible.

How Does This PUP Enter Your System:

It is extremely important to pay close attention and be very cautious of potential threats hidden behind precarious web content. Free download platforms, gambling sites, advertising services etc. are not that harmless as they may seem. Multiple questionable domains include pop-ups or pop-unders which inject spiteful links or even cause direct downloads of malware or virus. These automatic installs are not revealed and take place behind your back, but even those freeware downloads that you execute yourself can redirect you to hazardous material and cause intrusion of DataQuest Adware or other unwanted infections.

Free software downloading pages, free-sharing platforms, p2p services, etc. contain pre-bundled packages and when you select Quick or Recommended options, all packed components sneak into the machine automatically. And therefore, you should always choose Custom or Advanced installation and select the shady programs from the list to avoid these malware attacks.

Summarize Information

Name: DataQuest Adware

Type: Adware, Potentially unwanted program, Mac virus

Functionality: Aims to redirect Mac users to affiliated websites, promote sponsored products, services and programs and make Online revenues for the developers, Also steal users’ personal and confidential information and share them with hackers for evil purposes.

Symptoms: Endless intrusive ads, default Internet search engine, Fake pop-up messages, identity theft, new tab settings. Users are enforced to visit hijacker’s website and search the Internet using their search engines, slowness of infected system’s performance.

Distribution methods: Free software installers (bundling), Deceptive emails, malicious pop-ups ads, fake flash player installers.

Damage: Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites.

Removal: To get rid of this infection and other malware threats, our security researchers recommend scanning your computer with a powerful anti-malware tool.

Other Malevolent Acts of DataQuest Adware:

DataQuest Adware makes spiteful entries in boot section and changes its default settings in order to get automatically activated every time the machine is started. Nevertheless, this act brings several malevolent issues in the infected PC such as hard drive failure, frequent system crash, boot errors, application malfunctioning and so on. This nasty adware slows down the overall computer performance drastically as it consumes enormous amount of memory resources and increases the usage of CPU. It messes with important system files which assure efficient PC functioning and prevents many installed apps as well as drivers from working in a proper manner.

DataQuest Adware displays fake security warnings, error messages, update notifications etc. and tries to deceive you into installing bogus application. This hazardous PUP interferes with your privacy because it gets access to your browsing history and other preferences during the Online sessions and can cause serious privacy threat. Problems with your browsing safety arise instantly after the infiltration of this parasite, so once you notice strange system behavior or anything suspicious, you should react. Your identity may be at big hazard because browsing history and location are not the only data this hijacker can gather, your emails and other information stored on the computer and browser, directly get stolen. And therefore, looking at all these threats, you must delete DataQuest Adware from the device without wasting any time.

Remove Files and Folders Related to DataQuest Adware

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