How to remove ExtendedTool Adware from Mac

Easy methods to delete ExtendedTool Adware from Mac OS X (Remove Mac Virus)

In this article, we are discussing about ExtendedTool Adware (Mac Malware) in details and providing some recommended methods/procedures to remove this malware from machine. Let’s starts the discussion.

What is ExtendedTool Adware?

“ExtendedTool” is misleading application that is categorised as Mac Adware or Mac Virus. This dubious application runs malicious advertisements means shows lots of unwanted advertisements on its platform to promote third parties’ search engine. It promotes “akamaihd.net” via “Safe Finder” and changes the default search engine, homepage and new tab URLs of your browser with fake search engine or domain. It adds ExtendedTool Adware or other malicious extensions to your browser that allows the other hackers to trace your online habit and steals your sensitive information as well. So, it is important to delete ExtendedTool Adware from machine as soon as possible.

ExtendedTool Adware is designed to target your Mac OS computer without your permission. It does malicious infection in your computer and corrupts major genuine functions or applications of your computer that causes serious troubles. However, it is hard to detect/delete this malware by most of the antimalware programs running in your machine because it blocks all the security tools/applications including antivirus software. In simple word, we can say that you can’t work on your computer comfortably as usual like before due to its dubious behaviours. If your System has detected this malware, then you should try to remove ExtendedTool Adware from machine immediately.

Threat Summary

Threat Name: ExtendedTool Adware

Threat Type: Browser hijacker, Mac Malware, Mac Adware, Mac Virus, PUP, PUA

Browser infected: Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, etc

System infected: Mac OS X based devices

Description: This nasty malware injects malicious codes in your Mac OS X based devices and starts corrupting major genuine functions of your computer. You Mac PC become slower than normal, you see lots of unwanted ads or popup messages and get redirected to shady or scam websites constantly.

Distribution methods: Bundles of freeware or shareware, malicious ads or popup messages, suspicious hyperlinks, fake software updates or security alert messages and many other tricks.

Motives of crooks: Aims to collect your personal information as well as steal your money from your wallet or e-wallet

Removal Solution: To remove ExtendedTool Adware or similar infection, we recommended you to scan your computer with powerful antivirus software.

What ExtendedTool Adware does?

As discussed above, ExtendedTool Adware is unsafe program for your online privacy & System security. It injects malicious codes in your browser’s settings as well as in your System’s settings that causes serious troubles. Cybercriminals are behind such illegal tactics who wants to gain some illegal online profit and cheat with innocent users. They never do any mercy with you. Its main motive is to steal your sensitive information such as IP address, URLs search, user name & password of various accounts, banking information and more details as well. However, it can connect your System to remote server and allows the attackers to access or control your computer in its own ways that can be very dangerous for you.

How your System gets infected from ExtendedTool Adware?

The Mac Malware or Mac Virus is mostly get install in your computer from bundles of free software packages which you are downloaded from internet. Cybercriminals use “Methods of software bundling” to install some additional programs in your Mac OS X. These additional programs can adware, Trojan, ransomware, worm or other malware that can infect your System deeply.

But it is possible to avoid the installation of these potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) or adware in your machine. Software developers recommended you to choose custom/advance settings for the installation of free software packages in your machine. In case if these settings are not given, then you can cancel the process of installation. So, you should be alert while surfing online and avoid installing freeware in your computer from unknown sources.

Precautionary measures:

• Keep your operating System up to date
• Remove all the faculty software running in your device
• Update all the genuine software including security applications
• Scan your computer with powerful antivirus software in regular time intervals
• Hover your mouse over any hyperlinks before click and please check if the hyperlinks are belongs to some trustworthy domains or sources.

Remove Files and Folders Related to ExtendedTool 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 ExtendedTool 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 ExtendedTool 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 ExtendedTool Adware. You can select such harmful files and folders and remove them immediately.