How To Remove Icefog from Mac

Best Guide To Delete Icefog from System

Icefog  is a highly vicious computer infection that is mainly designed to steal data of the victimized System. It was firstly spotted in the year 2011 and tried to attack in South Korea. The main aim of this backdoor virus is to corrupt the existing files stored on hard disk as soon as possible. It infects System by pretending to be a legitimate app as well. Such apps can be downloaded from highly risky website with low status and converts the all kind of useful application or software such as photo editors.

Once activated successfully, it creates several malicious files in several mac oS System libraries. It makes the mac System highly risky by disable the System security and privacy by inactivate firewall, task manager, control panel and real antivirus program. It has the capability to corrupt the existing System files and create various duplicate file as a similar name in order to regenerate after removal. It also able to install other harmful infections like as malware, spyware, adware and other harmful threats which may cause severe damage your System. It  is able to create malicious copies itself in different name and spread them into various locations. So it is hard to detect and eliminate by normal antimalware tool.

It uses a key logger to gather user’s key habits and steal all kind of personal and financial information including email-id, password, bank account details, IP address, geo locations etc. After that share such details to third party with the aim to earn illegal revenue. Third party can use such details for identity theft, make fraudulent, purchasing etc. It can connect your System with remote server to remotely access your system. It may also take huge resources of the System memory and slow down overall performance. If your system has already infected with this vicious infection then we are highly recommended to remove Icefog virus as quickly as possible.

 Some common properties of Icefog:

• Turn on your web camera.
• Turn on your microphone.
• Steal files.
• Delete files.
• Rename files.
• Steal saved passwords on your browser.
• Use a keylogger to know what keys you type on your keyboard.
• Take screenshots.
• Record your screen.
• Update itself.
• Download and run other malware.

How Icefog gets installed into your System?

Icefog virus mostly gets installed into your System while users download and installed System software via third party downloader site. They often skip custom or advance options as well as other important setting. Skipping such setting offers the installation of some unwanted software.

It can also install via the opening some malicious attachments which received from unknown and suspicious address. The malicious attachments can be into various formats like as word, documents, zip, archer and so on. Updating System Software from third party downloader site, irrelevant sources, or indirect links. Clicking on malicious ads, peer to peer sharing files through eMule, Gnutella etc could also bring  unwanted program.

 How To protect your System from Icefog Virus:

It is highly recommended, do not download or install System software from unreliable sources. Software must be downloading or install from official and trustworthy downloader site. It is highly advice to read their End Users License Agreements [EULAs]. Must select custom , advance and other similar settings.

Do not open email attachments which seems suspicious and sent from unknown sender. If any file seems suspicious please do not open without scanning. It is highly advice to check the grammatical error and spelling mistakes of the email body content. Software must be updated through official and relevant sources. It is important to scan your PC with reputable antimalware tool. If your System is already affected with this vicious infection then we are highly recommended to remove Icefog virus from System.

 Threat Summary:

Name: Icefog

Type: Trojan, Mac Virus

Descriptions: Icefog is a highly vicious computer infection that is mainly designed to steal data of the victimized System.

Symptoms: Turn on your web camera, Turn on your microphone, Steal files, Delete files, Rename files.

Distribution: software bundling,  opening spam email, updating system Software

Removal: To eliminate this infection we are highly advice scan your PC with reputable antimalware tool.

Remove Files and Folders Related to Icefog

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