How to remove IdeaReference adware from Mac OS

Simple steps to delete IdeaReference adware

IdeaReference is advertisement based malicious program that is mainly designed to target Mac operating system. This dubious malware gets enter into your PC accidentally from various methods of bundling and social engineering and leads major damage into your computer. However, very few users download and install this type of apps intentionally as most of the times it gets redirected by potentially unwanted programs that are already present into their device. Although, these apps promotes fake search engine by altering certain browsers settings. After successful installation, these PUAs cause redirects, display intrusive adverts campaigns and track user system information.

What is IdeaReference?

IdeaReference is potentially unwanted application that has been classified as adware. This malicious program has the ability to bombard your system web browser with lots of annoying advertisements in form of pop-up ads, coupons, discounts, deals and other similar ads. The primary feature of this app is to serve third party ads, forcing you to visit unknown websites and download unwanted programs. Apart from this, it can also take complete control over your main browser such as Apple Safari, Google chrome, Firefox, Edge and others. After intrusion, it will make several unwanted changes like default homepage, search engine and new tab of URL bar.

In order to click on such displayed ads, those ads can redirect you to sales-oriented, deceptive or even malicious websites. Regardless of their type, it also has the ability to collect personal as well as financial information and send it to third parties (who might be cyber criminals) who misuse those details in order to generate revenue as much as possible. These all the main reasons why PUAs should not be trusted and if there is some app of this type already installed on a browser then you must try to uninstall it immediately. Moreover, you can’t perform well if this virus is installed into your device for long time, it will degrade the speed and make slow.

Intrusion tactics of IdeaReference:

In most cases, it primarily gets entered through third party programs, spam emails, suspicious websites, harmful links, porn or torrent sites and many more tricks. You can also get this type of infection into your computer while downloading and installing fake software updates from unreliable sources. Once installed, it will disable your antivirus and firewall programs to avoid its removal and detection. It can also inject its malign codes to the registry editor to get started automatically on your machine. So, you are strongly advised to be very careful while downloading any app from unknown web pages.

How to avoid installation of PUAs?

The key to computer safety is cautious therefore it is recommended to use official websites and direct download links to download any applications. Other unreliable tools that are mentioned in above paragraph should be avoided as they are used to offer deceptive or bundled content. Further, downloads and installations should not be completed without checking or changing available settings. Intrusive ads can look legitimate as they redirect people to harmful websites. Sometimes, it can cause unwanted downloads or installations. So, you must avoid clicking on such ads. If there is an unwanted extension installed on a browser or program of this type then you must uninstall it as soon as possible.

Remove IdeaReference

The removal of IdeaReference is possible by going through both manual as well as automatic processes. However, manual process is lengthy and time-taking as it also requires advanced computer knowledge to detect and delete this nasty threat. Instead this, you can also use Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS that has the ability to remove IdeaReference and all adware soon from the computer.

Quick Glance

Name: IdeaReference

Type: Mac OS Adware

Short Description: Infect your browser, show unwanted pop-up ads, and redirect your browser on potentially harmful and phishing websites.

Symptoms: Lots of third party ads flowing around, forced browser redirection on low quality websites, new page ads etc.

Distribution Method: Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages, spam emails, cracked software, illegal patches.

Damage: steal financial as well as personal information, identity theft and allow other additional malware infections.

Removal: To remove IdeaReference and all harmful malware, we recommend you to use powerful anti-malware removal tool.

Remove Files and Folders Related to IdeaReference

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