How To Remove iMacCleaner Adware From Mac Computer

Proper Guide To Delete iMacCleaner From System

iMacCleaner is presented as a useful application that removes junk files, browser cache and uninstall unwanted software from Mac PC and improves overall system performance. However, despite of all the claims, it is indeed a potentially undesired program which tends to silently sneak into the targeted device and cause various hazardous issues in the machine. This nasty adware allows people to scan the work-station for malicious files, unwanted programs and some other entries objects. However, it can not be done without upgrading the app to Pro version. On other words, of you want to take advantage of this application, you will have to pay for it.

More Details About iMacCleaner:

iMacCleaner has been intentionally designed by a team of potent Cyber criminals in order to generate Online revenues and drop other PUPs in the system. It also displays commercial contents and other forms of advertisements and tries to make people click on them in order to earn incomes via pay-per-click mechanism. These ads include sponsored links and once you click on them, you are redirected to sites where numerous third-party products and services are prompted. It eats up enormous amount of memory resources and drags down the overall computer performance severely. This notorious PUP causes the machine to respond slower than ever before and take more than usual to complete any task.

Intrusion of iMacCleaner In Your Computer And Prevention Tips:

Such advertising tools and other similar PUPs are bundled alongside other free software. This bundling tactic is not revealed properly especially when you get the app from unreliable sources like torrent sites, illusive app promotions. Relying on official sources or initial freeware authors could help to avoid this, but users generally tend to skip through steps and trust the free web content more often. It is highly important recommended to pay close attention to these details and freeware installations. Always pick Custom or Advanced setting during the freeware downloads and only select the program that you know and can trust, instead of allowing all the components to get installed. Quick or Recommended installations mean that you agree to get everything that adware developers and freeware distributors included in the said package.

Threat Summary

Name: iMacCleaner

Type: Mac virus, Adware, Potentially unwanted program

Functionality: Aims to redirect Mac users to third-party 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 Harmful Traits of iMacCleaner:

iMacCleaner alters the default boot settings by making spiteful entries in it which allows the adware to get automatically activated every time the machine is started. It ruins vital system files that are essential for smooth computer functioning and prevents many installed apps as well as drivers from working normally. It enables remote criminals to get access to your PC and execute malicious acts inside for their delicate welfare. This nasty PUP has ability to deactivate all the running security services and Windows Firewalls and making the PC vulnerable for more vicious infections.

iMacCleaner may easily bring other Online threats such as rootkits, worms, Trojans, spyware and even deadly ransomware in your computer and turn the device into a malware-hub. It is able to track your web activities and steal your personal data relating to banking and other financial details and expose them to hackers for bad intentions. And hence, presence of this nasty malware in your work-station can be a big hazard for your privacy too. And hence, in order to prevent all these hazards from being occurred, you are strongly recommended to remove iMacCleaner from the computer as soon as possible.

Remove Files and Folders Related to iMacCleaner

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