How to remove InteractiveSpeed from Mac OS X

Complete InteractiveSpeed removal guide

InteractiveSpeed is an adware app that is designed to serve advertisements. It also shares the trait of a browser hijacking app that promotes a fake search engine. This app promotes Safe Finder via akamaihd.net. Additionally, it can track users’ browsing session and collect the data related to users’ browsing activities. It is also called potentially unwanted application as it intrudes in without users’ consent.

InteractiveSpeed ads feed users with coupons, banners, surveys, pop-ups and other types of advertisements. Such ads, most often, if clicked, open untrustworthy websites or execute scripts designed to download and/or install some unwanted, potentially malicious software. In addition, such ads are overlay with third party graphical content that diminishes the web browsing session as they limit the browsing speed and the websites’ visibility.

Further, as it said, the InteractiveSpeed promotes a fake searching tool named Safe Finder through akamaihd.net. For this, it conducts malicious changes to the installed browser settings and sets the URL address of the said searching tool to the homepage, new tab page and default search engine. These changes make the users mandate to visit the hackers’ website all the time when they open their browsing tab and enter any queries on the search URL bar. Typically, the fake searching tools display search results generated by legit searching tools. In other word, using the domain promoted by InteractiveSpeed does not mean any sense.

Moreover, such PUAs can operate as information tracking tools. Typically, they target browsing data like addresses of visited pages, entered search queries, IP addresses, geo-locations. However, they can be designed to collect sensitive information. Research shows that InteractiveSpeed can access passwords, credit card details, telephone numbers and other information. Such details could be shared to potent crooks who misuse them to generate illicit revenue. Thus, the data tracking can result into huge risk of privacy and can cause identity exposure. To prevent such issues, immediately remove InteractiveSpeed from the device.

PUPs come bundled with other software

In most cases apps like InteractiveSpeed get downloaded and/or installed through download and/or installation setups of other, mostly free programs. To be more precise, such apps are promoted as additional tools with regular software.  Bundling is term giving this deceptive marketing method of distribution. Usually information about additional downloads and/or installations can be found in settings of setups like “Custom”, “Advanced”, and other similar sections. However, users do not check and change such settings during the download/install leading the inadvertent installation of unwanted apps.

To prevent such situation, tools, sources like third party installers and downloaders, torrent clients, eMule (and other Peer-to-Peer networks), unofficial pages, free file hosting sites, etc., should not be used neither to download or install software. Always use official websites and direct links for any software download. Also, during installation, analyze each step using Custom/Advanced option and opt out all additionally attached apps and decline all offers. For betterment, employ some antivirus tool that provides adequate protection to the device.

A quick glance of InteractiveSpeed

Type: Adware, Mac virus

Symptoms: intrusive ads, diminished browser speed, visibility of pages are not clear, browser extensions, add-ons, plug-ins and changed homepage and new tab page on browser

Distribution: bundled software, infectious hyperlinks, fake software update

Damages: Other PUPs or even malware infiltration, data tracking (possibly privacy issues), diminished system performance

Removal: To remove InteractiveSpeed, use some reliable antivirus tool or use step-by-step guideline provided at the end of the article

Remove InteractiveSpeed

Manual malware removal guide is provided below in step by step manner. Follow it so that you will not find any trouble during removal process. You can use some reputable antivirus tool to automatically remove InteractiveSpeed from the device.

Remove Files and Folders Related to InteractiveSpeed

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