How to remove LauncherSetup Ads Adware Mac

LauncherSetup Ads Mac Virus causes unwanted software downloads/installation

“LauncherSetup” is rough application considered as both adware and browser hijacker. As adware, this dubious application delivers malicious advertisements campaigns that can cause unwanted browser redirections to shady or malicious websites, or can cause unwanted software downloads/installation. As browser hijacker, LauncherSetup Ads designed to make several unwanted changes in browser’s settings in order to promote some fake search engines. Also, this nasty application is designed to monitor your online habits and collect your browsing-related data or other sensitive information. So, “LauncherSetup” application can’t be trusted.

“LauncherSetup’ rough application delivers malicious advertisements campaigns in the form of banners, coupons, offers, commercial ads, fake software updates alert, fake security alert, notifications, and other types of advertisements. It doesn’t matter whether your browser is closed or opened. LauncherSetup Ads can also be appeared on your desktop even when browser is closed. This dubious application can degrade the overall performance of your online activities by deliver lots of unwanted ads or popups.

Once clicked, you will be redirected on shady/malicious websites and some advertisements can execute scripts to download/install third parties’ software, PUAs, adware, or malware in your computer. In other words, ‘Ads by LauncherSetup’ might be malicious and can infect your computer by triggering harmful malware or viruses. As browser hijacker, LauncherSetup Ads Adware promotes addresses of some fake search engines by modifying the default homepage, new tab URLs and search engines of your browser. Also, it blocks you from revert these changes means you can’t undo the changes made.

These fake web search engines delivers sponsored results or the results generated by other search engine that’s why it is called as fake search engine. In simple word, this fake search engines shows bogus results or misleading contents. It attempts to tricks you into visiting third parties’ websites, or malicious websites, and downloading/installing PUAs or malware.

As mentioned, LauncherSetup Ads adware has data tracking abilities. It can trace your browsing experience and collect your sensitive information such as IP address, URLs search, login ID & password of your various accounts, banking information and more details. So, it is important to find and remove LauncherSetup Ads adware in computer as soon as possible.

How did you get LauncherSetup Ads Adware in Mac computer?

LauncherSetup is distributed through fake Adobe Flash Player updates. This illegal activation tool or fake software updater distributes not only PUAs but also Trojans, ransomware or other malware. PUAs, adware or malware can be downloaded/installed from other software package as additional offers. This false marketing method of packaging regular or legitimate software with PUAs, adware or malware is known as Software Bundling Method – the mostly used mechanism by cybercriminals. So, you should always choose ‘Custom/Advanced/Manual’ installation if you want to avoid browser hijackers, adware or malware.

System is already infected with PUAs, browser hijackers or malware: How to remove LauncherSetup Ads Adware?

If your Mac computer is already infected with malware or viruses, then you can go with our automatic method of malware removal to get rid of it. Here, automatic method offers you can find all threats including latest malware in computer with some powerful antivirus software, and then you can delete all detected threats with just single-click. After System scan is finished, please check if trouble is resolved.

Remove Files and Folders Related to LauncherSetup Ads

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