How To Remove MacClean360 PUP From Mac OS

Proper Guide To Delete MacClean360

MacClean360 is promoted as a useful Mac cleaner that optimizes and boosts up Mac PC systems. However, you should not trust this application as it is usually spread via deceptive techniques. Users often install it without their consent and thus, it is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP). This tool supposedly manages and speeds up the computers as it includes features like “Disk Manger”, “Junk Cleaner”, “Uninstaller”, “Startup Items Manager”, “Internet Cleaner” and so on. Nonetheless, to use these features, users will have to activate it by paying some amount of fee.

Depth Analysis of MacClean360:

PUPs like MacClean360 provide fake scan results to deceive users into paying money for their activation version. And thus, you should avoid paying money for applications that belong to PUP category. These types of system cleaners are often distributed along with other unwanted programs such as adware or browser hijackers. Once your device gets infected such threats, you will notice changes in your browser settings. The home page, new tab page and search engine are replaced with another domain that will keep appearing all the time you open a new tab/window.

MacClean360 adware bombards your system screen with thousands of intrusive ads and pop-ups all over the day which interrupts your web sessions badly. These ads are in several forms such as banners, coupons, deals, discounts, text ads etc. which look very attractive. These ads are specially designed to make people click on them in order to earn revenues via pay-per-click mechanism. This nasty PUP inserts spying cookies on the web browsers and constantly monitors victims’ online activities. It gathers browsing-related information such as links clicked on, search queries typed, pages viewed and so on.

Data collected by MacClean360 is very helpful for the advertisers to produce and exhibit attractive-looking advertisements in order to get as many hits on them as possible and earn maximum profits. You are strongly advised to not click on these adverts as they often contain vicious links and when clicked, redirect users to potentially infectious sites that are filled with malicious contents. Visiting on such pernicious domains might result in more malware infections. At some web portals, visitors are presented with fake security alerts, error messages, update notifications etc. and then deceived into installing rogue software. And hence, a quick MacClean360 removal is highly required.

Threat Summary

Name: MacClean360

Type: Mac virus, Mac cleaner, adware, Potentially unwanted program

Short Description: Displays fake scan results and asks to purchase its licensed version, shows annoying advertisements, Redirects Mac users to affiliated sites, promotes sponsored products, services and programs and make online revenues for the creators.

Symptoms: A new application is performing system scans and displays warning messages about ‘found issues’. Asks for payment to eliminate the supposedly found errors, Numerous intrusive ads.

Distribution methods: Free software installers (bundling), Deceptive emails, malicious pop-ups ads, fake flash player installers.

Damage: Web browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), exhibition of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites.

Removal: To get rid of this infection and other malware threats, our security researchers recommend scanning your device with an effective anti-malware tool is recommended.

Ways To Spread MacClean360:

It is common that these potentially unwanted programs are most often distributed along with regular software. This PUP distribution technique is known as “bundling”. When you download a freeware from unreliable site and then perform the installation process using the “Quick” or “Recommended” mode sets, you risk getting infected with these unwanted threats. Aside from this, you might also get these infections if you have habit of clicking ads and hyperlinks that you often see while surfing the net. These malicious contents usually redirect people to malware-laced sites that are filled with malevolent stuffs or host PUPs, trojan, ransomware and other cyber threats.

How To Prevent Adware Intrusion?

The best way to download products or software is by using trustworthy channels, official sites and direct links. Stay away from Peer-to-Peer networks, unofficial websites, third-party downloaders, installers as much as you can. Furthermore, to de-select the components that give a concerning look or look suspicious, you should always opt for Custom or Advanced installation settings. Ads that appear on infectious sites should not be clicked as you might get redirected to unreliable portals or even cause unwanted downloads, installations. But at the moment, you must remove MacClean360 from the Mac system without wasting any time.

Remove Files and Folders Related to MacClean360

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 MacClean360 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 MacClean360 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 MacClean360. You can select such harmful files and folders and remove them immediately.