How To Remove macLauncher (Mac)

Quick Measures To Remove macLauncher From Mac

Researches have recently found another malicious adware named macLauncher which technically belongs to AdLoad community. This kind of malicious applications are created by cyber crime master minds with sole intention to promote a number of fake or deceptive advertisements on screen, and as the name suggests, this adware is specially made to impact Mac OS based computers. Speaking specifically about the adware, this program is created to promote some fake or deceptive search engine, and it’s possible that this tool will even act as a keylogger to track your information throughout the web surfing sessions. This is why the term macLauncher can also be referred as a potentially unwanted program as well and in case if this app seems somehow active on your machine, then you must detect and terminate its unintentional presence sooner.

Alike all other adware codes similar to macLauncher, this kind of applications will turn your online sessions completely drastic by showing various advert forms such as pop ups, banners, surveys, coupons, vopuchers, and many more. Clicking any of these advert forms, the victims can expect to get rediercted to some malicious or questionable websites. In some cases, clicking these advert forms may also end up downloading/installing some PUPs as well which can lead to execution of certain disturbing scripts too. Therefore, if your system started to throw some vicious problems throughout the web surfing sessions, then you must be attentive and should avoid clicking or interacting with those means to assure your computer’s safety as well as your privacy.

Threat Summary

Name: macLauncher

Type: Adware (For Mac)

Description: macLauncher is technically a new adware infection which belongs to AdLoad, an ad supporting software that brings basically tons or irritating advertisements on screen that can turn your normal PC usage sessions into nightmare.

Distribution: Malicious file downloads, freeware or shareware installer, spam/junk email attachments, and so on..

Removal: For detailed information about detection and removal of macLauncher, do follow the guidelines included under this article

How did macLauncher get installed and should be treated properly?

As per what researchers have to say, this kind of malicious program is often distributed in disguised form of free applications. Usually, macLauncher is distributed in form of disguised Adobe Flash Player installer, so looking through this program for the first time, a user will easily believe such things to be an update for their Flash Player, but as soon as they download and install the updater, the macLauncher is added on their Mac system or its browsers without any prior notice. In other cases, the aforementioned adware can also be distributed over web through other possible means too, under which the mostly used technique includes software bundling, spam email marketing, freeware or shareware distribution sources, and many more.

To prevent your system against these intruders, you should be very careful specially while connected to web. In case if your Mac system seems somehow affected by macLauncher, then we suggest you take a look through here included guidelines or methods that will assist you cleaning the Mac. The guidelines will technically help you to sort out all associated files, processes, and leftovers with the adware, and cleaning them as well. Also, the novice users can take a trial with automatic solution too to check if the suggested app can clean their Mac system hassle free.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows Click Here For Mac

Important Note: This malware asks you to enable the web browser notifications. So, before you go the manual removal process, execute these steps.

Google Chrome (PC)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the Menu button
• Select “Settings”. Scroll the mouse downward to choose “Advanced” option
• Go to “Privacy and Security” section by scrolling downward and then select “Content settings” and then “Notification” option
• Find each suspicious URLs and click on three dots on the right side and choose “Block” or “Remove” option

Google Chrome (Android)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the menu button and then click on “Settings”
• Scroll down further to click on “site settings” and then press on “notifications” option
• In the newly opened window, choose each suspicious URLs one by one
• In the permission section, select “notification” and “Off” the toggle button

Mozilla Firefox

• On the right corner of the screen, you will notice three dots which is the “Menu” button
• Select “Options” and choose “Privacy and Security” in the toolbar present in the left side of the screen
• Slowly scroll down and go to “Permission” section then choose “Settings” option next to “Notifications”
• In the newly opened window, select all the suspicious URLs. Click on the drop-down menu and select “Block”

Internet Explorer

• In the Internet Explorer window, select the Gear button present on the right corner
• Choose “Internet Options”
• Select “Privacy” tab and then “Settings” under the “Pop-up Blocker” section
• Select all the suspicious URLs one by one and click on the “Remove” option

Microsoft Edge

• Open the Microsoft Edge and click on the three dots on the right corner of the screen to open the menu
• Scroll down and select “Settings”
• Scroll down further to choose “view advanced settings”
• In the “Website Permission” option, click on “Manage” option
• Click on switch under every suspicious URL

Safari (Mac):

• On the upper right side corner, click on “Safari” and then select “Preferences”
• Go to “website” tab and then choose “Notification” section on the left pane
• Search for the suspicious URLs and choose “Deny” option for each one of them

Manual Steps to Remove macLauncher:

Remove the related items of macLauncher using Control-Panel

Windows 7 Users

Click “Start” (the windows logo at the bottom left corner of the desktop screen), select “Control Panel”. Locate the “Programs” and then followed by clicking on “Uninstall Program”

Windows XP Users

Click “Start” and then choose “Settings” and then click “Control Panel”. Search and click on “Add or Remove Program’ option

Windows 10 and 8 Users:

Go to the lower left corner of the screen and right-click. In the “Quick Access” menu, choose “Control Panel”. In the newly opened window, choose “Program and Features”

Mac OSX Users

Click on “Finder” option. Choose “Application” in the newly opened screen. In the “Application” folder, drag the app to “Trash”. Right click on the Trash icon and then click on “Empty Trash”.

In the uninstall programs window, search for the PUAs. Choose all the unwanted and suspicious entries and click on “Uninstall” or “Remove”.

After you uninstall all the potentially unwanted program causing macLauncher issues, scan your computer with an anti-malware tool for any remaining PUPs and PUAs or possible malware infection. To scan the PC, use the recommended the anti-malware tool.

How to Remove Adware (macLauncher) from Internet Browsers

Delete malicious add-ons and extensions from IE

Click on the gear icon at the top right corner of Internet Explorer. Select “Manage Add-ons”. Search for any recently installed plug-ins or add-ons and click on “Remove”.

Additional Option

If you still face issues related to macLauncher removal, you can reset the Internet Explorer to its default setting.

Windows XP users: Press on “Start” and click “Run”. In the newly opened window, type “inetcpl.cpl” and click on the “Advanced” tab and then press on “Reset”.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 Users: Press the Windows logo, type inetcpl.cpl in the start search box and press enter.  In the newly opened window, click on the “Advanced Tab” followed by “Reset” button.

For Windows 8 Users: Open IE and click on the “gear” icon. Choose “Internet Options”

Select the “Advanced” tab in the newly opened window

Press on “Reset” option

You have to press on the “Reset” button again to confirm that you really want to reset the IE

Remove Doubtful and Harmful Extension from Google Chrome

Go to menu of Google Chrome by pressing on three vertical dots and select on “More tools” and then “Extensions”. You can search for all the recently installed add-ons and remove all of them.

Optional Method

If the problems related to macLauncher still persists or you face any issue in removing, then it is advised that your reset the Google Chrome browse settings. Go to three dotted points at the top right corner and choose “Settings”. Scroll down bottom and click on “Advanced”.

At the bottom, notice the “Reset” option and click on it.

In the next opened window, confirm that you want to reset the Google Chrome settings by click on the “Reset” button.

Remove macLauncher plugins (including all other doubtful plug-ins) from Firefox Mozilla

Open the Firefox menu and select “Add-ons”. Click “Extensions”.  Select all the recently installed browser plug-ins.

Optional Method

If you face problems in macLauncher removal then you have the option to rese the settings of Mozilla Firefox.

Open the browser (Mozilla Firefox) and click on the “menu” and then click on “Help”.

Choose “Troubleshooting Information”

In the newly opened pop-up window, click “Refresh Firefox” button

The next step is to confirm that really want to reset the Mozilla Firefox settings to its default by clicking on “Refresh Firefox” button.

Remove Malicious Extension from Safari

Open the Safari and go to its “Menu” and select “Preferences”.

Click on the “Extension” and select all the recently installed “Extensions” and then click on “Uninstall”.

Optional Method

Open the “Safari” and go menu. In the drop-down menu, choose “Clear History and Website Data”.

In the newly opened window, select “All History” and then press on “Clear History” option.

Delete macLauncher (malicious add-ons) from Microsoft Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and go to three horizontal dot icons at the top right corner of the browser. Select all the recently installed extensions and right click on the mouse to “uninstall”

Optional Method

Open the browser (Microsoft Edge) and select “Settings”

Next steps is to click on “Choose what to clear” button

Click on “show more” and then select everything and then press on “Clear” button.

Conclusion

In most cases, the PUPs and adware gets inside the marked PC through unsafe freeware downloads. It is advised that you should only choose developers website only while downloading any kind of free applications.  Choose custom or advanced installation process so that you can trace the additional PUPs listed for installation along with the main program.