How to remove NationalSpecial Ads from Mac OS X

Tips for NationalSpecial Ads removal

NationalSpecial Ads is an adware-type application that runs intrusive ad campaigns. Aside this, it shares the traits with browser hijackers that conduct browsers’ modification to promote fake search engines.  This app promotes Safe Finder through akamaihd.net. Furthermore, it can track users’ browsing session and collect the data related to users’ web browsing activities. Since users install it unintentionally, the app is also called potentially unwanted application.

NationalSpecial Ads adware enables the placement of the ads overlay with third party graphical content that limits the websites’ visibility and speed of the web browsing.  When clicked on, the pop-ups, banners, coupons and other ads – redirect to various untrustworthy and even malicious sites. Some intrusive advertisements have the ability to execute scripts, designed to stealthily download/install software or dangerous Trojan or Ransomware inside.

As mentioned in the introduction, NationalSpecial Ads also has browser hijacker qualities. Such apps promote fake search engines by changing the settings of installed browsers and assigning the homepage, new tab page and default search engine with the hackers’ websites (their URL addresses). In this case, all these options are set to akamaihd.net, which furthers them to Safe Finder.  This site redirects the session to Yahoo (search.yahoo.com) – a genuine search engine to display search results. Thus, it is useless to have any fake searching tool installed on the web browsers.

It is typical for any PUPS to track the users’ web browsing session and collect the data related to their web browsing session. These data include IP addresses, geo-locations and other sensitive details could be shared to potent crooks who misuse them to generate illicit revenue. Thus, the data tracking app can create the risk of privacy and can cause identity exposure. To prevent such issues from happening in future, immediately remove NationalSpecial Ads from the device.

PUPs come bundled with other software

NationalSpecial Ads and other apps of this type are most often 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.

Fortunately, you can prevent this situation. For this, you should avoid untrustworthy tools, sources like third party installers and downloaders, torrent clients, eMule (and other Peer-to-Peer networks), unofficial pages, free file hosting sites, etc. 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 NationalSpecial Ads

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 NationalSpecial Ads, use some reliable antivirus tool or use step-by-step guideline provided at the end of the article

Remove NationalSpecial Ads

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 NationalSpecial Ads from the device.

Remove Files and Folders Related to NationalSpecial 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 NationalSpecial 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 NationalSpecial 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 NationalSpecial Ads. You can select such harmful files and folders and remove them immediately.