How to remove ProtocolPort Adware Mac

Find and delete ProtocolPort Adware in Mac computer

What is ProtocolPort Adware? What it does?

‘ProtocolPort’ adware application mostly distributed through Fake Adobe Flash Player Installer is designed to run malicious advertisements campaigns. This dubious application operates by generating advertisements, changing browser’s settings to force you to visit shady/sponsored websites, and collect your browsing-related data or other sensitive information. In other word, this application is considered as both adware and browser hijacker.

As adware, ProtocolPort Adware delivers malicious advertisements campaigns in the form of banners, coupons, notifications, fake software updates, fake security alert messages, and other types of advertisements. These advertisements are designed to redirect you to other shady/misleading websites or cause unwanted downloads or even installations. So, ads by this rough application might be malicious. Once clicked, you will be redirected on malicious websites while some suspicious ads attempt to tricks you into downloading/installing potentially unwanted applications (PUAs), adware or malware in computer.

Once installed, they will start making unwanted modifications in browser’s settings and/or System’s settings without your knowledge. As browser hijacker, this nasty application can change the default homepage, new tab URLs and search engine of your browser with addresses of some fake search engines or questionable search engines. These fake search engines either shows results generated by some other popular search engines like Google, Yahoo or Bing, or delivers sponsored results. In simple word, this fake search engine always shows bogus results or misleading contents.

Attackers behind ProtocolPort Adware also attempts to tricks installing some fake browser helper objects (BHOs) or unwanted extensions in your browser. These fake BHOs or unwanted extensions offer cybercriminals to monitor your online activities and collect your browsing-related data or other sensitive data. They can collect your some information such as IP address, URLs search, login ID & password of your various accounts, banking information and more details.

These collected data can be misused for illegal purposes like to make fraudulent purchases. Once they gain access to your email account by collecting your email login credentials, they can change the password of your email and attempt access to other associated accounts like Facebook, Twitter or other accounts. In simple word, this dubious application is not safe for your online privacy & System security. So, ProtocolPort Adware removal is necessary.

How did you get ProtocolPort Adware in Mac computer?

As mentioned, this adware program is distributed through fake Adobe Flash Player installer. If you are not aware, fake installers can be used for distribute Trojans, ransomware or other malware like Silver Sparrow Malware too. PUAs, browser hijackers, adware or malware can also be downloaded/installed from other software package as additional offers.

These malicious additions or unnecessary programs can easily be seen in ‘Custom/Advanced/Manual’ settings in software installation setup, and can easily be removed by unticking their checkboxes in these settings during software installation.

But in case if you choose ‘Recommended/Quick/Express’ settings instead of choosing ‘Custom/Advanced/Manual’ settings in setup during software installation, then you install all additional programs included in software package into computer and this way, all malicious additions can also be installed. 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, adware or malware: How to remove ProtocolPort Adware?

Here, you are provided with automatic method of malware removal offers you to 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 completed, please check if problem is resolved or ProtocolPort Adware related infections are removed, and if not, you can re-scan your computer with antivirus software.

Remove Files and Folders Related to ProtocolPort Adware

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