Remove ActiveToken Adware From Mac

Complete Guideline To Delete ActiveToken

ActiveToken is a nasty PC threat that can be categorized as both adware as well as a browser hijacker. Once this potentially unwanted program (PUP) infiltrates the Mac computers, it changes the settings of the browser to promote a deceptive search engine. This fake search tool doesn’t provide any result itself but redirects all search queries to Yahoo. However, the results are still not organic as they often contain sponsored links and commercial contents right at the top. To promote the fraudulent search provider, the PUP alters multiple browser settings such as home page, new tab preferences and the default search engine.

Know More About ActiveToken:

ActiveToken may install itself on startup, create multiple registries and affect all the most used internet browsers including Chrome, Firefox, and Explorer. This, way it activates itself with each PC reboot and displays advertisements of its sponsors. As a result, Mac users may start receiving tons of annoying ads each time while surfing the net. The main problem is not the irritation of those ads, but instead risk that they pose to the compromised systems’ security. Remember that such advertisements are crafted by unreliable third-parties, so there is always a chance that these ads expose you to questionable and untrustworthy sites.

ActiveToken drops cookies on the affected browsers and starts gathering browsing-related information such as your PC’s IP address, location, search terms, clicks, email address and similar data. These details are very useful in generating personalized adverts in order to make people to more willing to click on them. In addition to that, it can also collect your personal information like name, telephone number, credit card details and so on that could be misused for suspicious purposes. ActiveToken may affect your system’s performance in a negative way, so you may start experiencing crashes, slowdowns, and freezes.

This nasty adware may present to you tricking commercials that look to be displaying the sole thing but end up redirecting you to a site that suggests a totally different category of application. You can sooner or later land on a deceptive site or on a web page that hides camouflaged Trojans or Ransomware cryptoviruses. Visiting on such precarious domains may result in more dangerous infections. So, you should stay away from these adverts as much as you can and perform ActiveToken removal from the Mac device quickly.

Threat Summary

Name: ActiveToken

Type: Mac virus, adware, browser hijacker, Potentially unwanted program

Short Description: Shows intrusive ads, makes changes to default browser’s settings, Redirects Mac users to affiliated sites, promotes sponsored products, services and programs and make online revenues for the creators.

Symptoms: Regular appearance of intrusive adverts, Fake pop-up messages, identity theft. Users are enforced to visit hijacker’s website and search the Internet using their search engines, slowness of infected system’s performance.

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 ActiveToken:

Developers of potentially unwanted applications apply ‘bundling’ technique for their malicious contents delivery. It’s a stealthy distribution with the help of other freeware, which means that it’s not necessary to install this adware as a separate file. It may sneak into the computer device in one pack with various download managers, PDF creators, media players, or other freeware that have been involved in the distribution of this add-on. When people download a freeware from sites like cnetc.com, soft32.com, softonic.com, download.com and then install it using the ‘Quick’ or ‘Recommended settings, they often end up with installing such unwanted apps along with the carrier software.

How To Avoid PUP Intrusion?

Therefore, no matter what kind of freeware you install, always pay a proper amount of attention to its installation process. Make sure that you opt for Advanced or Custom installation option and cautiously read all the terms. This way, you can see all the ‘optional downloads’ and get the chance to opt-out of them all. Moreover, you should choose only official sources, reliable channels, and direct links to download software and avoid using the third-party downloaders, peer-to-peer sharing networks, unofficial sites, untrustworthy sources. In case your PC is already infected with this adware, you must remove ActiveToken from the Mac system without wasting any time.

Remove Files and Folders Related to ActiveToken

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