Remove CheckLetter Adware From Mac

CheckLetter: Proper Guide To Uninstall

CheckLetter is a type of potentially unwanted program that gets installed in Mac devices similarly to a regular browser extension. Once inside the machine, it usually alters some of the browser’s settings without needing consent from the users. The changes that this intruder imposes on Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or other browser can only be reversed after the infection is successfully terminated from the PC. Having this notorious adware on your Mac can lead to a screen filled with advertisements and page-blocking banners that try to deceive you into clicking on them.

CheckLetter Performs Several Intrusive Acts:

CheckLetter can replace the default search engine with a fake one and set a new homepage and new tab address without seeking for any permission. The main problem with the ads delivered by this PUP is that you never know where they are coming from. This means that some of its adverts can be related with a site or platform that is employed to propagate viruses and malware such as Ransomware, Trojans, and Rootkits. With this in mind, the complete removal of CheckLetter from your Mac is expressly recommended and we urge you to start the process with the instructions in the guide given below on this page.

The ultimate goal of these browser modifications is to transform the browser into a tool for online advertising. For example, the alteration in the startpage ensures that victims are generating automatic traffic to the domain that currently is their homepage each time they open their browser. The newly applied search engine will also probably be set to display you some manipulated results which favor advertising-paying webpages rather than the actual portals related to your search query. The produced search results may often be filled with a stream of CheckLetter ads, colorful banners, blinking boxes, reroute messages of all shapes and sizes.

These unwanted programs are generally crafted to earn profits by showing pay-per-click ads and affiliated messages. To perform its agenda, it usually relies on auto-redirects and forceful exposure to several commercial contents. Typically, this nasty adware is marketed as a useful add-on to your Mac browser, but having it in your device can often be more frustrating than useful. For instance, if you try to use your browser to search for something, your screen can get bombarded with page-blocking banners and hard-to-remove CheckLetter ads that try to make sure you click on them.

PUPs Spread Silently Along With Freeware:

Less dangerous apps such as adware, browser hijackers, and other PUPs are being distributed in a legitimate way, though sneaky enough to make users download them without realizing their presence. Adware infections are generally spread by bundling. This technique is closely related to freeware, i.e. freeware providers pack their applications along with unwanted or malicious additions and propagate them as a single unit.

Note that PUPs are pre-selected, so accepting the installation of the main freeware installer grants access to the whole bundle. Fortunately, it’s possible to decompose the bundle. You should opt for the Advanced or Custom installation option and unmark checkmarks agreeing to the installation of unnecessary programs or the ones that look suspicious. If this intruder manages to run inside your Mac for longer duration, it may lead to many other severe issues. So, you must remove CheckLetter from the system as quickly as possible.

Remove Files and Folders Related to CheckLetter

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