Remove ElementaryType Adware From Mac

Easy Steps To Delete ElementaryType

ElementaryType is a potentially unwanted application (PUA) that includes qualities of both adware as well as a browser hijacker. This notorious PC threat has been specially designed by a group of vicious hackers with their primary objective to promote third-party products, services and websites and make quick online revenues from novice users. Once this hijacker enters the Mac systems, it changes the settings of the browser in order to promote deceptive search engines. It assigns its own perilous URL as the new search tool, home page and new tab page and acquires complete control over the entire browser.

Depth Analysis of ElementaryType:

ElementaryType plants various tracking cookies on the affected browser and keeps monitoring victims’ online activities. It collects browsing-related information such as URLs of accessed pages, entered search queries, IP addresses, geolocation and so on. These details are sold to third-parties for monetary purposes and can be utilized for generating personalized advertisements. In addition to that, the gathered data may also include your personal and confidential information relating to banking and credit card details and thus, this perilous hijacker can be a big threat for your privacy too.

ElementaryType bombards your Mac screen with thousands of annoying ads all over the day which interrupts your web sessions badly. These ads are in various formats such as banners, deals, offers, coupons, discounts etc. which can easily gain users’ attention as they look very eye-catching. Each click of users on these adverts earns profits for the developers via pay-per-click mechanism. No matter how good-looking these ads are, you should avoid interacting with them as they can be very dangerous for your PC system. They usually contain perilous links and redirect users to several phishing, scam or even malware-laden domains that host trojan, ransomware etc.

ElementaryType forces its victims to surf through a fraudulent search engine that is not even capable of providing results by its own. It often redirects web searches to genuine one like Yahoo, Google, Bing and others. Nonetheless, the results are still not as expected as they contain sponsored links and commercial material right at the top. This nasty adware keeps performing malevolent acts in the background all the time which consume huge amount of memory resources and drag down the overall PC performance severely. It may trigger many other hazardous issues in your device such as frequent system crash, boot errors, application malfunctioning and so on. And hence, a quick ElementaryType removal is strongly required.

Summarize Information

Name: ElementaryType

Type: Mac virus, Adware, Potentially unwanted program

Short Description: Displays intrusive advertisements, Redirects Mac users to affiliated or even malware-laden pages, modifies browser’s settings, promotes sponsored products, services and programs and make online revenues for the creators.

Symptoms: Annoying intrusive adverts, altered home page, search engine, fake pop-up messages, identity theft. Users are enforced to visit hijacker’s website, 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.

Penetration of ElementaryType:

There are several PUP distribution techniques however, the most popular and common method to spread unwanted programs is “bundling”. Freeware developers add various objects along with their applications which also manage to settle down on the machine when the main software is downloaded from unreliable sites and installed using the pre-set options. The ‘Recommended’ or ‘Quick’ configuration wizards don’t disclose the components that are included to a software package. When people use these options, they often end up installing adware or hijackers on their PC systems.

To prevent such notorious situation, it is highly important to be careful enough while installing software. Download any program from trustworthy sources or direct links only and stay away from Peer-to-Peer networks, third-party downloaders, installers, etc. as much as you can Always select the Custom of Advanced configuration settings to install the application which allow you to opt-out all the components that give a concerning look. In case your system is already infected with this adware, you must remove ElementaryType from the Mac PC as early as possible.

Remove Files and Folders Related to ElementaryType

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