Remove ExpandedProgram Adware From Mac OS

Simple Steps To Delete ExpandedProgram From Computer

ExpandedProgram is a type of potentially unwanted application that claims to offer reliable features to the Mac users involving searching online. However in reality, it causes issues with the privacy, speed and performance of the Mac device once gets installed. It’s an adware infection that also includes characteristics of browser hijacker and focuses on redirecting the users and online traffic by displaying the search results filled with affiliate links and sponsored content. As soon as this notorious PUP successfully gets into your work-station, you may find your default browser’s settings such as homepage, new tab page and search engine have been replaced with another perilous domain.

Depth Analysis of ExpandedProgram:

PUPs such as ExpandedProgram are specially created in order to promote fraudulent search engines and redirect users to affiliated sites to increase pages’ visibility and sites’ rankings. In this case, this nasty adware promotes 0yrvtrh.com and adjustablesample.com. When you try to put some query in the customized search tool, it redirects all results to Yahoo. However, the outcomes are still not valid as they are mixed with commercial contents and affiliated links. It diverts your web searches to third-party sites, tracks your online behavior and exhibits ads on various web pages.

Besides showing ads and promoting sponsored sites, ExpandedProgram also tracks people’s online browsing activities in order to generate more relevant ads. As a result, users who search the web will see sponsored links at the top of search results. This can completely manipulate their experience and sometimes compromise their privacy. This hazardous threat can steal your personal and confidential data such as user IDs, passwords, credit card, bank account and other financial details and expose those stuffs to hackers for evil purposes.

Many users might think that the so-called ExpandedProgram virus is related to Yahoo, as it redirects all searches there. However, the adware only uses the affiliate program that is offered to all developers. In other words, the app does not use its own engine to provide users search results, but the extension warrants that the results are filled with ads, these bring money to the creators. All these activities performed by this hijacker consume too much CPU resources and drag down the overall system performance severely. And hence, a quick ExpandedProgram removal is strongly recommended from the Mac PC.

Threat Summary

Name: ExpandedProgram

Type: Mac virus, Adware, Potentially unwanted program

Symptoms: Tons of annoying ads, Alterations in default browser’s settings, default Internet search engine, Fake pop-up messages, identity theft, new tab settings. Users are enforced to visit hijacker’s website and search the Internet using their search engines, slowness of infected system’s performance.

Short Description: Redirects people to affiliated sites, promotes sponsored products, services and programs and make online revenues for the creators, Also steals users’ personal and confidential information and share them with hackers for evil purposes.

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.

Ways To Spread ExpandedProgram:

One of the most typical features of potentially unwanted threats is that they end up on users’ computers unexpectedly. This mostly occurs due to sneaky intrusion practice known as software bundling, when several apps are compiled into a single installer. According to security experts, bundle packages can also carry spiteful programs, especially when downloaded from insecure torrent websites. Freeware developers and distribution sites often attempt to trick people into installing apps they did not want. For example, they hide the PUPs under Recommended/Quick settings, pre-ticked boxes, fine print text, misleading offers, and use other tricks to make users not notice the optional apps.

Tips To Prevent Adware Infiltration:

It should be up to users who are installing the desired program to refuse optional components. Thus, you should always read up on the software you are about to install, read the installation instructions carefully, reject all the offers, and always opt for Advanced/Custom mode when prompted. In addition, stay away from suspicious ads and hyperlinks as they may take you to malware-laden sites. Moreover, you can also install anti-malware software that would warn you about potentially unwanted applications automatically. But at the moment, you must remove ExpandedProgram from the Mac device immediately.

Remove Files and Folders Related to ExpandedProgram

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