Remove HerculesLookup Adware From Mac OS

Complete Guideline To Delete HerculesLookup

HerculesLookup is malicious piece of software that belongs to the adware as well as browser hijacker category. It mainly targets Mac PC systems and often sneaks into the targeted computers by stealth without being acknowledged by the users. Soon after the successful penetration, this potentially unwanted program starts contributing evil activities in the background and wreaks havoc onto the machine. Initially, it replaces the default browser’s settings such as home page, search engine and new tab page with its own perilous URL and acquires full control over the entire browser. After that, it starts interrupting victims’ online sessions with intrusive ads and frequent redirects.

Know More About HerculesLookup:

HerculesLookup bombards your computer screen with endless intrusive ads and pop-ups all over the day and makes your web sessions very complex. These ads are in multiple formats such as coupons, deals, offers, banners, discounts etc. They look very eye-catching and can easily gain users’ attention. They work on cost-per-click mechanism and earn revenues for the developers when clicked on. Tapping on these adverts though can be very risky for your PC’s security as they might contain spiteful links and redirect users to potentially infectious sites that are filled with malicious contents.

HerculesLookup plants tracking cookies on the affected browser and constantly monitors victims’ online actions such as pages they access, search queries they type, links they click on etc. It collects their personal and confidential data such as user IDs, passwords, credit card, bank account and other financial details and exposes them to cyber crooks for evil purposes. Scammers can misuse your sensitive data for deceptive transactions or purchases that might lead to huge financial loss. Moreover, information gathered by HerculesLookup is also very helpful for generating and displaying attractive-looking adverts in order to get as many hits on them as possible and earn maximum profits.

This notorious PUP forces victims to use a deceptive search engine that only produces manipulated results mixed with commercial contents and sponsored links. Users might be taken to sites where they are presented with fake security alerts, error messages, update notifications etc. and the trapped into installing dubious software. It keeps executing malicious activities in the background all the time which consume enormous amount of memory resources and slows down the overall PC performance drastically. And hence, an instant HerculesLookup removal is highly recommended.

Summarize Information

Name: HerculesLookup

Type: Mac virus, Adware, Potentially unwanted program

Short Description: Makes modifications 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: Thousands of intrusive adverts, home page, search engine, new tab settings, 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.

Penetration of HerculesLookup:

Software bundling is the technique that is mostly used by PUP developers to spread their vicious apps. In this method unwanted programs are added to a software package along with regular program. When users download a freeware from third-party web pages like cnet.com, download.com, soft32.com, softonic.com etc. and then install it using the pre-set options, they often end up with installing such PUPs in the work-station without their knowledge.

How To Prevent Adware Intrusion?

And therefore, it is very important to research about the software that you are about to download. Choose only reliable download channels, official sites and avoid using Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, third-party downloaders etc. Always select the Advanced or Custom configuration settings to install apps that allow you to opt-out all the contents that look suspicious. But at the moment, you must remove HerculesLookup from the Mac system without wasting any time.

Remove Files and Folders Related to HerculesLookup

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