Remove iLifeMediaBrowser Adware From Mac OS

Easy Steps To Delete iLifeMediaBrowser

iLifeMediaBrowser is tool related to GarageBand that belongs to the iLife suite or Mac operating system. It was designed to help users find and import video and audio content into GarbageBand projects. Generally, this application is only helpful for those who extremely use this tool to create podcasts and music on MacOS and other iOS devices. Remember that, it is not a pre-installed Mac software. And hence, users may download it or not, it’s all their choice. If you have enough space in your work-station, it will not cause any troubles and keep working in the background silently.

Depth Analysis of iLifeMediaBrowser:

iLifeMediaBrowser is a piece of software that causes issues in your device such as computer slower, increase inactivity and frequent system crashes when you have lack of space in the machine. In addition, many people reported about problems after an update to this app’s version 2.0. You may start receiving error notifications if the update was arbitrated or corrupted in other ways. Even though these acts are not too dangerous, it might still interrupt users’ browsing experience in different ways.

This application is being also used by cyber actors as an adware to show annoying pop-up ads and trigger redirects to affiliated sites. Once iLifeMediaBrowser virus manages to enter your device, it may easily hijack each of your web browsers (Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, etc.). It mainly targets Mac OS and can alter the start page, the default search engine, the new tab page, and other browser settings. Typically, it a fake search engine as default claiming that it’s an advanced and more comfortable way of web surfing.

These alterations are initiated for a reason. Once this malicious program completes its work, it gets the ability to start promoting third-party websites. For that, it may show you customized search results, exhibit intrusive pop-up ads, and cause other unwanted activities. That’s why security experts have included this virus to the category of potentially unwanted programs (PUP). To prevent all unwanted activities that it may be set to perform, it’s advisable to perform a quick removal of iLifeMediaBrowser virus from the work-station.

Threat Summary

Name: iLifeMediaBrowser

Type: Mac virus, Adware, Potentially unwanted program

Symptoms: Tons of intrusive ads, Changes to 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: Aims to redirects users 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), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites.

Removal: To get rid of this infection and other malware threats, our security researchers recommend scanning your computer with a powerful anti-malware tool.

Ways To Spread PUPs:

Technically, potentially unwanted programs can’t infiltrate your computer through security vulnerabilities, RDPs, or other highly suspicious means. However, there are lots of online discussions were users express their concern about the unexpected appearance of such PUAs. In reality, all people who claim that adware was installed on their PCs against their will are not right. According to experts, PUPs are usually distributed via freeware bundles, so before finding the internet browser hijacked, they must have downloaded a freeware. The so-called bundling distribution method is broadly used by third-party software creators and advertising companies. This technique allows for propagating unwanted applications widely because they can be easily masked under Quick or Basic installation setup as pre-default additional components.

How To Prevent Adware Installations?

You can prevent the infiltration of unwanted programs that eventually hijack web browsers. For that, you should start observing every freeware’s installation. Always check the reviews of the tool that you are trying to download to your Mac system or another device. Furthermore, always choose the Custom or Advanced installation option in order to see what optional components are hiding behind the setup. If you see any references about add-ons, extensions, etc., you should either uncheck such components or stop the installation of this program is trying to trick you. But at the moment, just take a quick action and remove iLifeMediaBrowser from the Mac PC without wasting any time.

Remove Files and Folders Related to iLifeMediaBrowser

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