Remove MacFly Pro PUP From Mac OS

Complete Guide To Delete MacFly Pro

MacFly Pro is promoted as a useful and effective app that enhances Mac maintenance. However, this so-called useful tool is promoted via deceptive techniques and hence, has been classified by security experts as a potentially unwanted program. This nasty PUP secretly infiltrates the Mac computers without users’ approval and then conducts a series of malicious activities in the background. This Mac enhancement tool allows users to scan their PCs for big files, duplicate files, junk files, running applications etc. Nonetheless, to take advantage of these features, people need to pay for its license.

Depth Analysis of MacFly Pro:

Activating or registering MacFly Pro is not advisable since it’s an unwanted threat. PUPs usually don’t function as they supposed to. They even perform fake scans and shows fake results to deceive users into activating the app that supposedly would terminate viruses, fix errors and so on. Potentially unwanted programs usually spread in bundle so, it is more likely that the compromised devices would have other PUPs like adware or browser hijackers installed inside them.  One of the noticeable symptoms of such parasites is regular appearance of intrusive commercial contents on the infected PCs’ screen.

MacFly Pro PUP bombards your computer screen with a number of annoying ads and pop-ups all over the day that makes your web surfing very complex. These ads exhibit eye-catching offers, banners, coupons, deals, discounts etc. to get users’ attention. Each click of users on these adverts generates revenues for the developers via pay-per-click scheme. Clicking on these ads though might redirect you to several scam, phishing or even malware-laden sites that host trojan, spyware, ransomware or other cyber threats. So, avoid interacting with these adverts no matter how attractive or useful they look.

One of the major traits that PUPs like MacFly Pro adware includes is data tracking. This notorious parasite uses cookies to monitor victims’ online actions and collect important data such as search queries typed, URLs of accessed sites, geolocations, IP addresses and so on. These details are sold to third-parties for monetary purposes and often utilized to generate personalized advertisements. Moreover, it can also steal your personal and sensitive data relating to banking and credit card details and expose them to vicious criminals for evil purposes. And hence, a quick MacFly Pro virus removal is strongly recommended.

Threat Specification

Name: MacFly Pro 

Type: Mac virus, adware, Potentially unwanted program

Short Description: Claims to improve Mac PCs’ performance, displays fake scan results and suggests people to purchase its licensee version, Displays annoying ads, Redirects users to affiliate web pages, promotes sponsored products, services and programs and generate online revenues for the developers. 

Supposed Functionality: Improvement of Mac performance

Symptoms: Fake scan results, regular appearance of intrusive commercial contents, fake pop-up messages, identity theft, slowness of infected system’s performance.

Distribution methods: Free software installers (bundling), 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.

Infiltration of MacFly Pro:

Adware, browser hijackers and other potentially unwanted programs are mostly spread with the help of bundling technique. When you download a freeware or shareware from third-party sites like cnet, softonic, soft32 etc. and then perform its installation via the pre-set options like ‘Quick’ or ‘Recommended’, you risk getting attacked by such unwanted threats. These configuration settings don’t usually disclose the contents that are included in the software package and hence, they manage to settle down on the system without letting users’ know.

The best way to prevent unwanted installations is to select the right installation settings. The Advanced or Custom wizards provide full control over the incoming components and allow you to de-select all the components that don’t require to be installed on the machine. Moreover, you should avoid downloading programs from untrustworthy channels, peer-to-peer networks, third-party downloaders etc. and choose only official sites, direct links for the process. But at the moment, you must remove MacFly Pro from the computer as early as possible.

Remove Files and Folders Related to MacFly Pro

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