Remove MacGameStore17-12-57-980 from Mac PC

Tips for MacGameStore17-12-57-980 removal

MacGameStore17-12-57-980 is a message that appears within a pop-up window on Mac operating system. These pop-ups contain a message which states that your Mac has been infected and you should move it to trash. In some cases, they are displayed when adware, browser hijackers or potentially unwanted applications that is already present on the system. However, people see these pop-ups when unwanted apps were installed before updating their operating system to Catalina. These pop-ups installed into your device through the setups of unwanted apps.

Some examples of unwanted apps are Smart Mac Booster, Mac Cleanup Pro and Advanced Mac Cleaner. Additionally, these are usually promoted through untrustworthy or deceptive websites. Thus, users who install them often get tricked into installing other unnecessary programs. Despite this, apps that displays pop-ups such as MacGameStore17-12-57-980 might serve ads, gather various information and so on. So, we highly advised you to remove all installed apps of this types immediately from the browsers or computers by using reliable antivirus software.

Apart from this, this apps also has the ability to feed their users with unwanted advertisements. The displayed ads will be in form of coupons, offers, discounts and so on. Many people trust on displayed ads and click on them which will redirect them to untrustworthy websites or they allow those ads to download and install unwanted applications. In order to prevent any of this infection, we recommend you to remove installed PUAs as soon as possible from the computer. Besides this information, they often cause browsing safety, online privacy and other problems like identity theft.

Short description

Name: MacGameStore17-12-57-980

Threat Type: Adware, PUP, PUA, Mac malware, Mac virus.

Symptoms: Your Mac becomes slower than normal, you see unwanted pop-up ads, and you are redirected to dubious websites.

Distribution methods: Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers, torrent file downloads.

Damage: Internet browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites, loss of private information.

Prevention: use custom or advance mode while installing freeware, avoid downloading rogue software from the internet.

Removal: To remove MacGameStore17-12-57-980 and all harmful malware, we recommend you to use powerful anti-malware removal tool.

How did PUAs install on my PC?

In some cases, potentially unwanted applications can be downloaded and installed from their own official websites. However, most people download and install them through intrusive ads that they have clicked without paying enough attention. On the other hand, software developers use deceptive marketing method called bundling. This method is mainly designed to trick people into downloading and installing unwanted apps along with regular free software. They generally hide unwanted apps in custom or advance options of software setups and hope that people will not change them. Thus, if you leave such settings unchanged it means you are allowing unwanted software to be gets downloaded and installed.

How to prevent intruding unwanted apps?

The main reasons for computer infections are poor knowledge and careless behavior therefore you must always pay close attention while downloading and installing program as well as surfing online. Always use official websites and direct download links to download any software. Other tools like third party downloader, free file hosting sites, unofficial pages and other similar channels should be avoided as they can proliferate malware. Further, check all available settings that are available in download/installation setup and dismiss offers to download and install additionally included apps. It is not safe to click on ads that are displayed on dubious web pages. Thus, to prevent browsers from opening untrustworthy sites, uninstall all unwanted extensions and are installed.

Remove MacGameStore17-12-57-980

Manual removal guide has been discussed below under this article in step by step manner. Follow it so that you will not find any trouble while performing virus removal process. To keep computer safe and secure, we suggest you to use Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS that has the ability to remove MacGameStore17-12-57-980 and all installed potentially unwanted applications immediately from the PC.

Remove Files and Folders Related to MacGameStore17-12-57-980

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 MacGameStore17-12-57-980 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 MacGameStore17-12-57-980 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 MacGameStore17-12-57-980. You can select such harmful files and folders and remove them immediately.