Remove OptimalState Ads From PC (Mac)

Tips To Delete OptimalState Ads

OptimalState is a malicious piece of software that works as both adware as well as a browser hijacker. The moment it enters the Mac computers, it makes unwanted modifications in default browser’s settings and starts displaying intrusive OptimalState Ads all over the day. This perilous hijacker replaces the default browser’s settings such as home page, new tab page and search engine with another notorious URL and grabs complete control over the entire browser. On Safari browser, it promotes ABC and on other web browsers, it might promote different search tools.

More About OptimalState Ads:

OptimalState Ads virus injects various tracking cookies on the internet browser and constantly monitors your online activities like your search queries, pages viewed, links clicked and so on. It gathers important information regarding your interests, needs and other preferences which is then utilized for the advertisement campaign. This is the reason why most of the ads presented by this adware are eye-catching and can easily gain your attention. These ads work on pay-per-click mechanism and earn revenues for the developers upon being clicked.

OptimalState Ads include sponsored links and when clicked, redirect you to affiliated web portals that are trying to increase their popularity and gain more visits. Nonetheless, it’s not necessary that all these sites are harmless and safe to visit. You might be also rerouted to scamming, phishing or even malware-laden sites and end up getting more hazardous threats in the work-station. Additionally, at some web pages, you are presented with fake update notifications, security alerts, error messages etc. and then tricked into installing rogue software.

OptimalState Ads virus can also steal your personal data relating to banking and other financial details. These details can be misused by the scammers for fraudulent transactions or purchases that might result in huge financial loss for you. This nasty PUP keeps contributing evil activities in the background all the time which consume enormous amount of memory resources and drag down the overall system performance severely. Due to this, machine starts responding slower than ever before and takes more than usual time to complete any task. And thus, a quick OptimalState Ads virus removal is what you need to perform at the moment.

Threat Details

Name: OptimalState Ads

Type: Mac virus, Adware, Potentially unwanted program

Short Description: Exhibits intrusive adverts on all sites people visit, Redirects users to unknown web pages, promotes sponsored products, services and programs and make online profits for the creators, Also steals users’ personal and confidential information and share them with hackers for evil purposes.

Symptoms: Tons of annoying adverts, Changes in default browser’s settings, 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.

How Does This Adware Enter Your System?

Potentially unwanted programs are mostly spread through software bundling technique in which several free components are included in a single package. When you download a freeware from third-party site and then install it carelessly (e.g. ignoring terms, skipping steps and sections, using pre-set installation options etc), you risk getting infected with adware or hijacker. Moreover, PUPs can also be downloaded from their “official” sites. In additional to that, when you click on intrusive ads, you are redirected to malware-laced web pages or can automatically execute scripts to download and install adware.

Tips To Avoid PUP Intrusion:

Before downloading anything from the web, it is necessary to first research about the product. Choose only reliable sources and direct links to download an application and avoid using untrustworthy channels like third-party downloaders and peer-to-peer sharing networks. Moreover, always select Custom or Advanced options to install software which allow you to de-select the contents that give a concerning look. Additionally, stay away from suspicious ads and hyperlinks as they might lead you to potentially infectious sites. But at the moment, you must remove OptimalState Ads from the device as soon as possible.

Remove Files and Folders Related to OptimalState Ads

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