Remove PromoteMethod Adware From Mac OS

Easy Steps To Delete PromoteMethod Adware

PromoteMethod Adware is a questionable browser extension operating on Mac PC systems. It is promoted as an application that enhances online searching and browsing performance, which is significantly useful for Mac users. Moreover, people behind this app claim to provide fast and most accurate search results. By integrating certain features on browser, this adware emphasizes to improve overall function. With these encouraging positive outcomes, many users may support this tool and have it install on their web browsers such as Chrome, Explorer, Safari, Firefox etc. However, it is indeed a potentially unwanted application crafted by vicious hackers for promotional and commercial motives.

Depth Analysis of PromoteMethod Adware:

PromoteMethod Adware has been designed with the mere purpose of gathering multiple browsing details like visited pages, search keywords, favourite websites and so on. This information is essential in the objective of this PUP authors to generate online revenues by exhibiting different types of ads at the view of compromised browser. It could be the reason why people may experience persistent advertisements like banners, pop-ups, deals, discounts, offers, push notifications and so on. These ads are based on pay-per-click mechanism and each click of users, earn profits for the developers. What is more troublesome is, these ads may contain malicious links and could drive browser to malware-laden sites that are in camouflage as download page for Adobe program update. Remember that installing such fake software amendment could end up people having additional malware on their Mac systems.

PromoteMethod Adware can also steal your personal and confidential data such as user IDs, passwords, credit card, bank account and other financial details and expose them to hackers for evil purposes. This potentially unwanted program is capable of disabling the working of all the running security services and opening backdoors for more nasty threats. It may easily bring other Online infections such as Trojans, rootkits, worms, spyware and even deadly ransomware in your work-station and turn the device into a malware-hub. It eats up huge amount of memory resources and slows down the overall PC performance drastically. Due to this, machine starts responding slower than ever before and takes more than usual time to complete any task. And therefore, you must perform the quick removal of PromoteMethod Adware from the Mac system.

Distribution Techniques of PromoteMethod Adware:

Such types of potentially undesired apps should not be downloaded intentionally. Even if they don’t pose harm to your essential files and similar data like ransomware do, they can conduct spiteful doings and bring several nasty issues in the work-station. Here are the most popular tactics used for the propagation of adware or PUPs:

• Software bundles- This method takes a very important role in the spread of adware, hijacker and other potentially undesired programs. To protect your device from PromoteMethod Adware or other similar threats, you have to opt for Custom or Advanced installation method each time you install a third-party program on your device.
• Official sites- You can easily install such adware with its official websites. As we have already mentioned, most of such apps are not so destructive, so they are promoted with the help of their sites.
• Misleading pop-up ads- Each of pop-up ads that appear on your system screen should be treated with intense attentiveness, especially the ones that offer to fix a PC for free. If you don’t want to bring such adware infections unintentionally on your computer, you should stay away from adverts claiming that you can scan your machine with a free system scammer or that you should install an update on your device. Typically, such ads are used for distributing questionable programs.

Other Malevolent Acts of PromoteMethod Adware:

PromoteMethod Adware makes spiteful entries in boot section and changes its default settings in order to get automatically activated every time the machine is started. It messes with important system files which assure efficient computer functioning and prevents many installed apps as well as drivers from working normally. It displays fake security alerts, error messages, update notifications etc. and tries to scam people into installing rogue software. It enables remote criminals to get access to your Mac PC and contribute evil deeds for their delicate welfare. And hence, looking at all these hazards, you are strongly recommended to remove PromoteMethod Adware from the work-station immediately.

Threat Summary

Name: PromoteMethod Adware

Type: Mac virus, Adware, Potentially unwanted program

Functionality: Aims to redirect users to affiliated websites, promote sponsored products, services and programs and make Online revenues for the developers, Also steal users’ personal and confidential information and share them with hackers for evil purposes.

Symptoms: Endless annoying ads and pop-ups, 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.

Distribution methods: Free software installers (bundling), Deceptive emails, malicious pop-ups ads, fake flash player installers.

Damage: Internet 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.

Remove Files and Folders Related to PromoteMethod Adware

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