Remove PromoteQueue Adware From Mac OS X

Easy Steps To Delete PromoteQueue

PromoteQueue is a malicious application that has been classified as both adware as well as a browser hijacker. Once this potentially unwanted program successfully infiltrates the Mac computers, it makes alterations to default browser’s settings to promote fraudulent search engines. All of a sudden, you will find out your current home page and new tab page are replaced with another pernicious URL. You are forced to use a deceptive search tool that aims to redirect its victims to affiliate sites so that its developers could generate online revenues. This nasty PUP often enters the Mac devices by stealth without users’ consent and then starts executing malicious activities in the background.

Know More About PromoteQueue:

PromoteQueue inserts various tracking cookies on the affected browser and constantly monitors your web activities like pages viewed, links opened, search queries typed etc. It collects important information regarding users’ browsing preferences and habits which is very helpful for producing and displaying attractive advertisements. And thus, during the presence of this adware, you are bombarded with thousands of annoying ads and pop-ups all over the day that makes your web surfing very complex. These ads show eye-catching banners, offers, discounts, deals, coupons etc. and try to make users click on them in order to earn profits via cost-per-click scheme.

While using the search engine promoted by PromoteQueue, you are redirected to genuine ones like Google, Yahoo, Bing or others as these fake search tools are not able to provide results. However, the search outcomes are still not as expected since they often include sponsored links at the top. While clicking on these links, you are rerouted to unknown web portals where several third-party products or services are promoted. With each redirection, owners of the sites pay commission to its developers for the promotion.

You should stay away PromoteQueue ads and links generated by this adware as they might even take you to phishing, scamming or even malware-laced sites that host Trojan or ransomware. Presence of this unwanted threat in your Mac system can be a big hazard for your privacy too as it can also steal your personal data relating to banking and credit card details and expose those details to cyber criminals for evil purposes. This perilous hijacker slows down the overall computer performance drastically as it consumes enormous amount of memory resources and increases the usage of CPU. And hence, you must perform an instant PromoteQueue removal from the computer.

Summarize Information

Name: PromoteQueue

Type: Mac virus, Adware, Browser hijacker, Potentially unwanted program

Short Description: Redirects Mac users to affiliated and even malicious sites, Alters web browser’ settings, Shows intrusive adverts on all sites people visit, 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: Numerous intrusive adverts, Modifications 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: Fake flash player installers, free software installers (bundling), Deceptive emails, malicious pop-ups ads.

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.

The Most Common Adware Distribution Method:

Potentially unwanted programs such as adware and browser hijackers can infiltrate on Windows or Mac systems right after the installation of freeware onto the work-station. These unwanted infections are usually disguised under the Quick or Basic installation setup as an ‘additional feature’ or ‘optional download’. To deceive users into installing them, they are often represented in a tricky manner, for instance, they might be advertised as browser’s speed optimizers, full-featured browser extensions, search optimizers and so on.

How To Avoid PUP Intrusion?

To prevent unwanted installations, it is necessary to be very careful while downloading and installing applications. Choose only reliable sources or official sites to download product or software and avoid untrustworthy channels like softonic.com, cnet.com, soft32.com, download.com. Furthermore, it is very important to always opt for Custom or Advanced installation options as here you can de-select all the components that you don’t want to be installed. But at the moment, you must remove PromoteQueue from the Mac computer as early as possible.

Remove Files and Folders Related to PromoteQueue

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