InstallWizz Adware (Mac)

What is InstallWizz?

InstallWizz is an adware-type application claiming to allow users to download and install various apps. On initial inspection, InstallWizz may appear legitimate and useful, however, this app often infiltrates systems without permission. Furthermore, it generates intrusive online advertisements and collects various data relating to users' Internet browsing activity.

For these reasons, InstallWizz is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.

Following successful infiltration, InstallWizz employs a 'virtual layer' to generate pop-up, banner, coupon, and other similar advertisements. The virtual layer is tool that enables placement of third party graphical content on any site. The ads often conceal underlying content of visited websites, thereby significantly diminishing the Internet browsing experience.

Furthermore, they can redirect to malicious websites and even accidental clicks can result in high-risk adware or malware infections. Another downside is information tracking. Be aware that InstallWizz continually records IP addresses, search queries, URLs visited, pages viewed, and other similar data relating to users' Internet browsing activity.

The information might contain private details that InstallWizz's developers share with cooperating third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who generate revenue by misusing personal details. Therefore, the presence of an information-tracking app on your system might lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft.

We strongly recommend that you remove InstallWizz application from your computer immediately.

InstallWizz shares many similarities with dozens of other adware-type applications such as SurfBuyer, MediaDownloader, WishApp, and PowerSearchOnline. Note that adware claims to provide different functionality, however, they all have identical behavior. Adware-type applications are designed only to generate revenue for the developers.

Claims to enhance the Internet browsing experience are merely attempts to give the impression of legitimacy. In fact, apps such as InstallWizz provide no significant value for regular users - they merely collect private data and deliver intrusive online advertisements.

How did InstallWizz install on my computer?

As mentioned above, InstallWizz often infiltrates systems without users' consent via a deceptive marketing method called "bundling", which developers use to distribute InstallWizz. Bundling is stealth installation of potentially unwanted programs with regular software.

Developers hide bundled programs within the "Custom/Advanced" settings of the download or installation processes. Rushing and skipping this section often leads to inadvertent installation of rogue applications such as InstallWizz.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent system infiltration by PUPs, be cautious when downloading and installing software. Closely analyze each download/installation step within the "Custom/Advanced" settings. Furthermore, decline offers to download or install additional applications. The key to computer safety is caution.

Deceptive application installer promoting InstallWizz adware:

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Quick menu:

• What is InstallWizz?
• STEP 1. Remove InstallWizz related files and folders from OSX.
• STEP 2. Remove InstallWizz ads from Safari.
• STEP 3. Remove InstallWizz adware from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove InstallWizz ads from Mozilla Firefox.

Video showing how to remove adware and browser hijackers from a Mac computer:

InstallWizz adware removal:

Remove InstallWizz-related potentially unwanted applications from your "Applications" folder:

Click the Finder icon. In the Finder window, select “Applications”. In the applications folder, look for “MPlayerX”,“NicePlayer”, or other suspicious applications and drag them to the Trash. After removing the potentially unwanted application(s) that cause online ads, scan your Mac for any remaining unwanted components.

Remove browser hijacker-related files and folders

Click the Finder icon from the menu bar. Choose Go, and click Go to Folder...

Check for browser hijacker generated files in the /Library/LaunchAgents/ folder:

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: /Library/LaunchAgents/

In the "LaunchAgents" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by browser hijackers - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Browser hijacker commonly installs several files with the exact same string.

Check for browser hijacker generated files in the ~/Library/Application Support/ folder:

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: ~/Library/Application Support/

In the "Application Support" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious folders. For example, "MplayerX" or "NicePlayer", and move these folders to the Trash.

Check for browser hijacker generated files in the ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ folder:

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: ~/Library/LaunchAgents/

In the "LaunchAgents" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by browser hijackers - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Browser hijacker commonly installs several files with the exact same string.

Check for browser hijacker generated files in the /Library/LaunchDaemons/ folder:

In the "Go to Folder..." bar, type: /Library/LaunchDaemons/

In the "LaunchDaemons" folder, look for recently-added suspicious files. For example "com.aoudad.net-preferences.plist", "com.myppes.net-preferences.plist", "com.kuklorest.net-preferences.plist", "com.avickUpd.plist", etc., and move them to the Trash.

Scan your Mac with Combo Cleaner:

If you have followed all the steps correctly, your Mac should be clean of infections. To ensure your system is not infected, run a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus. Download it HERE. After downloading the file, double click combocleaner.dmg installer. In the opened window, drag and drop the Combo Cleaner icon on top of the Applications icon. Now open your launchpad and click on the Combo Cleaner icon. Wait until Combo Cleaner updates its virus definition database and click the "Start Combo Scan" button.

Combo Cleaner will scan your Mac for malware infections. If the antivirus scan displays "no threats found" - this means that you can continue with the removal guide; otherwise, it's recommended to remove any found infections before continuing.

After removing files and folders generated by the browser hijackers, continue to remove rogue extensions from your Internet browsers.

Remove browser hijackers from Internet browsers

Remove Safari browser hijackers:

Open the Safari browser, from the menu bar, select "Safari" and click "Preferences...".

In the preferences window, select "Extensions" and look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions. When located, click the "Uninstall" button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Safari browser - none are crucial for regular browser operation.

Change your homepage:

In the "Preferences" window, select the "General" tab. To set your homepage, type the preferred website URL (for example: www.google.com) in the Homepage field. You can also click the "Set to Current Page" button if you wish to set your homepage to the website you are currently visiting.

Change your default search engine:

In the "Preferences" window, select the "Search" tab. Here you will find a drop-down menu labeled "Search engine:" Simply select your preferred search engine from the drop-down list.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Safari.

Remove Google Chrome browser hijackers:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Change your homepage

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable the malicious extension (if present), look for a browser hijacker URL below the "Open a specific or set of pages" option. If present, click on the three vertical dots icon and select "Remove".

Change your default search engine:

To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list look for a browser hijacker URL, when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Delete".

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.

Remove malicious extensions from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) and select "Add-ons and themes". Click "Extensions", in the opened window locate all recently-installed suspicious extensions, click on the three dots and then click "Remove".

Change your homepage

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Settings", in the opened window disable malicious extension (if present), remove the browser hijacker URL and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change your default search engine:

In the URL address bar, type "about:config" and press Enter. Click "Accept the Risk and Continue".

In the search filter at the top, type: "extensionControlled". Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the button.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Mozilla Firefox.

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