Uninstall OpticDaemon and MacPerformance from the MacOS

What is OpticDaemon?

OpticDaemon is an adware-type app belonging to the Pirrit adware family. It displays unwanted advertisements and installs another adware program called MacPerformance. Additionally, OpticDaemon forces browsers to display pop-up windows that offer updates to installed software (using fake updating tools).

Typically, people do not download and/or these install apps intentionally. Therefore, they are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) and are often designed to gather user-system information.

In most cases, adware-type apps feed users with intrusive ads such as coupons, banners, surveys, pop-ups, and so on. These can be annoying and conceal underlying content of visited websites. Furthermore, people who click them are usually redirected to dubious websites or allow the ads to run scripts that download (or even install) more unwanted apps.

Furthermore, many PUAs record details relating to users, such as IP addresses, geolocations, addresses of visited websites, entered search queries and other, potentially sensitive data. Developers share the information with other parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue.

When OpticDaemon is installed, it displays a pop-up window containing offers to update software with various fake tools. There is a high probability that this app also proliferates other PUAs. As mentioned, OpticDaemon installs additional adware called MacPerformance.

The app requests access and control of Google Chrome (or other browsers). If allowed, MacPerformance is then able to access documents and data within the browser, and perform actions within the app. We strongly recommend that you uninstall OpticDaemon, MacPerformance, and other PUAs from your browser and/or operating system immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by OpticDaemon
Threat Type	Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Pirrit-AT [Adw]), BitDefender (Adware.MAC.Generic.13896), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Pirrit.AN), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Pirrit.s), Full List (VirusTotal)
Symptoms	Your Mac becomes slower than normal, you see unwanted pop-up ads, 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.
Malware Removal (Mac)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your Mac with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner for Mac To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Limited seven days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

OpticDaemon is identical to LightAgent, DisplayUpdate, and many other adware-type apps. None can be trusted or should be used. Generally, adware delivers unwanted apps and provides no value. Therefore, these apps are useless and often lead to unwanted downloads/installations and other problems.

How did OpticDaemon install on my computer?

In most cases, PUAs infiltrate systems without direct user permission. Therefore, people often download and install apps of this type unintentionally. In most cases, PUAs are installed when software developers use a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" or through intrusive advertisements that, if clicked, cause unwanted downloads and installations.

Developers use the bundling method to trick people into downloading and/or installing PUAs through the set-ups of other (usually free) software.

They hide information about additionally-included apps in "Custom", "Advanced" and other options/settings. Many people download and install software without checking and changing these settings, thus causing unwanted download and installation of unwanted apps.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Download all files and software from official websites and using direct links. Do not use third party downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks such as torrent clients, eMule, dubious websites, or other sources of this kind. If software download or installation set-ups contain settings such as "Advanced", "Custom", etc., they should be checked carefully.

Dismiss any offers to download or install additional software before completing the process. If clicked, most intrusive ads cause unwanted downloads/installations or redirects to untrustworthy websites.

If unwanted redirects happen regularly, or ads appear on visited websites, remove any unwanted/suspicious apps (extensions, plug-ins, add-ons) installed on the browser and programs of this type installed on the operating system.

If your computer is already infected with OpticDaemon, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

OpticDaemon adware displays a pop-up window offering update of software with a fake tool:

 OpticDaemon process in Activity Monitor:

 MacPerformance asks to control the browser:

Instant automatic Mac malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of Mac malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner for Mac By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Limited seven days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

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

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

OpticDaemon adware removal:

Remove OpticDaemon-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 adware-related files and folders

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

Check for adware 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 adware - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Adware commonly installs several files with the exact same string.

Check for adware 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 adware 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 adware - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Adware commonly installs several files with the exact same string.

Check for adware 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 adware, continue to remove rogue extensions from your Internet browsers.

Remove malicious extensions from Internet browsers

Remove malicious Safari extensions:

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.

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

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

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".

• 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".

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

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