How to uninstall WindowGroup adware

What is WindowGroup?

WindowGroup is advertised as a tool that provides accurate search results, fast searches, and other features that supposedly enhance the browsing experience.

In fact, it also serves unwanted, intrusive advertisements. Therefore, WindowGroup is classified as adware and a potentially unwanted application (PUA). Note that these apps record details relating to browsing activities. Most people download and install adware (and other PUAs) unintentionally/inadvertently.

Adware-type applications feed users with intrusive ads that are usually displayed in the form of coupons, banners, surveys, pop-up ads, and so on. When displayed, these ads conceal content of visited websites and, if clicked, redirect people to untrustworthy websites or they download/install unwanted applications.

Furthermore, PUAs often gather information such as users' geolocations, IP addresses, entered search queries, addresses of visited websites, and so on. Some PUAs might also record sensitive details. Typically, adware developers sell the information to other parties (potentially cyber criminals) who misuse private data to generate revenue.

Thus, having adware or other PUAs installed can lead to problems relating to browsing safety, privacy, and so on. Furthermore, recorded details might be misused to steal users' identities. We strongly recommend that you uninstall adware and all other unwanted software as soon as possible.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by WindowGroup
Threat Type	Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names	Full list of detections (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.

WindowGroup is virtually identical to other adware-type apps including, for example, OnlyApplication, ExtraWindow, and WindowMode. Typically, these apps are designed to feed users with unwanted ads, however, they might also perform information tracking.

In any case, these PUAs deliver no real value and cause only problems. Therefore, never download or install them.

How did WindowGroup install on my computer?

Most people download and install apps of this type unintentionally. Typically, they cause this by clicking various (deceptive) ads or when developers include them into the download/installation set-ups - they hide related information in settings such as "Custom", "Advanced", etc.

Unwanted downloads and installations take place when people download or install regular programs without checking settings that are included in the setup. This adware distribution method is called "bundling" and developers use it to trick people into downloading and installing unwanted apps with regular software/apps.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Do not use untrustworthy websites, third party software downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks such as torrent clients, eMule or other similar download or installation tools/sources. The safest method to download files and programs is to use official websites and direct links.

Check settings such as "Custom", "Advanced" and sections included in set-ups, and dismiss any offers to download or install additional software. Avoid clicking intrusive ads, especially if displayed on dubious, unofficial websites. These often redirect people to other malicious sites.

If unwanted redirects happen often or unwanted ads appear on each visited website, remove all unwanted or unknown add-ons, plug-ins, and extensions that are installed the web browser immediately. Also remove programs of this type installed on the operating system.

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

Pop-up window displayed once WindowGroup installation is complete:

WindowGroup installation folder:

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

Video showing how to remove WindowGroup adware using Combo Cleaner:

WindowGroup adware removal:

Remove WindowGroup-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.

▼ Show Discussion