How to remove software downloaded from operatedevelopeduberprogram.icu?

What is operatedevelopeduberprogram[.]icu?

Operatedevelopeduberprogram[.]icu is a website which is designed to trick people into installing two PUAs, adware-type apps called Media Player and MyCouponsmart. These PUAs get installed through a fake installer of new version of Adobe Flash Player that this page offers to download.

Operatedevelopeduberprogram[.]icu is not the only deceptive website that is designed to trick people into installing unwanted software this way.

Adobe Flash Player or any other legitimate software should be downloaded only from official pages. It is worth mentioning that installation of software downloaded from pages like operatedevelopeduberprogram[.]icu can lead to having a computer infected with some malware as well.

When visited, operatedevelopeduberprogram[.]icu displays a pop-up window with an offer to download a new version of Adobe Flash Player. However, it downloads an installer of two PUAs. One of them is some MyCouponsmart, an adware-type app. If installed, adware serves various ads (like coupons, banners, surveys, pop-ups, and so on).

In most cases people who click those ads get redirected to a variety of untrustworthy websites. Sometimes adware displays ads that, if clicked, execute scripts designed to cause downloads or even installations of unwanted apps. It is very likely that the second app (Media Player) operates as adware too.

It is worth mentioning that websites like operatedevelopeduberprogram[.]icu are often used to distribute other PUAs as well, for example, browser hijackers. Apps of this type are designed to collect various data that their developers sell to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse to generate revenue.

Browser hijackers usually collect information such as entered search queries, geolocations, IP addresses, URLs of visited websites, and so on. However, sometimes they target personal, sensitive details too.

Additionally, sometimes websites like operatedevelopeduberprogram[.]icu are used to proliferate malware (e.g., ransomware, Trojans), software of this type might be the reason behind serious problems like data and/or financial loss, identity theft, installation of other high-risk malware, and so on.

These are the main reasons why neither operatedevelopeduberprogram[.]icu or other similar pages cannot be trusted.

Threat Summary:

Name	operatedevelopeduberprogram.icu pop-up
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Mac malware, Mac virus
Fake Claim	This page claims that there is a new version of Adobe Flash Player and offers to download it.
Detection Names	Forcepoint ThreatSeeker (Suspicious), Full List (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address	34.202.53.95
Promoted Unwanted Application	Media Player and MyCouponsmart
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.

Operateuberrefinedprogram[.]icu, mainspotupdatesfreenew[.]info and fineplaceupgradefree[.]info are a couple of examples of other similar pages that are designed to trick people into installing unwanted software through a fake installer of a new Adobe Flash Player version.

It is important to remember that Adobe Flash Player or any other legitimate software should be downloaded only from official websites. Websites like operateuberrefinedprogram[.]icu have nothing to do with the actual Adobe Flash Player, all of them download installers of some other, potentially malicious software.

If a browser opens untrustworthy pages by itself, then it is very likely that some already installed PUA is forcing it to open them.

How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?

It usually happens when people click certain deceptive ads displayed on shady websites or during downloads and/or installations of other programs. In other words, when developers distribute PUAs by using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling".

This method is being used to trick people into downloading and/or installing PUAs together with other programs by including them in their setups. Typically, information about additional downloads and/or installations can be found in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings of download and/or installation setups.

However, quite often people do not check (and change) those settings and that is how PUAs are being allowed to be downloaded and/or installed together with a desired software.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

We recommend to download all software only from official websites and not download or install it through third party downloaders, installers, Peer to-Peer networks (e.g., torrent clients, eMule, etc.), questionable websites and other similar sources. Furthermore, quite often download and installation setups contain "Advanced", "Custom" and other similar settings.

It is important to check them and dismiss offers to download and/or install unwanted, additionally included applications. Advertisements that are displayed on untrustworthy websites should not be clicked, they usually redirect people to other pages of this kind, or download, install unwanted, potentially malicious applications.

If there is a reason to think that some PUA is already installed, then we recommend to check the list of extensions, plug-ins or add-ons that are installed on a browser and remove all unwanted, unknown entries as soon as possible. The same should be done with programs of this kind that are installed on the operating system.

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

Text in the main pop-up window:

Software Update
Flash Player Update
Download new version
Update now
Flash Player is an essential plugin for your browser that allows you to view everything from video to games and animation on the web.
Flash Player supports several data formats AMF, SWF, XML and JSON. The multimedia formats which are supported by Flash Player include .MP3, .FLV, .JPEG, .GIF, .PNG and .RTMP.
Other supported features include accelerated graphics rendering, multi-thread video decoding and webcam support.
Later Install

Appearance of operatedevelopeduberprogram[.]icu scam (GIF):

 Screenshot of the installer which includes Media Player and MyCouponsmart:

Screenshot of Media Player setup:

Screenshot of another website ("operaterefineduberprogram[.]icu") identical to operatedevelopeduberprogram[.]icu:

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 operatedevelopeduberprogram.icu pop-up?
• How to identify a pop-up scam?
• How do pop-up scams work?
• How to remove fake pop-ups?
• How to prevent fake pop-ups?
• What to do if you fell for a pop-up scam?

How to identify a pop-up scam?

Pop-up windows with various fake messages are a common type of lures cybercriminals use. They collect sensitive personal data, trick Internet users into calling fake tech support numbers, subscribe to useless online services, invest in shady cryptocurrency schemes, etc.

While in the majority of cases these pop-ups don't infect users' devices with malware, they can cause direct monetary loss or could result in identity theft.

Cybercriminals strive to create their rogue pop-up windows to look trustworthy, however, scams typically have the following characteristics:

• Spelling mistakes and non-professional images - Closely inspect the information displayed in a pop-up. Spelling mistakes and unprofessional images could be a sign of a scam.
• Sense of urgency - Countdown timer with a couple of minutes on it, asking you to enter your personal information or subscribe to some online service.
• Statements that you won something - If you haven't participated in a lottery, online competition, etc., and you see a pop-up window stating that you won.
• Computer or mobile device scan - A pop-up window that scans your device and informs of detected issues - is undoubtedly a scam; webpages cannot perform such actions.
• Exclusivity - Pop-up windows stating that only you are given secret access to a financial scheme that can quickly make you rich.

Example of a pop-up scam:

How do pop-up scams work?

Cybercriminals and deceptive marketers usually use various advertising networks, search engine poisoning techniques, and shady websites to generate traffic to their pop-ups. Users land on their online lures after clicking on fake download buttons, using a torrent website, or simply clicking on an Internet search engine result.

Based on users' location and device information, they are presented with a scam pop-up. Lures presented in such pop-ups range from get-rich-quick schemes to fake virus scans.

How to remove fake pop-ups?

In most cases, pop-up scams do not infect users' devices with malware. If you encountered a scam pop-up, simply closing it should be enough. In some cases scam, pop-ups may be hard to close; in such cases - close your Internet browser and restart it.

In extremely rare cases, you might need to reset your Internet browser. For this, use our instructions explaining how to reset Internet browser settings.

How to prevent fake pop-ups?

To prevent seeing pop-up scams, you should visit only reputable websites. Torrent, Crack, free online movie streaming, YouTube video download, and other websites of similar reputation commonly redirect Internet users to pop-up scams.

To minimize the risk of encountering pop-up scams, you should keep your Internet browsers up-to-date and use reputable anti-malware application. For this purpose, we recommend Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS.

What to do if you fell for a pop-up scam?

This depends on the type of scam that you fell for. Most commonly, pop-up scams try to trick users into sending money, giving away personal information, or giving access to one's device.

• If you sent money to scammers: You should contact your financial institution and explain that you were scammed. If informed promptly, there's a chance to get your money back.
• If you gave away your personal information: You should change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication in all online services that you use. Visit Federal Trade Commission to report identity theft and get personalized recovery steps.
• If you let scammers connect to your device: You should scan your computer with reputable anti-malware (we recommend Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS) - cyber criminals could have planted trojans, keyloggers, and other malware, don't use your computer until removing possible threats.
• Help other Internet users: report Internet scams to Federal Trade Commission.

▼ Show Discussion