How to remove ContentBenefits adware

What is ContentBenefits?

ContentBenefits is a potentially unwanted application (PUA) categorized as adware. It supposedly enhances the browsing experience and delivers other value and features. In fact, ContentBenefits serves intrusive advertisements and collects browsing data. Generally, people download and install adware (and other PUAs) inadvertently.

After installation, applications such as ContentBenefits start to display various advertisements that conceal underlying content of opened websites and, if clicked, open untrusted websites. Examples of ads deployed by adware-type apps include coupons, pop-ups, surveys and banners.

In some cases, advertisements displayed by adware cause unwanted download/installation of unwanted software, however, this happens only when users click them - the ads then execute certain scripts. Furthermore, adware often records browsing-related information such as IP addresses, entered search queries, addresses of visited pages, geolocations, and so on.

Installed adware can also collect personal, sensitive information. The people responsible for these apps generate revenue by selling the data to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it in various dubious ways. These actions can lead to problems with privacy, browsing safety, and, in some cases, the details are misused to steal users' identities.

Therefore, never download or install ContentBenefits or other, similar apps.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by ContentBenefits
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AB [Trj]), BitDefender (Adware.MAC.Generic.15119), Emsisoft (Adware.MAC.Generic.15119 (B)), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Adload.g), 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.

There are many adware-type apps on the internet. Some examples include SystemSpot, CentralRush, SystemNotes. Adware developers promote their apps as legitimate and useful, however, adware delivers no real value and simply causes problems. In most cases, these apps are designed only to help the developers to generate revenue by serving ads and collecting information.

If adware or other PUAs are installed on the browser and/or operating system, remove them immediately.

How did ContentBenefits install on my computer?

Typically, unwanted apps are distributed through deceptive advertisements and the download/installation set-ups of other programs.

If clicked, some ads download and install unwanted software by running certain scripts. In other cases, people are tricked into downloading and installing PUAs when they leave settings such as "Custom" and "Advanced" unchecked and unchanged. PUAs are commonly distributed by including them into the download/installation set-ups of other programs.

By leaving these settings unchanged, many people allow PUAs to be downloaded and installed with their required software (this PUA distribution method is called "bundling").

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

To prevent unwanted apps from being downloaded or installed, do not use third party downloaders, installers, unofficial websites, Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., torrent clients, eMule) or other similar sources. Files and programs should be downloaded only from official websites and through direct links.

Check "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings of the download/installation setups and decline offers to download or PUAs before completing the process. Do not click advertisements that are displayed on dubious web pages - these can open other untrusted websites or cause unwanted downloads and installations.

Uninstall all unwanted, suspicious extensions, add-ons and plug-ins from the browser. Also apply this to programs of this kind that are installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with ContentBenefits, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Pop-up window displayed once ContentBenefits installation is complete:

Installation folder of ContentBenefits adware:

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

Video showing how to remove ContentBenefits adware using Combo Cleaner:

ContentBenefits adware removal:

Remove ContentBenefits-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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