How to remove ChoiceFinder adware from your operating system
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is ChoiceFinder?
ChoiceFinder is a rogue application classified as adware. Following successful infiltration, the app runs intrusive advertisement campaigns, delivering various unwanted and harmful ads. Additionally, software classed as adware often has data tracking capabilities.
Since ChoiceFinder has dubious proliferation methods, it is also categorized as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA).
Adware-type applications deliver various intrusive ads such as pop-ups, banners, coupons, surveys and so on. These significantly diminish the browsing experience by limiting browsing speed and website visibility (by overlaying web page content). Ads of this kind are more than just a nuisance, they are also a threat to device and user safety.
When clicked, they redirect to sale-based, untrusted, rogue, deceptive, compromised, scam and malicious web pages. Intrusive advertisements can even be triggered (when clicked) to execute scripts, designed to download/install unwanted software (e.g. PUAs) without users' permission. PUAs have a number of capabilities.
They can force-open likewise dangerous sites, which pose various threats. These applications can hijack browsers by making modifications to settings and restricting/denying access to them.
Most PUAs can track data. They monitor browsing activity (URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries typed, etc.) and collect users' personal information (IP addresses, geolocations and other details). The gathered data is likely to contain sensitive and personally identifiable information.
Furthermore, this can be shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) seeking to misuse it for profit.
To summarize, PUAs can cause browser and system infiltration/infections, lead to serious privacy issues, financial loss and even identity theft. To protect device integrity and user safety, remove all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins immediately upon detection.
| Name | Ads by ChoiceFinder |
| Threat Type | Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus. |
| Detection Names | Avira no cloud (ADWARE/OSX.Didnarbois.xgnlt), BitDefender (Adware.MAC.Generic.15788), Emsisoft (Adware.MAC.Generic.15788 (B)), Tencent (Win32.Adware.Didnarbois.Htvn), 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. |
ProcessFresh, ExpertCharacterSearch, and PublicAdviseSearch are some examples of other adware infections. Apps within this classification often seem legitimate and useful. They tempt users to install with offers of "useful" functions, however, these features are rarely operational. In fact, this applies to most PUAs.
The only purpose of all unwanted applications is to generate revenue for the developers, while regular users receive no genuine value. PUAs deliver intrusive ad campaigns, cause redirects to untrusted and malicious websites, hijack browsers and collect vulnerable data.
How did ChoiceFinder install on my computer?
Some PUAs have "official" promotional web pages from which they can be downloaded, however, they also proliferate via the download/install set-ups of other products. "Bundling" is the term used to describe this deceptive marketing method of pre-packing normal software with unwanted or malicious content.
By rushing through download/installation processes (e.g. by skimming or ignoring terms, using pre-set options, skipping steps and sections, etc.), many users endanger their devices with potential infiltration and infections. Intrusive ads also proliferate these applications. When clicked, they can execute scripts to stealthily download/install PUAs.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
You are advised to research all products to verify their legitimacy, prior to download/installation or purchase. All downloads should be performed from official and verified sources. Untrustworthy channels such as free file-hosting sites, P2P sharing networks (BitTorrent, Gnutella, eMule, etc.) and other third party downloaders can offer deceptive or bundled content.
Treat download and installation processes with caution. Read the terms, explore all available options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings and opt-out of all additional apps, tools, features and so on.
Intrusive advertisements usually seem legitimate and innocuous, however, once clicked, they redirect to rogue pages (e.g. gambling, pornography, adult-dating and others). If you encounter these ads/redirects, check the system and eliminate all dubious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins without delay.
If your computer is already infected with ChoiceFinder, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.
Pop-up window displayed once ChoiceFinder installation is complete:
Screenshot of ChoiceFinder adware 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 ChoiceFinder?
- STEP 1. Remove ChoiceFinder related files and folders from OSX.
- STEP 2. Remove ChoiceFinder ads from Safari.
- STEP 3. Remove ChoiceFinder adware from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove ChoiceFinder ads from Mozilla Firefox.
Video showing how to remove adware and browser hijackers from a Mac computer:
ChoiceFinder adware removal:
Remove ChoiceFinder-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.
Outstanding!
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