How to uninstall TaskBrowser adware

What is TaskBrowser?

TaskBrowser supposedly improves the browsing experience, however, this adware-type application feeds users with ads and gathers information. In most cases, users download and install adware inadvertently. Therefore, apps of this type are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

Typically, apps such as TaskBrowser serve advertisements in the form of banners, coupons, pop-ups, surveys, etc. These usually conceal contents of visited/opened pages and, if clicked, open untrusted, potentially malicious web pages. In some cases, they execute certain scripts that cause download/installation of unwanted software.

Furthermore, apps such as TaskBrowser often gather browsing-related details such as IP addresses, entered search queries, addresses of visited pages, geolocations, and other browsing data, however, they might also collect confidential details.

Research shows that TaskBrowser can read sensitive information such as passwords, credit card details, telephone numbers, and other details. This information can be used to make fraudulent purchases and transactions, steal identities, etc. It is possible that TaskBrowser's developers might sell the data to third parties, including cyber criminals.

TaskBrowser and other similar apps can never be trusted and should not be downloaded or installed, otherwise users might suffer monetary loss, experience problems relating to online privacy, browsing safety, or become victims of identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by TaskBrowser
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AB [Trj]), BitDefender (Gen:Variant.Adware.MAC.Adload.5), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Synataeb.C), 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.

Some examples of other adware-type applications include AddUpgrade, ProcessLocator and SoloProcess. These are often advertised as useful, and supposedly deliver useful features, improve the browsing experience, etc. In fact, most do not operate as promised and simply feed users with advertisements and collect data.

Furthermore, users are exposed to risk of various problems. Therefore, remove any installed adware-type applications from the browser and operating system immediately.

How did TaskBrowser install on my computer?

Developers commonly distribute unwanted applications by including them into the download and installation set-ups of other programs. This distribution method is called "bundling". Typically, information about included apps and offers to download and install them can be found in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings of the software set-ups.

Many users often download and install programs without checking and changing these settings, thereby allowing unwanted apps to be downloaded and installed together with regular programs. PUAs are also inadvertently downloaded and installed when people click deceptive ads that execute certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Third party downloaders (and installers), Peer-to-Peer networks such as eMule, torrent clients, unofficial pages, freeware download pages, free file hosting sites, etc., can be used to distribute unwanted, malicious programs. Therefore, files and software should be downloaded only from official websites and via direct links.

Check all "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings and decline offers to download or install unwanted software before completing the process. Various advertisements that appear on dubious, untrusted websites tend to open other sites of this kind or download/install unwanted apps.

For these reasons, never click them. Remove all unwanted, suspicious extensions, plug-ins and add-ons that are installed on the browser, and programs of this kind installed on the operating system, immediately. If your computer is already infected with TaskBrowser, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Pop-up window displayed once TaskBrowser installation is complete:

TaskBrowser installation folder and contents:

TaskBrowser installed on Safari:

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

Video showing how to remove TaskBrowser adware using Combo Cleaner:

TaskBrowser adware removal:

Remove TaskBrowser-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