How to uninstall EssentialPanel adware

What is EssentialPanel?

EssentialPanel is classified as adware. This app runs intrusive advertisement campaigns and shares certain browser hijacker traits such as modification of browser settings and promotion of fake search engines. Due to EssentialPanel's dubious proliferation methods, it is also classified as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA).

Furthermore, most adware-types, browser hijackers and other PUAs have data tracking capabilities, which are employed to gather browsing-related information.

EssentialPanel adware delivers a wide variety of intrusive ads such as pop-ups, banners, coupons, surveys and so on. These are unwanted and even harmful. They significantly diminish the browsing experience by limiting browsing speed and website visibility.

When clicked, intrusive advertisements can redirect to sale-based, untrusted, rogue, deceptive/scam, compromised and malicious web pages. Some can be triggered (when clicked) to execute scripts designed to download/install rogue software (e.g. PUAs) without users' consent. EssentialPanel also has browser hijacking capabilities.

Browser hijackers operate by reassigning the homepage, default search engine and new tab/window addresses. Therefore, each search made via the URL bar and each new tab/window opened redirects to a fake search engine. Few of these bogus search engines can provide unique results, and so they redirect to (or cause redirection chains leading to) genuine sites.

With EssentialPanel installed, users are redirected to akamaihd.net and then to Safe Finder, which in turn redirects to search.yahoo.com (a legitimate search engine).

The only way to recover the affected browser is to remove the software responsible for the hijacking, since any changes users try to make to their browsers are reset, if access to the settings is permitted at all. As mentioned, most PUAs can track data.

They can record browsing activity (browsing and search engine histories) and gather personal information derived from it (IP addresses, geolocations and other details).

The data is often shared with third parties intent on misusing it for profit - potentially, by putting it to criminal use. In summary, PUAs can cause system infiltration and infections, lead to financial loss, serious privacy issues and even identity theft. Therefore, you are advised to immediately eliminate all suspect applications and/or browser extensions/plug-ins.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by EssentialPanel
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AB [Trj]), Sophos AV (Adloadr (PUA)), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Synataeb.C), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Adload.g), Full List (VirusTotal)
Additional Information	This application belongs to the Adload malware family.
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.

SearchLibrary, LookupConsole, and CommonBrand are some examples of other adware-type apps. They often seem legitimate and entice users into download/installation with offers of "useful" and functions. In fact, the features promised are usually nonoperational (this applies to most PUAs).

The only purpose of these unwanted applications is to generate revenue for the developers. Regular users receive no real value and might encounter serious problems. PUAs run intrusive ad campaigns, hijack browsers, cause redirects to untrusted/malicious sites and track vulnerable data.

How did EssentialPanel install on my computer?

The most common proliferation method of PUAs is through the download/install set-ups of other software. "Bundling" is the term used to define this deceptive marketing technique of packing regular products with unwanted or malicious additions.

When downloading/installing, ignoring terms, using presets, skipping steps and sections increases the risk of inadvertently allowing bundled content onto the device. Some PUAs have "official" download pages. Intrusive ads also spread these apps. When clicked, they can execute scripts to stealthily download/install PUAs.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

All software should be researched before download/installation. Use only official and verified download sources. Avoid free file-hosting websites, P2P sharing networks (BitTorrent, eMule, Gnutella, etc.) and other third party downloaders, since they can offer deceptive and bundled content. Treat download/Installation processes with caution.

Read the terms, study all possible options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings and opt-out of additional apps, tools, features, etc. Intrusive advertisements typically seem normal and harmless, however, they can redirect to dubious sites (e.g. gambling, pornography, adult-dating and others).

If you experience ads/redirects of this kind, check the system and immediately remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with EssentialPanel, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Deceptive application installer promoting EssentialPanel adware:

Pop-up window displayed when EssentialPanel installation is complete:

EssentialPanel redirecting users to the Safe Finder website via akamaihd.net:

EssentialPanel installation folder:

EssentialPanel installed on the Safari browser:

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

Video showing how to remove EssentialPanel adware using Combo Cleaner:

EssentialPanel adware removal:

Remove EssentialPanel-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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