How to uninstall LookupTool adware from the operating system

What is LookupTool?

Commonly distributed through fake Adobe Flash Player updates, LookupTool is a rogue application. It operates as adware by running intrusive advertisement campaigns. Additionally, it has browser hijacker characteristics, such as browser settings modification and fake search engine promotion.

Most adware infections and browser hijackers possess data tracking capabilities, which are employed to monitor users' browsing activity, LookupTool is likely to have these capabilities as well. Due to the dubious methods used to proliferate this app, it is classified as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA).

Note that bogus software updaters/installers are often used to spread various PUAs and even malware (e.g. Trojans, ransomware, etc.).

Adware delivers a wide variety of advertisements such as pop-ups, banners, surveys, coupons, etc. These significantly diminish the browsing experience, as they overlay web page content and reduce browsing speed.

Furthermore, when clicked, the ads redirect to untrusted/malicious websites and can execute scripts designed to download/install rogue software (e.g. PUAs) without users' consent. Browser hijackers assign the addresses of fake search engines as the homepage, default search engine and new tab/window URLs.

Therefore, each search query typed into the URL bar and each new browser tab/window opened redirects to the address of a bogus search engine. These fake search tools are typically unable to provide unique results, and so they redirect to (or cause redirection chains ending with) Yahoo, Google, Bing and other legitimate search engines.

Furthermore, recovering the affected browser is impossible without removing the browser hijacker. Since, any changes users attempt to make to their browsers are reset, if access to the settings is permitted at all. As mentioned, most PUAs (adware and browser hijacker included) can track data.

They can monitor browsing activity (URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries typed, etc.) and gather users' personal information (IP addresses, geolocations and other details). Typically, the collected data is monetized by sharing it with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) seeking to misuse it for profit.

The presence of unwanted apps on devices can thus lead to system infiltration and infections, serious privacy issues, financial loss and even identity theft. To protect device integrity and user safety, remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins immediately upon detection.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by LookupTool
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AD [Trj]), DrWeb (Adware.Mac.Loader.17), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/TrojanDownloader.Adload.AE), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Cimpli.k), 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.

BasicSearchPlatform, GlobalToolboxSearch and AimSearch are some examples of other adware-type apps. They may seem legitimate and useful, however, the advertised capabilities/functions are usually nonoperational. In fact, this applies to most PUAs.

The unwanted applications have just one purpose: to generate revenue for the developers. Rather than delivering any real value, PUAs run intrusive ad campaigns, hijack browsers, cause redirects and track sensitive data.

How did LookupTool install on my computer?

PUAs are proliferated through the download/installation set-ups of other products. "Bundling" is the term used to define this deceptive marketing technique of pre-packing normal software with unwanted or malicious additions.

By rushing through download/installation processes (e.g. skipping steps and sections, using pre-set options, etc.), many users risk unintentionally allowing bundled content into their devices. Some PUAs have "official" promotional sites from which they can be downloaded. Intrusive advertisements can also infiltrate these applications into systems.

Once clicked, they can execute scripts to stealthily download/install PUAs.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

All products should be researched prior to download/installation. You are advised to use only official and verified download sources. Avoid untrustworthy/unofficial free file-hosting sites, P2P sharing networks (BitTorrent, eMule, Gnutella, etc.) and other third party downloaders.

When downloading/installing, it is important to read the terms, explore all possible options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings and opt-out of supplementary apps, tools, features and so on. While intrusive ads may seem legitimate, they often redirect to dubious websites (e.g. gambling, pornography, adult-dating and others).

If you encounter these ads/redirects, inspect the system and immediately eliminate all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with LookupTool, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Files related to LookupTool adware that need to be removed:

• ~/Library/Application Support/com.LookupTool/LookupTool
• ~/Library/Application Support/com.LookupToolDaemon/LookupTool
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.LookupTool.plist
• ~/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.LookupToolDaemon.plist

IMPORTANT NOTE! Rogue setups/apps that promote LookupTool are designed to create a new device profile. Therefore, before taking any further removal steps, perform these actions:

1) Click the "Preferences" icon in the menu bar and select "Profiles".

2) Select the "LookupTool" profile and delete it.

3) Perform a full system scan with Combo Cleaner anti-virus suite.

After performing these actions, you can proceed with further removal steps for this 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 LookupTool?
• STEP 1. Remove LookupTool related files and folders from OSX.
• STEP 2. Remove LookupTool ads from Safari.
• STEP 3. Remove LookupTool adware from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove LookupTool ads from Mozilla Firefox.

Video showing how to remove adware and browser hijackers from a Mac computer:

LookupTool adware removal:

Remove LookupTool-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