How to remove SkilledEntry adware

What is SkilledEntry?

SkilledEntry is a rogue application classified as adware. It runs intrusive advertisement campaigns, delivering various unwanted and harmful ads. Additionally, SkilledEntry shares traits with browser hijackers, such as browser settings modification to promote rogue search engines.

This application promotes Safe Finder via akamaihd.net. Due to the dubious methods used to proliferate SkilledEntry, it is classified as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA). Most PUAs also have data tracking capabilities, and this is likely to be the case with SkilledEntry.

Adware enables the placement of various advertisements such as pop-ups, banners, surveys, coupons, surveys, etc. on any visited website. These ads significantly affect the browsing experience, as they overlay web page content and reduce browsing speed.

Additionally, when clicked, they redirect to untrusted/malicious sites and can even execute scripts to stealthily download/install unwanted content (e.g. PUAs). Browser hijackers operate by reassigning the homepage, default search engine and new browser tab/window URLs to the addresses of bogus search engines.

SkilledEntry promotes Safe Finder through akamaihd.net in this manner. Therefore, opening new browser tabs/windows opened and searches made via the URL bar all redirect to the promoted address. Fake search engines are rarely able to provide unique results, and so they redirect to (or cause redirection chains leading to) Google, Yahoo, Bing and other genuine sites.

Since any changes users attempt to make to their browsers are automatically undone (if access to the settings is permitted at all), recovering the affected browsers without eliminating the browser hijacker is impossible. Furthermore, most adware and browser hijackers can track data.

They can monitor browsing activity (browsing and search engine histories) and collect personal information extracted from it (IP addresses, geolocations and other details). The gathered data is often monetized by sharing with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) intent on misusing it for profit.

Therefore, the presence of apps such as SkilledEntry on devices can lead to system infiltration and infections, serious privacy issues, financial loss and even identity theft. To protect browser/system integrity and user safety, remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins without delay.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by SkilledEntry
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names	ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Synataeb.C), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Adload.h), Endgame (Malicious (high Confidence)), Full List (VirusTotal).
Additional Information	This application belongs to 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.

ProgressStart, TechnologyCustom, BufferKey and BoostSelect are some examples of other adware-type apps. They may seem harmless and useful, and people are often tempted into download/installation with offers of various features. In fact, the functions promised are seldom operational and this is true of all PUAs.

The only purpose of these unwanted applications is to generate revenue at users' expense. PUAs run intrusive ad campaigns, hijack browsers, cause redirects, and collect sensitive and personally identifiable information.

How did SkilledEntry install on my computer?

PUAs are commonly downloaded/installed together with other products. "Bundling" is the name of this deceptive marketing technique of pre-packing regular software with unwanted or malicious additions.

By rushing downloads and installations (e.g. ignoring terms, skipping steps and sections, etc.), many users risk unintentionally allowing bundled content onto their devices. Some PUAs have "official" download pages. Intrusive advertisements also proliferate these applications. When clicked, they can execute scripts to download/install PUAs without users' consent.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Research all products before download/installation or purchase. Use only official and verified download channels. Untrusted sources such as unofficial and free file-hosting (freeware) sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks (BitTorrent, eMule, Gnutella, etc.) and other third party downloaders can offer deceptive and/or bundled content.

When downloading/installing, read the terms, explore all available options, use the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings and opt-out of supplementary apps, tools, functions and so on. Intrusive ads may seem legitimate and innocuous, however, they often redirect to highly dubious websites (e.g. gambling, pornography, adult-dating, etc.).

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

Pop-up window displayed once SkilledEntry installation is complete:

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

SkilledEntry adware installation folder:

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

Video showing how to remove SkilledEntry adware using Combo Cleaner:

SkilledEntry adware removal:

Remove SkilledEntry-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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