How to uninstall CompeteService adware

What is CompeteService?

CompeteService functions both as adware and a browser hijacker: it feeds users with various advertisements, and promotes a fake search engine by changing browser settings. Research shows that this app promotes the Safe Finder web page (by opening it via akamaihd.net) and collects sensitive information.

People often download and install software such as CompeteService inadvertently and, therefore, these apps are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

Applications such as CompeteService serve advertisements that open dubious websites and/or even cause unwanted downloads and installations. Therefore, ads that appear due to installed adware should never be clicked. Some examples of ads that programs of this type display are coupons, banners, pop-ups, and surveys.

Furthermore, CompeteService promotes the address of a fake search engine by changing browser settings such as the address of the default search engine, new tab and homepage. In this way, they ensure that users are forced visit a specific address when they open a browser, new tab, or enter search queries into the URL bar.

They also prevent users from undoing or modifying these settings (the only solution is to uninstall the hijacker). PUAs also collect browsing-related information. For example, entered search queries, IP addresses, addresses of visited websites, geolocations, etc. Sometimes they gather sensitive, personal information as well.

This particular app can read credit card details, passwords and other, personal information. These details could be misused to steal accounts, identities, make fraudulent purchases, transactions and/or for other malicious purposes.

Therefore, CompeteService users might become victims of identity theft, suffer monetary loss, lose access to personal accounts, experience problems relating to browsing safety, online privacy, and other issues. For these reasons CompeteService and other apps of this type should never be trusted. If it is already installed on the browser and/or operating system, remove it immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by CompeteService
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.h), 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.

Some more examples of apps similar to CompeteService include VentureSprint, RecordExplorer and RotatorAssist. Adware is often advertised as legitimate, useful software, and yet it is useless and designed only to generate revenue for the developers. Furthermore, these programs can cause serious problems.

As mentioned, people often download and install adware (and other PUAs) inadvertently.

How did CompeteService install on my computer?

Many people download and install PUAs through deceptive advertisements, or together with other, mainly free, programs. I.e., when PUAs are included into the download/installation set-ups as 'additional offers'. This distribution method is called "bundling". In most cases, information about additionally-included apps is placed in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings.

Many users download and/or install programs without checking and changing these settings - by leaving default settings unchanged, they agree by default with offers to download/install additional apps. Unwanted downloads and installations through deceptive advertisements occur only when the ads are clicked - they then go on to run certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Do not download files or programs through unofficial pages, Peer-to-Peer networks such as torrent clients, eMule, third party downloaders, etc. Third party installers should also be avoided. These channels/tools are often used to distribute unwanted, malicious apps.

All software should be downloaded from official websites and through direct links. Check all settings (such as "Custom", "Advanced") and decline offers to download or install additionally-included software.

Do not click ads that are displayed on dubious web pages (e.g., on those relating to gambling, adult dating, pornography), since they can open untrusted websites or cause unwanted downloads and installations. Remove any, suspicious apps (extensions, plug-ins, add-ons) installed on the browser, and programs of this kind installed on the operating system immediately.

If your computer is already infected with CompeteService, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Pop-up window displayed once CompeteService installation is complete:

CompeteService redirecting users to Safe Finder website via akamaihd.net:

CompeteService installed on Safari:

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

Video showing how to remove CompeteService adware using Combo Cleaner:

CompeteService adware removal:

Remove CompeteService-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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