How to uninstall MacAppsHD adware

What is MacAppsHD?

MacAppsHD is rogue software classified as adware. It delivers intrusive ad campaigns. Additionally, this application has browser hijacker characteristics such as browser modification and promotion of bogus search engines. Most adware apps and browser hijackers monitor users' browsing activity, and it is highly likely that MacAppsHD does so as well.

Due to its dubious proliferation methods, this app is also classified as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA). One of the dubious techniques used to proliferate MacAppsHD is via fake Adobe Flash Player updates. Note that bogus software updaters/installers are also used to spread Trojans, ransomware and other malware.

Adware enables the placement of various intrusive advertisements (pop-ups, banners, coupons, surveys, etc.) on any site. These ads overly web page content and limit browsing speed. Furthermore, once clicked, intrusive ads can redirect to untrusted/malicious websites and some can stealthily download/install rogue software (e.g. PUAs).

Browser hijackers operate by reassigning the default search engine, homepage and new tab/window URLs to the addresses of bogus search engines. Therefore, with a browser hijacker infiltrated, each search query typed into the URL and each new browser tab/window opened redirects to the promoted address.

Fake search engines have no value for regular users, since they are typically unable to provide unique results. Therefore, they redirect to (or cause redirection chains leading to) Bing, Google, Yahoo and other legitimate search engines. To recover a hijacked browser, it is necessary to eliminate the software affecting it.

This is since browser hijackers are able to reset any user changes made and/or deny access to browser settings. Furthermore, PUAs (adware and browser hijackers included) have data tracking capabilities.

They can monitor users' browsing habits (URLs visited, web pages viewed, search queries typed, etc.) and collect personal information (IP addresses, geolocations and other details). This sensitive data is often shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals), seeking to misuse it for profit.

To summarize, the presence of data-tracking software on browsers/systems can lead to financial loss, serious privacy issues and even identity theft. To protect device integrity and user safety, all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins must be removed immediately upon detection.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by MacAppsHD
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.

TypicalFraction, NetGuideSearch and SearchNetLetter are some examples of other adware-type apps. They often seem legitimate and harmless, and users are enticed into download/installation with various "useful" functionalities, however, the advertised features are rarely operational.

This applies to most PUAs. These unwanted applications have just one purpose: to generate revenue at users' expense. PUAs run intrusive advertisement campaigns, force-open untrusted and malicious sites, hijack browsers and track private data.

How did MacAppsHD install on my computer?

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

Rushing downloads/installations (e.g. ignoring terms, skipping steps and sections, etc.) increases the risk of inadvertently allowing dubious or bundled content into the system. Some PUAs have "official" download web pages. If clicked, intrusive ads can execute scripts to download/install PUAs without users' permission.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

All products should be researched before download/installation and/or purchase. You are advised to use only official and verified download sources. Unofficial and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks and third party updaters commonly offer deceptive and/or bundled content.

Therefore, these are untrusted download channels. When downloading/installing, it is important to read the terms, study all possible options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings and opt-out of supplementary apps, tools, features and other additions.

Intrusive ads may seem normal and innocuous, however, they can redirect to dubious sites (e.g. pornography, adult-dating, gambling, etc.).

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

Files related to MacAppsHD adware that need to be removed:

• ~/Library/Application Support/com.MacAppsHD/MacAppsHD
• ~/Library/Application Support/com.MacAppsHDDaemon/MacAppsHD
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.MacAppsHD.plist
• ~/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.MacAppsHDDaemon.plist

IMPORTANT NOTE! Rogue setups/apps that promote MacAppsHD adware 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 "MacAppsHD" 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 MacAppsHD?
• STEP 1. Remove MacAppsHD related files and folders from OSX.
• STEP 2. Remove MacAppsHD ads from Safari.
• STEP 3. Remove MacAppsHD adware from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove MacAppsHD ads from Mozilla Firefox.

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

MacAppsHD adware removal:

Remove MacAppsHD-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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