How to remove ProgramInitiator adware

What is ProgramInitiator?

ProgramInitiator adware feeds users with various advertisements and functions as a browser hijacker. It promotes addresses of fake search engines (z6airr.com and adjustablesample.com) by modifying certain browser settings. This adware can read various sensitive information from websites.

Note that users often download and install adware (and browser hijackers) inadvertently. For this reason apps such as ProgramInitiator are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

Generally, when users have adware such as ProgramInitiator installed on the browser and/or computer, they continually see various coupons, banners, surveys, pop-up and other types of advertisements. Ads displayed by adware promote dubious websites or even cause download/installation of unwanted applications by executing certain scripts.

Therefore, never click these ads. ProgramInitiator promotes z6airr.com (on Safari browsers) and adjustablesample.com (on Chrome browsers). Generally, PUAs promote fake search engines by changing browser settings such as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab.

These addresses cannot be removed from browser settings unless the app that promotes them is uninstalled. In this case, z6airr.com and/or adjustablesample.com can be removed/changed to another address only when ProgramInitiator is no longer installed on the browser or computer.

Note that z6airr.com and adjustablesample.com redirect users to search.yahoo.com and do not generate any unique results. As mentioned, ProgramInitiator collects sensitive information such as passwords, credit card details, telephone numbers and other data from browsers.

ProgramInitiator's developers can misuse the details to steal accounts (e.g., email, social media, banking-related accounts) and identities, make fraudulent transactions and purchases, and for other malicious purposes. They might sell the data to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals). Therefore, ProgramInitiator should never be downloaded or installed.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by ProgramInitiator
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:AdAgent-L [Adw]), AVG (MacOS:AdAgent-L [Adw]), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Synataeb.C), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Adload.i), 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 examples of other adware similar to ProgramInitiator are ExtendedWindow, PracticalProcesser, and ExpandedProgram. Commonly, developers advertise these apps as useful and legitimate, however, most are useless and can cause serious issues. If PUAs are already installed on the browser and/or operating system, remove them immediately.

How did ProgramInitiator install on my computer?

In some cases, PUAs (adware, browser hijackers, and other apps of this kind) are downloaded and installed through deceptive ads that execute certain scripts when clicked. It more often happens during download/installation of various software. I.e., when PUAs are included into the set-ups of other software as 'additional offers'.

This distribution method is known as "bundling". Typically, users can decline the offers through "Custom", "Advanced" or other settings of the set-ups - failing to do so causes unwanted downloads and installations.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Third party downloaders, installers, unofficial pages, Peer-to-Peer networks and other download and installation tools, sources of this kind are used to distribute potentially unwanted applications. They can also be used to distribute malicious programs. Files and programs should be downloaded only from official pages and through direct links.

Check all "Advanced", "Custom" and other settings and decline any offers of additional software. Do not click deceptive advertisements, since they can cause unwanted downloads and installations. Generally, such ads appear on dubious, unofficial web pages.

Remove any suspicious, unwanted extensions, add-ons and plug-ins are already installed on the browser. The same should be applied to programs of this kind that are installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with ProgramInitiator, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Pop-up window displayed once ProgramInitiator installation is complete:

ProgramInitiator installed on Safari:

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

Video showing how to remove ProgramInitiator adware using Combo Cleaner:

ProgramInitiator adware removal:

Remove ProgramInitiator-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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