How to remove SkilledSystem adware

What is SkilledSystem?

SkilledSystem is designed to function as adware and a browser hijacker: it serves advertisements and promotes the address of a fake search engine by changing browser settings. It can also access and collect private, sensitive information.

In most cases, users download and install apps such as SkilledSystem unintentionally and, therefore, they are classified as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

In most cases, adware serves advertisements that can appear in various forms. For example, pop-ups, banners, coupons, and surveys. These can conceal underlying content of opened/visited pages, often promote (open) dubious or even malicious web pages, and cause download/installation of unwanted apps by running certain scripts (this occurs only when people click the ads).

Furthermore, SkilledSystem promotes a fake search engine address. Generally, these apps achieve this by changing the address of the homepage, default search engine and new tab to the address of a specific fake search engine. Typically, users cannot remove the unwanted address from browser settings, unless they uninstall the app that changed them.

As mentioned, SkilledSystem can access sensitive information. Research shows that it can read data such as passwords, credit card details, telephone numbers and various other details.

The information could be misused for malicious purposes, for example, to steal personal accounts, make fraudulent transactions and purchases, steal identities, access confidential documents and files, etc. Therefore, SkilledSystem should never be downloaded or installed. If PUAs are already installed, remove them from browsers and computers immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by SkilledSystem
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:AdAgent-L [Adw]), BitDefender (Adware.MAC.Generic.18127), 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.

SkilledSystem shares similarities with FrequencySkill, DesktopCoordinator, AssistiveDisplaySearch and many other applications. Commonly, these are promoted as legitimate and useful applications, however, most are quite the opposite - they are designed only to generate revenue for the developers and can cause serious issues.

How did SkilledSystem install on my computer?

Browser hijackers, adware-type apps, and other types of PUAs are commonly distributed by integrating them into the download/installation set-ups of other programs, so that at a proportion of users inadvertently download and install them together with their chosen software.

This distribution method is known as "bundling". Offers to download and install additionally-included apps usually appear in "Advanced", "Custom" and other settings of the set-ups (where they can be declined). Many users fail to check and change these settings, thereby granting permission for PUAs to be downloaded and installed by default.

Unwanted downloads and installations are also sometimes caused by clicking deceptive advertisements capable of executing certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

It is not safe to download or install software or files via third party downloaders, installers, using torrents clients, eMule or other Peer-to-Peer networks, from unofficial pages, and so on - they are used to distribute unwanted, even malicious apps. Files and programs should be downloaded only from official websites and via direct download links.

Check all "Custom", "Advanced" and other settings, and decline offers to download or install additionally-included, unwanted apps. Do not click intrusive advertisements that appear in untrusted, dubious websites, since they can open other websites of this kind and, in some cases, cause unwanted downloads and installations.

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

Pop-up window displayed once SkilledSystem installation is complete:

Website promoting SkilledSystem:

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

Video showing how to remove SkilledSystem adware using Combo Cleaner:

SkilledSystem adware removal:

Remove SkilledSystem-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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