How to uninstall the ElementaryMethod adware

What is ElementaryMethod?

ElementaryMethod is a rogue application categorized as adware with browser hijacker characteristics. Therefore, as well as delivering intrusive advertisement campaigns, ElementaryMethod also makes modifications to browser settings to promote fake search engines.

On Safari browsers, this software promotes z6airr.com, and on Google Chrome browsers, search.adjustablesample.com. Additionally, most adware-type apps and browser hijackers collect browsing-related information. Due to the dubious methods used to proliferate ElementaryMethod, it is classified as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA).

Adware enables the placement of pop-ups, banners, coupons, surveys and other intrusive advertisements, typically, on any visited website. These ads overlay web page content and reduce browsing speed.

Furthermore, when clicked, intrusive ads redirect to various untrusted/malicious sites and some can even execute scripts to stealthily download/install rogue software (e.g. PUAs). Browser hijackers assign the addresses of fake search engines as the homepage, default search engine and new tab/window URLs.

Therefore, with a browser hijacker installed, new browser tabs/windows opened and search queries typed in the the URL bar redirect to the promoted address. In the case of ElementaryMethod, the aforementioned actions redirect to z6airr.com (Safari) or to search.adjustablesample.com (Google Chrome).

Rogue search engines are seldom capable of providing unique results, and so they tend to redirect to Yahoo, Bing, Google and other genuine sites. Browser hijackers can also reset any changes users attempt to make to their browsers and/or deny access to the settings outright.

Therefore, recovering a hijacked browser is impossible without eliminating the software affecting it. As mentioned, most PUAs (adware and browser hijackers included) have data tracking capabilities.

They can record browsing activity (URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries typed, etc.) and collect personal information extracted from it (IP addresses, geolocations and other details). To summarize, the presence of this unwanted software on devices can result in system infections, financial loss, serious privacy issues and even identity theft.

To ensure device and user safety, all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins must be removed immediately upon detection.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by ElementaryMethod
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:AdAgent-L [Adw]), Sophos AV (AdLoad (PUA)), 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.

WebFunctionSearch, DefaultProgress, SignalBalance, and ProgressHelper are some examples of other adware-type apps. They may seem legitimate and offer a wide variety of "useful" features, however, despite how good the promised functionality may sound, it is usually nonoperational. In fact, this information is true of most PUAs.

The sole purpose of this unwanted software is to generate profit at users' expense. Rather than delivering any real value, PUAs can run intrusive advertisement campaigns, hijack browsers, cause redirects and collect private information.

How did ElementaryMethod install on my computer?

PUAs are often downloaded inadvertently and installed with other products. "Bundling" is the term used to describe this deceptive marketing technique of pre-packing regular software with unwanted or malicious additions.

Rushing download/installation processes (e.g. ignoring terms, skipping steps and sections, etc.) increases the risk of unintentionally allowing bundled or harmful content into the system. Intrusive ads proliferate PUAs as well. Once clicked, they can execute scripts to download/install these rogue applications without users' consent.

Some PUAs also have "official" promotional web pages, from which they can be downloaded.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

All products should be researched before download/installation and/or purchase. You are advised to only use official and verified download channels, since untrusted sources including unofficial and free file-hosting websites, P2P sharing networks (BitTorrent, eMule, Gnutella, etc.) and other third party downloaders can offer deceptive and bundled content.

When downloading/installing, read the terms, study all possible options, use the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings and opt-out of additional apps, tools, functions, and so on. Intrusive ads may seem legitimate, however, they can redirect to various dubious sites (e.g. gambling, pornography, adult-dating, and many others).

If you experience advertisements or redirects of this kind, check all devices and remove all dubious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins from them without delay. If your computer is already infected with ElementaryMethod, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Pop-up window displayed once ElementaryMethod adware installation is complete:

Appearance of ElementaryMethod adware promoting z6airr.com (GIF):

Appearance of ElementaryMethod promoting search.adjustablesample.com (GIF):

ElementaryMethod adware installed onto the Safari browser:

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

Video showing how to remove ElementaryMethod adware using Combo Cleaner:

ElementaryMethod adware removal:

Remove ElementaryMethod-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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