How to remove PublicFraction adware from browsers and computers

What is PublicFraction?

PublicFraction serves advertisements, promotes fake search engines by modifying certain browser settings, and collects sensitive information. This app functions as adware, a browser hijacker, and a data collector. There is at least one fake installer for Adobe Flash Player that is used to distribute the PublicFraction app.

Generally, users download and install apps that are distributed in this way inadvertently. Therefore, PublicFraction is categorized as potentially unwanted application (PUA).

In most cases, apps such as PublicFraction serve banners, coupons, surveys, pop-ups, and other ads. When clicked, these ads can open dubious web pages and sometimes cause unwanted downloads and installations by running certain scripts.

Furthermore, PublicFraction is designed to modify browser settings. If installed on Google Chrome, it changes the address of the default search engine, homepage and new tab to search.basicgeneration.com. If installed on Safari, it changes the settings to 6v5f3l.com.

Both of these sites provide search results generated by Yahoo (they simply redirect users to search.yahoo.com). They are fake search engines that do not generate any unique results. Fake search engines can be removed from browser settings only when the rogue apps that modified them are no longer installed.

Note that PublicFraction can read sensitive information from browsers, such as credit card details, passwords, telephone numbers (and other data). This information can be misused to steal personal accounts, identities, make fraudulent purchases and transactions, and for other malicious purposes.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by PublicFraction
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AG [Adw]), AVG (MacOS:Adload-AG [Adw]), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Synataeb.F), 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.

PublicFraction is virtually identical to many other apps of this type including, for example, PracticalConfig, ConsumerSurvey, and InputBalance. Typically, apps that are classified as adware serve advertisements, gather various information, and hijack browsers (this is the case with PublicFraction).

These apps should never be installed - most are useless and can cause various issues.

How did PublicFraction install on my computer?

As mentioned, PublicFraction is distributed by disguising its installer as the installer for Adobe Flash Player. Note that fake installers can be used to trick users into installing malware (e.g., ransomware, Trojans) as well.

Potentially unwanted applications are also distributed by including them into the download/installation set-ups of other programs as 'additional offers'. This PUA distribution method is known as "bundling". In most cases, offers to download and install integrated apps can be declined before completing the download/installation process - this can be done via the "Advanced", "Custom" (or other settings), or by unticking certain checkboxes that are available in the set-ups. When users download and install programs without checking and changing the aforementioned settings, they often download and install additional PUAs.

Sometimes, users inadvertently cause unwanted downloads and installations by clicking deceptive advertisements that execute certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

You are advised not to use Peer-to-Peer networks (such as eMule, torrent clients, etc.), unofficial websites, third party downloaders, installers, etc. to download or install software or files. Use official pages and direct links.

Check download/installation set-ups for settings such as "Advanced", "Manual, or "Custom" (or include certain checkboxes) and decline offers to download or install unwanted apps before completing the process.

Additionally, do not trust or click advertisements that are displayed on dubious web pages - they can open other rogue sites or cause unwanted downloads and installations.

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

search.basicgeneration.com redirects to search.yahoo.com (GIF):

6v5f3l.com redirects to search.yahoo.com (GIF): 

Fake installer used to trick users into installing PublicFraction:

Pop-up displayed once PublicFraction installation is complete:

PublicFraction installed on Safari:

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

Video showing how to remove PublicFraction adware using Combo Cleaner:

PublicFraction adware removal:

Remove PublicFraction-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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