How to uninstall UnitHandler adware

What is UnitHandler?

UnitHandler displays advertisements and modifies browser settings to promote a specific address. In this way, it functions as adware and as a browser hijacker.

Typically, users do not download or install apps like UnitHandler intentionally and, therefore, this application falls into the category of potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

UnitHandler is distributed via deceptive installer, which emulates the Adobe Flash Player installer.

UnitHandler serves pop-ups, banners, coupons, surveys, and other advertisements. Commonly, ads displayed by adware are used for advertising untrusted pages (e.g., download pages for various PUAs, scam websites). Sometimes they are used to distribute unwanted software: once clicked, they execute scripts that download and even install unwanted apps. These ads conceal underlying content of visited pages and/or the user interface.

Furthermore, UnitHandler changes browser settings. Typically, apps of this type hijack browsers by altering the address of the homepage, new tab and homepage, assigning them to the address of a fake search engine. Fake search engines generate misleading results, display ads, and show search results generated by legitimate search engines.

Browser hijackers (including UnitHandler) often prevent modification of settings. Therefore, browser can be stopped from opening a specific address only by uninstalling the hijacker from the browser and operating system.

UnitHandler might also gather various information. These apps target addresses of visited pages, entered search queries, IP addresses, geolocations, and other information relating to internet browsing habits. Some adware-type apps can read can read sensitive information from websites such as passwords, telephone numbers, and credit card details. This might also be the case with UnitHandler. Apps that gather personal information should never be installed, since developers can sell gathered details to third parties (potentially cyber criminals) or monetize them in other ways. Depending on the obtained data, it could be misused for various malicious purposes, for example, to make fraudulent purchases and transactions, and to steal personal accounts, identities.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by UnitHandler
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Agent-MT [Trj]), BitDefender (Trojan.MAC.Generic.106816), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/TrojanDownloader.Adload.AK), Symantec (OSX.Trojan.Gen.2), 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.

More adware examples are PortalAgent, RunningUpdater, and AthenaSearch. The main purpose of adware is to generate advertisements, however, many adware-type apps such as UnitHandler change hijack browsers and even collect information.

Never trust adware or have it installed. As mentioned, most users download and install adware/browser hijackers and other PUAs inadvertently.

How did UnitHandler install on my computer?

UnitHandler is distributed through a fake installer that is designed to appear like a legitimate installer for Adobe Flash Player. Fake, third-party installers are used to distribute malicious programs such as Trojans and ransomware.

Browser hijackers, adware-type apps, and other types of PUAs are commonly distributed by integrating them into the download and/or installation set-ups of other programs, so that 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 usually be declined). Many users fail to check and change these settings, thereby granting permission for PUAs to be downloaded and installed by default.

In addition, unwanted downloads and installations are sometimes caused by clicking deceptive advertisements capable of executing certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

You are advised to download files and programs from official websites and via direct download links. Other tools and sources such as third party downloaders and installers, unofficial pages, and Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., eMule, torrent clients) should not be used to download or install software.

Check all "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings (or available checkboxes) for offers to download and/or install unwanted apps. Do not click ads on dubious websites, since they can be designed to open bogus web pages or cause unwanted downloads and installations.

Remove any unwanted, suspicious extensions, plug-ins and add-ons installed on the browser, and software of this kind from the operating system.

If your computer is already infected with UnitHandler, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Fake installer used to distribute UnitHandler (first installation step):

Fake installer used to distribute UnitHandler (second installation step):

Pop-up that is likely to appear when UnitHandler is installed on a browser/the operating system:

Text presented within this pop-up:

"UnitHandlerd" will damage your computer.

This file was downloaded on an unknown date.

Files related to the UnitHandler adware that need to be removed:

• ~/Library/Application Support/.[random_string]/Services/com.UnitHandler.service.app
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.UnitHandler.service.plist
• /Library/Application Support/.[random_string]/System/com.UnitHandler.system
• /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.UnitHandler.system.plist

IMPORTANT NOTE! In some cases, malicious applications like UnitHandler alter system proxy settings, thereby causing unwanted redirects to a variety of dubious websites.

The redirects are likely to remain even after removing the application itself. Thus, you'll have to restore them manually.

Step 1: Click on the gear icon in the Dock to navigate to the system settings. If the icon is not present in the Dock, you can find it in the Launchpad.

Step 2: Navigate to the Network settings.

Step 3: Select the connected network and click "Advanced...".

Step 4: Click on the "Proxies" tab and untick all the protocols. You should also assign the settings of each protocol to the default: "*.local, 169.254/16".

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

Video showing how to remove UnitHandler adware using Combo Cleaner:

UnitHandler adware removal:

Remove UnitHandler-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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