How to remove the FlexibleSector adware?

What is FlexibleSector?

FlexibleSector is a potentially unwanted application (PUA) designed to generate advertisements, modify browser settings and collect browsing-related and sensitive information. This app functions as adware and a browser hijacker.

FlexibleSector is a PUA because of the deceptive method its developers use to distribute it. In other words, FlexibleSector is called potentially unwanted because most users download and install apps of this kind unintentionally.

Usually, applications like FlexibleSector generate banners, pop-up ads, surveys, coupons, or other unwanted advertisements. Their ads tend to be used to advertise questionable pages.

It is important to mention that sometimes apps like FlexibleSector can show ads designed to distribute unwanted software - after clicking on them, they run certain scripts designed to download or even install some application. Therefore, advertisements generated by apps like FlexibleSector should not be clicked.

Another reason not to have the FlexibleSector app installed on a browser or the operating system is that it promotes a fake search engine (its address). This app is designed to changes browser settings such as the address of a default search engine, homepage, and new tab to an address of its fake search engine.

Like most apps of this type, FlexibleSector does not allow to modify those settings. It means that its users can stop a browser hijacked by FlexibleSector only by uninstalling this app from it.

It is known that FlexibleSector can read information related to browsing activities. It is common that apps of this kind gather IP addresses, geolocations, entered search queries, addresses of visited pages, and other browsing data.

The bigger problem is that FlexibleSector can read sensitive information such as saved passwords, credit card details, and telephone numbers. Such information could be misused to steal personal accounts, make unauthorized purchases, transactions, or monetized in some other way.

It is also possible that gathered details could be sold to third parties on a darkweb. For these reasons, it is strongly recommended not to have FlexibleSector or any other app that serves ads, promotes a fake search engine, and (or) collects personal information installed on a browser or the operating system.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by FlexibleSector
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 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.

There are many apps like FlexibleSector. Some examples are CacheImprovment, ProcesserLog, and OpticalPartition. It is noteworthy that apps of this kind can be advertised as legitimate and useful applications.

Although, most of them are useless to their users. Usually, they help their developers to generate revenue by displaying ads, promoting various addresses, and gathering browsing-related or even personal data.

Therefore, users who have an app of this kind installed on a browser and (or) the operating system should remove it as soon as possible and never download, install it again.

How did FlexibleSector install on my computer?

It is very common for potentially unwanted applications to be distributed, promoted by bundling them together with other programs. Usually, they are included in downloaders, installers for free programs as additional offers.

Those downloaders, installers have "Advanced", "Custom", "Manual", and other similar settings or some checkboxes. Users can use those settings to decline unwanted offers.

Users agree to download or install PUAs alongside other programs when they finish downloads, installations without changing the settings mentioned above. In some cases, users cause unexpected downloads, installations by clicking on deceptive advertisements.

More precisely, when they click on ads designed to run certain scripts. As a rule, deceptive ads of this type appear on untrustworthy pages.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Downloads and installations should be finished only after checking downloaders, installers for "Manual", "Custom", "Advanced" or other similar settings (or ticked checkboxes). It is common that those settings (or checkboxes) can be used to decline unwanted offers.

Applications and files should be downloaded from official websites, platforms like App Store, and via direct download links. It is advisable not to trust downloads that come via third-party downloaders, unofficial websites, Peer-to-Peer networks (like eMule, torrent clients).

Third-party installers should not be used as well. Additionally, it is advisable not to click on advertisements displayed on questionable pages.

Quite often, those ads are used to advertise unreliable pages. In some cases, they can cause unwanted downloads, installations.

Unwanted, suspicious extensions, plug-ins or add-ons installed on a browser should be removed. Software of this kind installed the operating system should be uninstalled too.

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

Pop-up window displayed once FlexibleSector installation is over:

FlexibleSector installed on Safari:

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

Video showing how to remove FlexibleSector adware using Combo Cleaner:

FlexibleSector adware removal:

Remove FlexibleSector-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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