How to remove the OpticalRatePro browser hijacker?

What is OpticalRatePro?

OpticalRatePro is a browser hijacker promoting the search.oz4zufv.com fake search engine. This piece of software promotes (i.e., causes redirects to) its illegitimate web searcher by making modifications to browser settings.

Additionally, OpticalRatePro adds the "Managed by your organization" feature to Google Chrome, thereby ensuring its persistence. Furthermore, most browser hijackers spy on users' browsing activity and collect sensitive information.

Due to the questionable methods used to distribute browser hijackers, they are also classified as PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications).

Browser hijackers primarily target Google Chrome, Safari, Mozilla Firefox, and other browsers with large user bases. This software operates by assigning fake web searcher addresses as browsers' homepage, new tab/window, and default search engine URLs.

OpticalRatePro also makes these alterations when promoting search.oz4zufv.com. Hence, with this browser hijacker installed: new browser tabs/windows opened and search queries typed into the URL bar - redirect to the search.oz4zufv.com search engine. Illegitimate web searchers rarely can provide search results, so they redirect to (or cause redirection chains ending with) Google, Yahoo, Bing, and other genuine search engines.

This is true of search.oz4zufv.com as well, yet where it redirects to - is determined by users' geolocations. At the time of research, search.oz4zufv.com redirected either to Google (google.com) or Yahoo (search.yahoo.com).

Browser hijackers can restrict/deny access to the browser settings and/or undo any permitted changes made. Therefore, recovering a hijacked browser is impossible without removing the software affecting it.

What is more, most browser hijackers have data tracking abilities. Information of interest includes (but is not limited to): URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries typed, IP addresses/ geolocations, and personally identifiable details. The collected data is then shared with and/or sold to third-parties, intent on further misusing it for financial gain.

In summary, the presence of data-tracking software on devices - can lead to severe privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft. To ensure device integrity and user safety, all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins must be eliminated immediately upon detection.

Threat Summary:

Name	search.oz4zufv.com redirect
Threat Type	Browser hijacker, Mac malware, Mac virus
Promoted URL	search.oz4zufv.com
Serving IP Address (search.oz4zufv.com)	13.225.222.2
Symptoms	Your Mac became slower than normal, you see unwanted pop-up ads, you get redirected to shady websites.
Distribution methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake Flash Player installers, torrent file downloads.
Damage	Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites, loss of private information.
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AccessibleSearchEngine, FunctionLogInput, UltraWebFormat, MovieFinder365 - are some examples of browser hijackers. They appear ordinary and harmless.

Browser hijackers lure users into download/installation with offers of various "handy" functionalities. However, the features seldom work as advertised, and in most cases - they are utterly nonoperational.

In fact, this applies to practically all PUAs. The sole aim of unwanted apps is to generate revenue for the developers; hence, functionality and user privacy are irrelevant.

PUAs are designed to hijack browsers, force-open untrustworthy and malicious websites, deliver intrusive advertisement campaigns (adware), and collect private information.

How did OpticalRatePro install on my computer?

PUAs are distributed through download/installation setups of other programs. This false marketing tactic of packing regular software with unwanted or malicious additions - is termed "bundling".

Rushed download/installation processes (e.g., ignored terms, used "Quick/Express" settings, etc.) increase the risk of inadvertently allowing bundled content into the system. Intrusive advertisements proliferate PUAs as well.

When clicked on, the ads can execute scripts to make stealthy downloads/installations. PUAs may also have "official" promotional webpages from which they can be downloaded and/or purchased.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

It is recommended to research software products prior to download/installation and/or purchase. Additionally, it is advised to always download from official and verified sources. Since untrustworthy download channels, e.g., unofficial and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, and other third-party downloaders - commonly offer harmful and bundled content.

Download and installation processes must be approached with caution. Therefore, it is important to read terms, study possible options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and decline downloading/installing additional apps, tools, features, etc.

Intrusive adverts appear ordinary; however, they redirect to various unreliable and questionable sites (e.g., gambling, pornography, adult-dating, and so on). In case of encounters with ads and/or redirects of this kind, the system must be inspected and all dubious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins detected - removed from it without delay.

If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate them.

OpticalRatePro browser hijacker's search engine (search.oz4zufv.com) set as the default in Google Chrome:

"Managed by your organization" feature added to Google Chrome by the OpticalRatePro browser hijacker:

Appearance of search.oz4zufv.com redirecting to the Google search engine (GIF):

Appearance of search.oz4zufv.com redirecting to the Yahoo search engine (GIF):

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Quick menu:

• What is OpticalRatePro?
• STEP 1. Remove OpticalRatePro related files and folders from OSX.
• STEP 2. Remove OpticalRatePro redirect from Safari.
• STEP 3. Remove OpticalRatePro browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove OpticalRatePro homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.

Video showing how to remove OpticalRatePro adware using Combo Cleaner:

OpticalRatePro redirect removal:

Remove OpticalRatePro 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 browser hijacker-related files and folders

Click the Finder icon from the menu bar. Choose Go, and click Go to Folder...

Check for browser hijacker 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 browser hijackers - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Browser hijacker commonly installs several files with the exact same string.

Check for browser hijacker 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 browser hijacker 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 browser hijackers - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Browser hijacker commonly installs several files with the exact same string.

Check for browser hijacker 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 browser hijackers, continue to remove rogue extensions from your Internet browsers.

Remove browser hijackers from Internet browsers

Remove Safari browser hijackers:

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.

Change your homepage:

In the "Preferences" window, select the "General" tab. To set your homepage, type the preferred website URL (for example: www.google.com) in the Homepage field. You can also click the "Set to Current Page" button if you wish to set your homepage to the website you are currently visiting.

Change your default search engine:

In the "Preferences" window, select the "Search" tab. Here you will find a drop-down menu labeled "Search engine:" Simply select your preferred search engine from the drop-down list.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Safari.

Remove Google Chrome browser hijackers:

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".

Change your homepage

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable the malicious extension (if present), look for a browser hijacker URL below the "Open a specific or set of pages" option. If present, click on the three vertical dots icon and select "Remove".

Change your default search engine:

To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list look for a browser hijacker URL, when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Delete".

• 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".

Change your homepage

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Settings", in the opened window disable malicious extension (if present), remove the browser hijacker URL and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change your default search engine:

In the URL address bar, type "about:config" and press Enter. Click "Accept the Risk and Continue".

In the search filter at the top, type: "extensionControlled". Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the button.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Mozilla Firefox.

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