How to uninstall the LocalTech adware from your operating system?

What is LocalTech?

LocalTech is a piece of rogue software categorized as adware. However, it has browser hijacker traits as well. Following successful installation, this app delivers intrusive advertisement campaigns and promotes fake search engines via modifications to browser settings.

Additionally, most adware and browser hijackers spy on users' browsing habits. Due to the dubious methods used to distribute LocalTech, it is also classified as a PUA (Potentially Unwanted Application).

Adware enables the placement of third-party graphical content on any visited website and/or different interfaces. This software can deliver banners, pop-ups, coupons, surveys, and other intrusive advertisements.

They severely diminish the browsing experience by overlaying page content and slowing down the browsing speed. Once clicked on, intrusive adverts redirect to various untrustworthy/malicious sites, and some can stealthily download/install software (e.g., PUAs).

Browser hijackers reassign browsers' default search engine, new tab/window, and homepage URLs - to fake web searcher addresses. Hence, every new browser tab/window opened and search query typed into the URL bar - redirect to the promoted search engine.

Illegitimate web searchers typically cannot provide search results, so they redirect (or cause redirection chains leading) to Google, Yahoo, Bing, and other genuine search engines. What is more, browser hijackers can undo any changes users try to make to their browsers and/or restrict/deny access to the browser settings.

Therefore, it is impossible to restore a hijacked browser without removing the software affecting it. Most PUAs (adware and browser hijackers included) have data tracking abilities.

Targeted information includes (but is not limited to): URLs visited, webpages viewed, search queries typed, IP addresses/ geolocations, and personally identifiable details. PUA developers monetize the collected data by sharing it with and/or selling it to third-parties (potentially, cyber criminals).

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

Threat Summary:

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

FileDisplay, Helper_update, ElementarySignalSearch, and AdvancedSprint are some examples of adware-type apps. They appear legitimate and harmless. Users are enticed into download/installation and/or purchase with a wide variety of "handy" functionalities.

However, the promised features are rarely operational. This applies to practically all PUAs. The only aim of unwanted software is to generate profit for the developers; hence, functionality and user safety are irrelevant.

PUAs are designed to deliver intrusive advert campaigns, hijack browsers, force-open untrustworthy/malicious websites, and collect private data.

How did LocalTech install on my computer?

PUAs are distributed via downloaders/installers of other programs. "Bundling" is the name of this deceptive marketing technique - packing regular software with unwanted or malicious additions.

Rushed download/installation processes (e.g., skipped steps and sections, used pre-set options, etc.) increase the risk of unintentionally allowing bundled content into the device. Intrusive ads are used to proliferate PUAs as well.

Once clicked on, the advertisements can execute scripts to make downloads/installations without user permission. Some PUAs may also have "official" promotional/download sites.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

It is important to research software products before download/installation and/or purchase. Additionally, all downloads must be done from official and verified sources.

Untrustworthy download channels, e.g., unofficial and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, and other third-party downloaders - often offer bundled and/or harmful content. When downloading/installing, it is recommended to read terms, explore possible options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt-out from supplementary apps, tools, features, and other additions.

Intrusive adverts appear legitimate and innocuous; however, they redirect to various questionable sites (e.g., gambling, pornography, adult-dating, etc.). In case of encounters with such ads and/or redirects, the system must be checked and all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins detected - immediately removed from it.

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

Pop-up window displayed once LocalTech adware's installation is over:

LocalTech adware's installation folder:

LocalTech adware installed onto the Safari browser:

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

Video showing how to remove adware and browser hijackers from a Mac computer:

LocalTech adware removal:

Remove LocalTech-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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