How to remove the AccessDefault adware from your operating system?

What is AccessDefault?

AccessDefault is a piece of rogue software categorized as adware. It also has browser hijacker traits. This application operates by delivering intrusive advertisement campaigns and modifying browser settings in order to promote fake search engines. Additionally, AccessDefault has data tracking abilities, which are used to spy on users' browsing activity. Since most users download/install adware and browser hijackers inadvertently, they are classified as PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications).

AccessDefault adware in detail

Adware enables the placement of third-party graphical content on any visited websites and/or different interfaces. The displayed pop-ups, banners, coupons, surveys, and other intrusive adverts severely diminish the browsing experience and endanger device/user safety. They overlay webpage content and slow down the browsing speed.

Intrusive ads endorse sale-oriented pages (of both legitimate and fraudulent products), rogue, untrustworthy, deceptive/scam, compromised, and malicious sites. Furthermore, some of these advertisements can be triggered (by being clicked on) to execute scripts designed to download/install software (e.g., PUAs) without user permission.

Browser hijackers reassign browsers' homepage, default search engine, and new tab/window URLs - to fake web searcher addresses. Hence, with a browser hijacker installed: every single new tab/window opened and search query typed into the URL bar - redirect to the promoted address. Fake search engines usually cannot generate search results, so they tend to redirect to (or cause redirection chains ending with) Yahoo, Bing, Google, and other legitimate ones.

Browser hijackers can also reset any changes users attempt to make to their browsers. Alternatively, they can restrict or deny access to the browser settings outright. Due to these persistence-ensuring techniques - it is impossible restoring a hijacked browser without removing the software affecting it.

What is more, PUAs (adware and browser hijackers included) typically have data tracking functionalities. Information of interest includes: URLs visited, webpages viewed, search queries typed, IP addresses/ geolocations, personally identifiable details, finance-related data, and so on. The collected information is then monetized by being shared with and/or sold to third-parties, likewise intent on misusing it for financial gain.

In summary, the presence of unwanted apps on devices can lead to system infections, severe privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft. To protect device integrity and user privacy, all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins must be eliminated without delay.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by AccessDefault
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus
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.

Adware in general

IndexerProject, FlexibleSearch, and SearchConsole are a few examples of apps within the adware category. This software appears legitimate and harmless. Adware also offers a broad range of "useful" functions. However, the features seldom work as promised, and in most cases - they do not work at all.

PUAs usually entice users into download/installation and/or purchase with promises of bogus functionalities. The only aim of unwanted applications is to generate profit for the developers; they have no genuine value to users. Therefore, instead of delivering on any promises, PUAs can run intrusive advertisement campaigns, hijack browsers, cause redirects, and collect vulnerable information.

How did AccessDefault install on my computer?

PUAs can be downloaded/installed alongside other software. This deceptive marketing tactic of packing regular programs with unwanted or malicious additions - is called "bundling". 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 adverts are used to spread PUAs as well. Upon being clicked, the ads can execute scripts to make stealthy downloads/installations. Some PUAs have "official" promotional/download pages as well.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

It is advised to research software products before download/installation and/or purchase. Furthermore, only official and trustworthy download sources must be used. Dubious download channels, e.g., unofficial and free file-hosting (freeware) sites, P2P sharing networks (Torrent clients, Gnutella, eMule, etc.), and other third-party downloaders - often offer bundled and/or harmful content. When downloading/installing, it is important to read terms, explore all available options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings to opt-out from supplementary apps, tools, functions, etc.

Intrusive advertisements appear ordinary and innocuous; however, they redirect to highly questionable websites (e.g., gambling, pornography, adult-dating, and so forth). 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 AccessDefault, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

AccessDefault adware's installation folder:

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

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

AccessDefault adware removal:

Remove AccessDefault-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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