How to remove the OnlineExplorer adware?

What is OnlineExplorer adware?

OnlineExplorer is the name of a potentially unwanted application (PUA) designed to operate as adware and a browser hijacker - it generates advertisements and promotes a fake search engine (its address). It is worth mentioning that applications like OnlineExplorer usually are distributed using deceptive methods.

OnlineExplorer in detail

OnlineExplorer generates advertisements (for example, banners, coupons, pop-up ads, surveys) designed to open questionable websites. Typically, by clicking ads generated by apps like OnlineExplorer, users open websites like "MALWARE DETECTED Action Required", "Receive iPhone 12", "Congratulations! Netflix User!", and similar pages.

Also, OnlineExplorer may generate ads designed to run certain scripts and download or install other potentially unwanted applications. Therefore, it is strongly recommended not to click advertisements generated by adware (including the OnlineExplorer application). Another problem with OnlineExplorer is that is changes web browser's settings.

More precisely, OnlineExplorer changes settings such as the address of a default search engine, homepage, and new tab. This app changes them to an address of a fake search engine. Fake search engines show results generated by legitimate search engines like Google, Yahoo, or they show results that may include links to potentially malicious sites.

Also, fake search engines can be designed to display advertisements. Typically, those advertisements should not be trusted as well. Another detail about browser hijackers is that they do not allow users to undo their changes. It can be done only when browser hijackers are no longer installed.

Additionally, it is likely that OnlineExplorer collects Internet Protocol addresses, entered search queries, visited websites and other information related to browsing activities. Also, this app could be capable of accessing credit card details, passwords and other sensitive information.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by OnlineExplorer
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AG [Adw]), Combo Cleaner (Adware.MAC.Generic.23118), 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.

Adware in general

OnlineExplorer and similar applications display advertisements and promote fake search engines. Most of them do not have any useful features and can cause various problems. More adware examples are BestForMac, DataBoost, and WebResultsTool. Typically, users download and install adware (or PUAs of other types) unknowingly.

How did OnlineExplorer install on my computer?

It is known that adware-type applications often are distributed via fake installers. It is important to mention that fake installers can also be used to distribute malware (for example, ransomware). To trick users into downloading and using those installers, their developers use deceptive websites.

Another way to distribute PUAs is to include them in downloaders and installers for other programs as optional offers. This distribution method is known as "bundling". Users download and install PUAs when they leave "Custom", "Advanced", "Manual" or other settings unchanged, or when uses do not untick ticked checkboxes.

In some cases, users unintentionally download or install potentially unwanted applications by clicking advertisements designed to execute certain scripts. As a rule, advertisements of this type appear on dubious, deceptive websites (it is unlikely for them to appear on legitimate, trustworthy websites).

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

It is recommended to examine downloaders and installers that have settings like "Custom", "Advanced", "Manual", or other settings. Quite often, they are used to distribute potentially unwanted applications. Those settings should be checked before finishing downloads or installations.

Software (and files) should be downloaded from legitimate, official pages and through direct download links. Other sources like third-party downloaders, unofficial pages, Peer-to-Peer networks (for example, torrent clients, eMule) should not be used. Third-party installers should not be used too.

Additionally, it is recommended not to trust advertisements that questionable sites have on them. Those ads can be designed to promote untrustworthy websites or cause unwanted downloads, installations. Unwanted, unknown, or suspicious extensions, add-ons, or plug-ins installed on a browser (or programs of this kind installed on the operating system) should be uninstalled.

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

Pop-up window displayed once OnlineExplorer installation is over:

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

Video showing how to remove OnlineExplorer adware using Combo Cleaner:

OnlineExplorer adware removal:

Remove OnlineExplorer-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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