How to remove the AnalyserKey adware?

What is AnalyserKey adware?

AnalyserKey is advertising-supported software - it generates advertisements. It also has the qualities of a browser hijacker - it changes a web browser's settings to promote a fake search engine. It is likely that AnalyserKey collects various information as well. Typically, users install adware-type apps unintentionally because they are distributed using questionable methods.

AnalyserKey adware in detail

Pretty often, advertisements generated by applications like AnalyserKey are used to promote questionable websites, for example, download websites for potentially unwanted applications, pages designed to extract personal information. Also, those advertisements can be designed to cause unexpected downloads or installations.

A couple of examples of websites that ads generated by an application like AnalyserKey could open are "MALWARE DETECTED Action Required", "Receive iPhone 12", and "Apple Platform Security". In one way or another, those advertisements should not be clicked. Typically, apps like AnalyserKey generate banners, coupons, pop-ups, surveys.

Furthermore, this application changes web browser's settings such as the address of a default search engine, homepage and new tab to an address of a fake search engine - it hijacks a browser. The problem with fake search engines is that they could generate misleading results (show links to potentially malicious pages in their results).

Typically, users cannot remove a fake search engine (its address) from settings unless they uninstall a browser hijacker. Another reason not to keep an app like AnalyserKey installed is that it may be designed to collect various information (IP addresses, entered search queries, visited websites, and so on).

In some cases, adware-type apps (similar to AnalyserKey) can access sensitive information such as passwords, credit card details, telephone numbers. Information collected by apps of this type could be misused in various ways, for example, to steal identities, personal accounts, make unauthorized purchases.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by AnalyserKey
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AG [Adw]), Combo Cleaner (Adware.MAC.Generic.23268), 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.

AnalyserKey adware in general

AnalyserKey is not a trustworthy (or useful) application. The main purpose of this app is to generate advertisements and hijack a browser. There are plenty of apps like AnalyserKey on the Internet. Some examples are OnlineExplorer, DataBoost, and InetImprovment. As a rule, users install them inadvertently.

How did AnalyserKey adware install on my computer?

It is common that users cause unwanted downloads and installations through downloaders and installers for other programs - when PAUs are included in them as optional offers. In most cases, offers to download or install PUAs are mentioned and can be deselected in "Advanced", "Custom" or other settings, or by unticking ticked checkboxes.

Users agree to download or install additional apps when they leave the aforementioned settings unchanged. Sometimes, users cause unexpected downloads or installations by clicking advertisements designed to execute certain scripts. It is worth mentioning that apps of this kind appear mostly on untrustworthy pages.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

It is recommended to download programs from official web pages and via direct download links. Tools, sources like third-party downloaders (and installers), torrent clients, eMule (or other Peer-to-Peer networks), unofficial pages could be used to distribute potentially unwanted, or even malicious applications.

Also, it is advisable to check "Advanced", "Custom" and other similar settings of any downloader or installer and see if those settings mention unwanted offers. Such offers should be declined before finishing downloads and installations. Additionally, it is recommended not to trust advertisements on shady pages.

Those ads could cause downloads, installations of unwanted applications or open various unreliable pages. Unknown, unwanted, or suspicious extensions, plug-ins, or add-ons installed on a browser or programs of this kind installed on the operating system should be removed. If your computer is already infected with AnalyserKey, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Pop-up window displayed once AnalyserKey installation is over:

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

Video showing how to remove AnalyserKey adware using Combo Cleaner:

AnalyserKey adware removal:

Remove AnalyserKey-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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