How to remove the AphroditeLookup adware from your operating system?

What is AphroditeLookup?

AphroditeLookup is a piece of rogue software categorized as adware. Additionally, it has browser hijacker traits. This app operates by running intrusive advertisement campaigns and modifying browser settings to promote fake search engines. AphroditeLookup likely has data tracking abilities, as they are typical for adware and browser hijackers.

Due to the dubious techniques used to distribute such software products, they are also classified as PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications). AphroditeLookup has been observed being spread via fake Adobe Flash Player updates. It is noteworthy that illegitimate updaters/installers proliferate not only PUAs but malware as well.

AphroditeLookup adware in detail

Adware enables the placement of pop-ups, banners, coupons, and other intrusive ads - on any visited website and/or different interfaces. These advertisements severely diminish the browsing experience by limiting the browsing speed and webpage visibility.

Furthermore, the adverts pose a threat to device and user safety. Intrusive advertisements endorse a wide variety of sale-based, untrustworthy, rogue, deceptive/scam, and malicious websites. What is more, some of these ads can infiltrate software (e.g., PUAs) into systems - when they are clicked on.

Browser hijackers reassign browsers' default search engine, homepage, and new tab/window URLs - to fake web searcher addresses. With such a piece of software installed: every new browser tab/window opened and search query typed into the URL bar - redirect to the promoted address.

Fraudulent search engines usually cannot provide search results, so they redirect to (or cause redirection chains ending with) Google, Yahoo, Bing, and other genuine ones. Browser hijackers can reset any changes users try to make to their browsers, and/or they can deny access to the browser settings. Therefore, restoring an affected browser is impossible without removing the software hijacking it.

Most PUAs (adware and browser hijackers) have data tracking abilities. Information of interest includes: URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries typed, IP addresses/ geolocations, personally identifiable details, finance-related data, etc. The collected information is then shared with and/or sold to third-parties (potentially, cyber criminals).

To summarize, the presence of unwanted software on devices can lead to system infections, severe privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft. Therefore, it is crucial to remove all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins without delay.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by AphroditeLookup
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AD [Trj]), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/TrojanDownloader.Adload.AE), Fortinet (Adware/Cimpli!OSX), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Cimpli.l), 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

NetLookupSearch, ProductiveUnit, and BrowserBuffer are a few examples of apps within the adware category. They appear legitimate and harmless. Users are lured into download/installation with promises of various features. However, the advertised functions are seldom operational.

In fact, practically all PUAs use nonexistent functionalities to bait users. The sole purpose of unwanted software is to generate revenue for the developers. Therefore, instead of delivering on any promises, PUAs can run intrusive advert campaigns, hijack browsers, force-open dubious/malicious websites, and collect private information.

How did AphroditeLookup install on my computer?

PUAs are spread through download/installation setups of other products. This false marketing technique of packing regular programs with unwanted or malicious additions - is named "bundling". Rushed download/installation processes (e.g., skipped steps, etc.) increase the risk of unintentionally allowing bundled content into the device.

Intrusive advertisements are used to proliferate PUAs as well. Once clicked on, the adverts can execute scripts to download/install these applications without user permission. PUAs may also have "official" promotional sites from which they can be downloaded and/or purchased.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

It is recommended to research products prior to download/installation and/or purchase. Additionally, all downloads must be done from official and verified download channels. Untrustworthy sources, e.g., unofficial and free freeware websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, and other third-party downloaders - often offer bundled and harmful content.

Download/Installation process must be treated with caution; that includes - reading terms, studying available options, using "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opting-out from additional apps, features, etc. Intrusive ads appear legitimate; however, they redirect to various questionable sites (e.g., gambling, adult-dating, pornography, and so on).

In case of encounters with such adverts and/or redirects, the device must be checked and all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins detected - immediately removed from it. If your computer is already infected with AphroditeLookup, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Files related to the AphroditeLookup adware that need to be removed:

• ~/Library/Application Support/com.AphroditeLookup/AphroditeLookup
• ~/Library/Application Support/com.AphroditeLookupDaemon/AphroditeLookup
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.AphroditeLookup.plist
• ~/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.AphroditeLookupDaemon.plist

IMPORTANT NOTE! Rogue setups/apps that promote the AphroditeLookup website are designed to create a new device profile. Therefore, before taking any further removal steps, perform these actions:
1) Click the "Preferences" icon in the menu bar (Dock) and select "Profiles".

2) Locate all suspicious profiles and delete them.

3) Perform a full system scan with Combo Cleaner anti-virus suite.

After performing these actions, you can proceed with further removal steps for this browser hijacker.

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

Video showing how to remove AphroditeLookup adware using Combo Cleaner:

AphroditeLookup adware removal:

Remove AphroditeLookup-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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