Removing EmergingZip adware and the advertisements it delivers

What is EmergingZip?

Our researchers discovered EmergingZip while inspecting new submissions to VirusTotal. After analyzing this application, we determined that it is a piece of advertising-supported software. Additionally, this adware belongs to the AdLoad malware family.

EmergingZip adware overview

Software like EmergingZip may need certain conditions to display advertisements. For example, unless the browser/system or user geolocation are incompatible, visits to particular websites are not made, etc. - adware might not run intrusive advertisement campaigns. However, the presence of EmergingZip (or other adware) on systems endangers device/user safety regardless of whether it delivers ads.

Adware-displayed adverts endorse untrustworthy/harmful sites and software, online scams (e.g., fake system infection or outdated program alerts, etc.), and even malware. Some intrusive advertisements can infiltrate software into systems - once clicked.

Any legitimate products encountered through these ads are unlikely to be endorsed in this fashion by their developers. Instead, this promotion is undertaken by scammers who abuse affiliate programs to obtain illegitimate commissions.

EmergingZip might have browser hijacker functionalities since they are typical for AdLoad adware, although it did not exhibit any during our analysis.

Furthermore, this application likely tracks data. Advertising-supported software typically gathers: browsing data, personally identifiable details, usernames/passwords, finance-related information, and so on. The collected data can be monetized through sale to third-parties (potentially, cyber criminals).

To summarize, the presence of EmergingZip on devices - may result in system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by EmergingZip
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AG [Adw]), Combo Cleaner (Gen:Variant.Adware.MAC.AdLoad.13), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Synataeb.G), 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 examples

LocatorUpdate, DefaultFabricOptic, and SharedAllocate are just a couple examples of the adware we have analyzed. Advertising-supported software usually appears harmless and promises "handy" features. However, the functions seldom work as advertised, and in most cases - they are utterly nonoperational.

How did EmergingZip install on my computer?

Adware can be bundled with (packed alongside) regular programs. Download from untrustworthy channels (e.g., Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, freeware and third-party websites, etc.) and rushed installations - increase the risk of allowing bundled content into the system.

Fraudulent Adobe Flash Player updaters/installers are used in adware proliferation as well. Intrusive adverts also spread advertising-supported software. When clicked on, some of these advertisements can execute scripts to make downloads/installations without user consent.

Adware can have "official" promotional pages and be spread through scam sites. Users primarily access such webpages via redirects caused by others that use rogue advertising networks, spam browser notifications, mistyped URLs, or present adware (with browser force-opening capabilities).

How to avoid installation of adware?

We strongly advise researching software and using only official/verified download sources. When installing, we recommend - reading terms, studying possible options, and using the "Custom/Advanced" settings to opt-out of all supplements.

Another recommendation is to exercise caution when browsing - since fake and malicious contents look innocuous. For example, intrusive advertisements appear harmless yet redirect to highly questionable websites (e.g., pornography, gambling, adult-dating, etc.).

If you experience ads and/or redirects of this kind, inspect the device and immediately remove all dubious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with EmergingZip, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

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

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

Video showing how to remove EmergingZip adware using Combo Cleaner:

EmergingZip adware removal:

Remove EmergingZip-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.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What harm can adware cause?

Adware can diminish browsing experience and system performance. It usually has data tracking functionalities, which make it a privacy threat. Adware-delivered ads can be deceptive/malicious and cause serious problems (e.g., system infections, financial losses, etc.).

What does adware do?

Adware is designed to display third-party graphical content (advertisements) on visited websites and/or different interfaces. It may also be capable of force-opening (likely untrustworthy/dangerous) sites and collecting private information.

How do adware developers generate revenue?

Most of the profit comes from affiliate programs by promoting various websites, applications, products, etc. Adware developers may earn commission from ad clicks, site visits, file downloads, product purchases, or similar.

Will Combo Cleaner remove EmergingZip adware?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your system and eliminate the adware-type applications present. It has to be mentioned that manual removal (unaided by security software) might not be a perfect solution. In some instances, even after the adware itself has been (manually) eliminated - various remnants (files) stay in the system. What is more, the remaining components can continue running and causing issues. Therefore, it is vital to remove adware thoroughly.

▼ Show Discussion