How to remove TextBoard from a computer

What kind of application is TextBoard?

Our team has spotted the TextBoard application while inspecting samples submitted to the VirusTotal website. After examination, we learned that the purpose of TextBoard is to display various advertisements. Thus, we classified this application as adware. Typically, users install software of this type inadvertently.

More about the TextBoard adware

Advertisements displayed by adware (especially when adware is downloaded from an untrustworthy source) can open potentially malicious pages. Those ads can open phishing websites, download sites for questionable (or even malicious) apps, technical support scam sites, etc. It is also possible that clicking those ads could download or even install unwanted apps.

Additionally, TextBoard may be capable of accessing sensitive information such as credit card details, passwords, and other data. Moreover, its developers may sell gathered data to third parties, use it for malicious purposes (e.g., steal accounts, identities), etc.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by TextBoard
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names (TextBoard.service)	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AM [Trj]), Combo Cleaner (Gen:Variant.Adware.MAC.Adload.15), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/TrojanDownloader.Adload.AE), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Agent.u), 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

App like TextBoard tend to be promoted as useful/legitimate apps. However, a big part of them is distributed in deceptive ways (e.g., using fake installers). The purpose of adware is to bombard users with various advertisements (e.g., banners, coupons, pop-up ads). It rarely has any useful features.

More adware examples are ObsessionScript, VantageReservation, and ExplorerTrusted.

How did TextBoard install on my computer?

One of the popular ways to trick users into installing adware on computers or browsers is to use fake installers (e.g., fake Adobe Flash Player installers). Usually, those installers are distributed via deceptive pages suggesting that it is required to update some installed software or claiming that an installation is required to load the page, play a video, etc.

Also, adware gets installed via deceptive ads or through installers for other software (alongside software bundled with adware). Installers used to distribute adware have "Advanced", "Custom", or similar settings. Adware gets installed after finishing installations without changing those settings.

How to avoid installation of unwanted applications?

Do not click on shady advertisements appearing on questionable pages or allow websites of this kind to show notifications. Download applications from legitimate sources (official pages, stores). Do not use sources such as P2P networks, shady pages, third-party downloaders, torrent sites, etc.

Deselect unwanted applications using the provided settings before downloading/installing software. If your computer is already infected with TextBoard, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Screenshot of the pop-up window displayed when TextBoard adware is present on the system:

Text in this pop-up:

"TextBoard" will damage your computer.

This file was downloaded on an unknown date.

OK
Show in Finder

Screenshot of the fake installer used to distribute TextBoard adware (firs installation step):

Screenshot of the fake installer used to distribute TextBoard adware (second installation step):

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

• ~/Library/Application Support/.[random_string]/Services/com.TextBoard.service.app
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.TextBoard.service.plist
• /Library/Application Support/.[random_string]/System/com.TextBoard.system
• /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.TextBoard.system.plist

IMPORTANT NOTE! In some cases malicious applications like TextBoard alter system proxy settings, thereby causing unwanted redirects to a variety of questionable websites.

The redirects are likely to remain even after removing the application itself. Thus, you'll have to restore them manually.

Step 1: Click on the gear icon in the Dock to navigate to the system settings. If the icon is not present in the Dock, you can find it in the Launchpad.

Step 2: Navigate to the Network settings.

Step 3: Select the connected network and click "Advanced...".

Step 4: Click on the "Proxies" tab and untick all the protocols. You should also set the settings of each protocol to default - "*.local, 169.254/16".

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

Video showing how to remove TextBoard adware using Combo Cleaner:

TextBoard adware removal:

Remove TextBoard-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?

Usually, adware slows down a computer and diminishes the web browsing experience (by bombarding users with annoying advertisements that conceal the contents of visited pages). In some cases, software of this type can invade privacy (if capable of accessing sensitive information).

What does adware do?

Adware displays banners, coupons, pop-ups, and (or) other advertisements. Additionally, it can function as a browser hijacker and collect various data.

How do adware developers generate revenue?

One of the most popular ways adware developers monetize their software is by participating in affiliate programs. They use adware to promote products, services, websites, etc.

Will Combo Cleaner remove TextBoard adware?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will remove all adware from the operating system (and a browser). It is worth mentioning that manual adware removal (removal without leaving any leftovers) can be a difficult task. Combo Cleaner will completely remove adware (this app will not leave any files or other components belonging to the adware in the system).

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