Removal instructions for EfficiencyInternet adware and the ads it delivers

What is EfficiencyInternet?

During a routine inspection of new submissions to VirusTotal, our researchers found the EfficiencyInternet rogue application. We analyzed this app and learned that it operates as adware and is part of the AdLoad malware family.

EfficiencyInternet adware overview

Advertising-supported software enables the placement of third-party graphical content (advertisements) on visited websites and/or other interfaces. These adverts promote unreliable/harmful sites and software, online scams, and malware. Intrusive ads may even be capable of performing stealthy downloads/installation upon being clicked.

It is noteworthy that any legitimate products encountered through these advertisements are most likely endorsed by scammers abusing their affiliate programs to obtain illegitimate commissions.

Adware may not display adverts if specific conditions are unmet (e.g., browser/system is incompatible, particular sites are not visited, etc.). However, regardless of whether EfficiencyInternet delivers ads - its presence endangers device and user safety.

EfficiencyInternet may have browser hijacker functionalities, as they are standard for adware belonging to the AdLoad group. However, it did not exhibit any during our analysis.

Furthermore, EfficiencyInternet likely has data tracking abilities. Advertising-supported software typically collects browsing and search engine histories, log-in credentials, personally identifiable details, financial/banking information, and so forth. The gathered data is then monetized through sale to third-parties (potentially, cyber criminals).

To summarize, the presence of software like EfficiencyInternet on devices can lead to system scans, severe privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by EfficiencyInternet
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Agent-TX [Trj]), Combo Cleaner (Adware.MAC.Generic.27087), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Synataeb.G), McAfee (RDN/Generic.osx), 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

HorizonFlower, ConditionAnalysts, InformationPing, and GenesisOdyssey are just some examples of the adware-type apps that we have analyzed recently. Advertising-supported software usually looks legitimate and harmless. Users are enticed into download/installation with promises of "useful" functionalities, which are rarely operational.

How did EfficiencyInternet install on my computer?

Adware is promoted on dubious download webpages and scam sites. Users typically access such pages through redirects caused by misspelled URLs, websites using rogue advertising networks, spam browser notifications, intrusive ads, or installed adware (with browser force-opening abilities).

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

Additionally, adware can be bundled (packed together) with regular programs. Download from untrustworthy sources (e.g., unofficial and freeware websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, etc.) and rushed installations increase the risk of allowing bundled into the system.

How to avoid installation of adware?

We highly recommend researching software and downloading only from official/verified channels. When installing, it is crucial to read terms, study available options, use the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings, and opt-out of all additions.

We advise being vigilant when browsing - as fraudulent and malicious content typically appears legitimate. For example, intrusive adverts look ordinary and innocuous, yet they redirect to questionable sites (e.g., gambling, pornography, adult-dating, etc.).

In case of encounters with ads/redirects of this type, inspect the device and immediately remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with EfficiencyInternet, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

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

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

Video showing how to remove EfficiencyInternet adware using Combo Cleaner:

EfficiencyInternet adware removal:

Remove EfficiencyInternet-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 decrease browsing quality and system performance. It typically has data tracking functionalities, which make it a privacy threat. Furthermore, adware-delivered adverts promote hazardous content that can cause severe issues (e.g., system infections, financial losses, etc.).

What does adware do?

Adware is designed to display advertisements, but it may also cause redirects and collect private information.

How do adware developers generate revenue?

Adware generates most of the profit via affiliate programs by endorsing various websites, apps, products, etc. The developers might earn commission from ad clicks, webpage visits, file downloads, product purchases, or similar.

Will Combo Cleaner remove EfficiencyInternet adware?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and eliminate detected adware-type apps. Note that manual removal (unaided by security programs) might not be a perfect solution. Since even after the advertising-supported software has been (manually) removed - various files stay within the system. What is more, these remnants may continue running and causing problems. Therefore, it is crucial to eliminate adware thoroughly.

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