How to remove ModemMaterial from the operating system
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What kind of application is ModemMaterial?
ModemMaterial is the name of an application our team discovered after downloading and using a fake installer for the Adobe Flash Player. While testing ModemMaterial, we learned that it generates intrusive advertisements. Software that shows unwanted advertisements is called adware.
ModemMaterial adware in detail
Adware-type apps generate advertisements shown as pop-ups, banners, coupons, etc. Clicking on ads displayed by ModemMaterial can open potentially malicious sites, phishing pages, technical support scam pages, websites offering to download untrustworthy applications, etc. Moreover, those ads can be designed to cause downloads or even installations.
Another issue with apps like ModemMaterial is that sometimes they can read sensitive information such as passwords, credit card details, telephone numbers, and other personal data. It is not safe to have such apps installed because their developers may misuse obtained information for malicious purposes (e.g., to steal online accounts and identities).
| Name | Ads by ModemMaterial |
| 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. |
More about adware
Also, adware can promote fake (or other untrustworthy) search engines. It can be designed to change the browser's settings (usually, the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page). Apps that promote fake search engines in such a way are called browser hijackers.
More examples of apps similar to ModemMaterial are RankBet, NativeSimply, and LegionSuites.
How did ModemMaterial install on my computer?
Most users install adware unintentionally. Usually, they cause it via fake installers (e.g., fake Adobe Flash Player installers), software bundles, and shady advertisements. It is common for adware to be distributed and promoted using deceptive methods.
Software bundled with adware usually has "Advanced", "Custom", or other settings or ticked checkboxes in its installer. Users agree to install adware when they leave those settings unchanged or tickboxes checked during installations.
How to avoid installation of unwanted applications?
Avoid clicking on advertisements appearing on shady websites and do not agree to receive notifications from such pages. Download applications (and files) from legitimate sources such as official pages and stores. Do not use unofficial pages, third-party downloaders, P2P networks, and similar sources to download software.
Always deselect unwanted applications included in downloaders/installers before finishing downloads and installations of programs. Optional downloads and installations can be deselected using the provided settings. If your computer is already infected with ModemMaterial, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.
A pop-up that appears after the installation of ModemMaterial adware:
ModemMaterial'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
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Quick menu:
- What is ModemMaterial?
- STEP 1. Remove ModemMaterial related files and folders from OSX.
- STEP 2. Remove ModemMaterial ads from Safari.
- STEP 3. Remove ModemMaterial adware from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove ModemMaterial ads from Mozilla Firefox.
Video showing how to remove ModemMaterial adware using Combo Cleaner:
ModemMaterial adware removal:
Remove ModemMaterial-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?
While adware is installed, it can slow down the computer and diminish the web browsing experience by showing unwanted advertisements on visited pages. Also, adware can cause problems related to online privacy.
What does adware do?
Adware displays various advertisements (e.g., pop-ups, banners, coupons). In addition to showing ads, software of this type can hijack a web browser and collect information.
How do adware developers generate revenue?
They use adware to promote various products, websites, services, etc. Most of them earn commissions from affiliate programs.
Will Combo Cleaner remove ModemMaterial adware?
Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and remove adware. It will remove adware automatically without leaving any of its data in the system, which can be difficult when trying to manually remove adware.
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