How to remove InitialMethod from a computer
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What kind of application is InitialMethod?
After installing and testing the InitialMethod application, our team learned that it is a useless app that functions as adware. The purpose of InitialMethod is to display intrusive advertisements. We discovered this advertising-supported app while inspecting deceptive pages encouraging visitors to update "outdated" software.
InitialMethod adware in detail
InitialMethod displays intrusive pop-up ads, banners, coupons, surveys, and other advertising material. Ads shown by InitialMethod can open questionable (potentially malicious) websites. Clicking on those ads can open technical support scam pages, phishing pages, websites promoting/distributing untrustworthy applications, etc.
Another reason not to trust ads displayed by InitialMethod is that they may be designed to trigger/start unexpected downloads and installations. Our team tested many apps similar to InitialMethod and found that they can be capable of reading passwords, credit card details, and other personal/sensitive information.
It is not safe to have adware capable of accessing sensitive information installed on the operating system or a web browser. It poses a risk to online privacy and browsing safety. Access information may be misused to hijack online accounts, steal identities, make unauthorized purchases, and more.
| Name | Ads by InitialMethod |
| 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.j), 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
Advertising-supported apps can be used to promote fake search engines. In such cases, their functionality includes hijacking a web browser by changing its settings. Browser-hijacking apps usually change the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page. Fake search engines cannot be trusted - they can show misleading results and redirect to shady pages.
A couple examples of other apps similar to InitialMethod are InformationLoader, AssessmentBranded, and AnalogManager.
How did InitialMethod install on my computer?
Programs like InitialMethod often get installed via fake installers downloaded from deceptive pages. Those pages usually use scare tactics to trick users into installing adware. Two other popular ways to distribute adware are to design online advertisements designed to run certain scripts and bundle adware with other software programs.
Programs bundled with adware (or other unwanted apps) have "Advanced", "Custom", or similar settings in their installers. Users install adware on their computers when they finish installations without changing the settings mentioned above.
How to avoid installation of unwanted applications?
Download applications and files from trustworthy/official websites and stores. Do not use third-party stores and downloaders, unofficial pages, P2P networks, and similar sources to download them. Also, do not forget to check downloaders and installers for unwanted apps and deselect them before downloading or installing programs.
It is also recommended not to trust advertisements shown on torrent sites, adult dating pages, and other pages of this kind (or give such pages permission to show notifications). If your computer is already infected with InitialMethod, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.
A window that pops up after completing the installation of InitialMethod adware:
InitialMethod'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 InitialMethod?
- STEP 1. Remove InitialMethod related files and folders from OSX.
- STEP 2. Remove InitialMethod ads from Safari.
- STEP 3. Remove InitialMethod adware from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove InitialMethod ads from Mozilla Firefox.
Video showing how to remove InitialMethod adware using Combo Cleaner:
InitialMethod adware removal:
Remove InitialMethod-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?
The most common issues caused by adware are slower computer performance and diminished web browsing experience due to ads covering the contents of visited websites.
What does adware do?
Adware shows various pop-up ads, coupons, banners, and other advertising material. In addition to displaying ads, software of this type can be designed to gather data and promote fake search engines.
How do adware developers generate revenue?
Most advertising-supported apps are monetized via affiliate programs. Their developers participate in affiliate programs to promote various pages, services, products, etc.
Will Combo Cleaner remove InitialMethod adware?
Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and remove all advertising-supported and other unwanted software. It will not leave any leftovers belonging to adware in the system (which may be a problem while trying to remove adware manually).
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