Removal instructions for the InputView adware and the ads it delivers

What is InputView?

InputView is a rogue application that our researchers discovered while investigating new submissions to VirusTotal. After inspecting this app, we determined that it is adware belonging to the AdLoad malware family.

InputView adware overview

Adware stands for advertising-supported software. It displays ads on various interfaces. The advertisements endorse online scams, unreliable/harmful sites and software, and even malware. Some intrusive adverts are capable of stealthily downloading/installing software - upon being clicked.

Note that any legitimate content encountered through these ads is most likely promoted by scammers abusing the products' affiliate programs in order to obtain commissions fraudulently.

It must be mentioned that adware may need specific conditions to run intrusive advertisement campaigns (e.g., compatible browser/system specs, visits to particular sites, etc.). However, even if InputView does not display adverts - its presence on a system endangers device and user safety.

This rogue application might have browser hijacking functions, as they are common for AdLoad adware, although InputView did not exhibit any during testing.

Furthermore, InputView likely has data-tracking abilities. Advertising-supported software typically targets: browsing and search engine histories, personally identifiable details, account log-in credentials, credit card numbers, etc. The gathered data can be sold to third-parties or otherwise abused for profit.

To summarize, the presence of adware like InputView on devices can result in system infections, severe privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by InputView
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. ▼ 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

We have analyzed thousands of adware samples; ConnectedProtocol, EngineFlow, and MainSignSearch are merely a few of our latest finds.

Advertising-supported software usually appears ordinary and harmless. Users are enticed into download/installation with promises of "useful" and "advantageous" features. However, these functions seldom work as advertised, and in most cases - they are utterly nonoperational.

How did InputView install on my computer?

Adware can be bundled (packed together) with ordinary programs. Download from untrustworthy sources (e.g., freeware and free file-hosting sites, P2P sharing networks, etc.) and rushed installation (e.g., skipped steps, used "Easy/Quick" settings, etc.) - increase the risk of inadvertently permitting bundled content into the system.

Additionally, intrusive advertisements proliferate adware. Once clicked on, some of the adverts can execute scripts to perform downloads/installations without user consent. Fake Adobe Flash Player updaters/installers are used in distribution as well.

Advertising-supported software can also have "official" promotional sites, and it is pushed through scam pages. Most users enter such webpages via redirects caused by mistyped URLs, websites that use rogue advertising networks, spam browser notifications, intrusive ads, or installed adware (with the ability to force-open sites).

How to avoid installation of adware?

We strongly recommend researching software and downloading only from official/verified channels. Furthermore, it is important to approach installation with care. Hence, we advise reading terms, studying possible options, using the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opting-out of all additional apps, tools, features, etc.

Another recommendation is to exercise caution while browsing since fraudulent and malicious content usually appears legitimate and innocuous. For example, intrusive ads may look harmless yet redirect to highly questionable websites (e.g., gambling, pornography, adult-dating, etc.).

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

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

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

Video showing how to remove InputView adware using Combo Cleaner:

InputView adware removal:

Remove InputView-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 the browsing experience and system performance. It displays ads promoting deceptive/malicious content that can cause severe issues (e.g., system infections, financial losses, etc.). This software usually has data-tracking functionalities - hence, it is also considered a privacy threat.

What does adware do?

Adware stands for advertising-supported software. It displays adverts on various interfaces. Some types can also force-open websites and collect private data.

How do adware developers generate revenue?

Adware developers generate profit primarily via affiliate programs by promoting various websites, apps, products, services, and so on.

Will Combo Cleaner remove InputView adware?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your device and eliminate detected adware-type apps. It is noteworthy that manual removal (performed without the aid of security software) might not be ideal. In some cases, even after the adware has been manually removed - various file leftovers remain hidden within the system. Furthermore, the remnants may continue to run and cause issues. Therefore, advertising-supported software must be removed thoroughly.

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