Removal instructions for ElementBrowser adware and the ads it displays

What kind of application is ElementBrowser?

Our research team discovered the ElementBrowser application while reviewing new submissions to the VirusTotal site. After inspecting this app, we determined that it is adware belonging to the AdLoad malware family.

ElementBrowser adware overview

Adware stands for advertising-supported software. It is designed to display ads on various interfaces. The adverts endorse online scams, unreliable/harmful software, and even malware. Once clicked on, some intrusive advertisements can execute scripts to perform downloads/installations without user permission.

Note that genuine products/services encountered via these ads are most likely promoted by scammers who abuse their affiliate programs in order to acquire illegitimate commissions.

Adware may need specific conditions to run intrusive advert campaigns, e.g., compatible browser/system or user geolocation, visits to particular websites, etc. Even if ElementBrowser does not display adverts – its presence endangers device/user safety.

While AdLoad applications commonly have browser-hijacking abilities, ElementBrowser did not exhibit any during testing.

This rogue application likely has data-tracking functionalities. Information of interest includes: visited URLs, viewed pages, searched queries, usernames/passwords, Internet cookies, personally identifiable details, finance-related data, and so forth. The collected information can then be shared with and/or sold to third-parties.

To summarize, advertising-supported software like ElementBrowser can cause system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and even lead to identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by ElementBrowser
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:AdAgent-L [Adw]), Combo Cleaner (Gen:Variant.Adware.MAC.AdLoad.8), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Synataeb.C), 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), 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-type apps; AssistiveTask, WebpageHardware, and BalanceSignal are just a few examples.

Advertising-supported software usually appears legitimate and harmless. It also offers a broad range of handy functionalities, which are rarely operational. It must be stressed that even if a piece of software works as promised – that is not a guarantee of either legitimacy or safety.

How did ElementBrowser install on my computer?

Adware can be bundled (packed together) with regular programs. The risk of inadvertently permitting bundled content into the system is increased by downloading from dubious channels (e.g., freeware and third-party sites, P2P sharing networks, etc.) and by rushing through installation processes (e.g., ignoring terms, using "Easy/Quick" settings, etc.).

Adware can also have "official" promotional pages, and it is endorsed on scam websites. Most users access such webpages via redirects caused by sites using rogue advertising networks, mistyped URLs, spam browser notifications, intrusive ads, or installed adware (with browser force-opening abilities).

Additionally, intrusive advertisements proliferate advertising-supported software. Once clicked on, some of the adverts can perform stealthy downloads/installations.

How to avoid installation of adware?

We strongly recommend researching software and downloading only from official/verified sources. When installing, it is important to read terms, study available options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of all additional apps, extensions, tools, etc.

Another recommendation is to exercise caution while browsing since fake and malicious online content usually appears legitimate and harmless. For example, intrusive adverts may look innocuous – yet they redirect to unreliable/questionable websites (e.g., gambling, pornography, adult dating, etc.).

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

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

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

Video showing how to remove ElementBrowser adware using Combo Cleaner:

ElementBrowser adware removal:

Remove ElementBrowser-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 adverts that endorse deceptive/malicious content capable of causing severe issues (e.g., system infections, financial losses, etc.). Additionally, this software is considered to be a privacy threat since it usually has data-tracking functionalities.

What does adware do?

Adware stands for advertising-supported software. It is designed to display advertisements on visited webpages and/or different interfaces. Some types can also cause redirects and gather private data.

How do adware developers generate revenue?

Adware developers generate revenue primarily through affiliate programs by endorsing various websites, apps, products, services, and other content.

Will Combo Cleaner remove ElementBrowser adware?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan devices and eliminate all adware-type applications installed. Keep in mind that manual removal (unaided by security programs) might be ineffective. In some cases, even after the adware has been manually removed – various components (files) remain hidden in the system. The remnants can continue to run and cause problems. Therefore, it is paramount to eliminate advertising-supported software thoroughly.

▼ Show Discussion