How to remove ZipDomainNameRate adware and the ads it displays

What kind of application is ZipDomainNameRate?

Our research team discovered the ZipDomainNameRate application during a routine inspection of new file submissions to the VirusTotal website. After analyzing this piece of software, we determined that it is adware belonging to the AdLoad malware family. ZipDomainNameRate delivers ads and may have other harmful abilities.

ZipDomainNameRate adware overview

Adware stands for advertising-supported software. It is designed to generate revenue for its developers by feeding users with unwanted and potentially malicious advertisements. This third-party graphical content (e.g., pop-ups, banners, overlays, etc.) is displayed on visited websites and/or different interfaces.

Note that adware might not run intrusive advert campaigns if the browser/system is incompatible, specific sites are not visited, or other conditions are unsuitable. However, regardless of whether ZipDomainNameRate displays ads – it endangers device/user safety.

Adware-displayed adverts primarily endorse online scams, unreliable/harmful software, and even malware. Some of these advertisements can be triggered (i.e., by being clicked) to execute scripts that perform stealthy downloads/installations.

Keep in mind that any legitimate content encountered via these ads is highly unlikely to be promoted by its actual developers or other official parties. It is most probable that this endorsement is undertaken by scammers who abuse the products' affiliate programs in order to obtain illegitimate commissions.

It is worth mentioning that AdLoad apps commonly have browser-hijacking functionalities, and this might apply to ZipDomainNameRate – although we did not observe these qualities while testing it.

Furthermore, advertising-supported software usually collects sensitive information, and ZipDomainNameRate may have such data-tracking abilities as well. Information of interest may include: visited URLs, viewed webpages, searched queries, Internet cookies, usernames/passwords, personally identifiable details, credit card numbers, etc. The gathered information can then be sold to third-parties or otherwise abused for profit.

In summary, software like ZipDomainNameRate may cause system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by ZipDomainNameRate
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:AdAgent-DH [Adw]), Combo Cleaner (Gen:Variant.Adware.MAC.Adload.23), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Synataeb.H), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Searchprox), 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

SupportSkyReference, FilterBoard, and HyperTextInternet are merely a couple examples of adware we have analyzed recently. Advertising-supported software typically appears legitimate and offers various functionalities. However, these features seldom work as promised, and in most cases – they are utterly nonoperational.

It must be stressed that even if an application or a browser extension works as indicated by its promotional material – that is not a guarantee of legitimacy or safety.

How did ZipDomainNameRate install on my computer?

The bundling marketing technique – packing regular program installers with unwanted/malicious additions – is used to distribute adware.

Downloading from untrustworthy sources (e.g., freeware and free file-hosting sites, P2P sharing networks, etc.) and treating installations with negligence (e.g., skipping steps, using "Quick/Easy" settings, etc.) – increase the risk of allowing bundled content into the device.

Furthermore, adware can have "official" promotional pages, and it is endorsed on scam websites. Most users enter these webpages via redirects generated by sites utilizing rogue advertising networks, spam browser notifications, misspelled URLs, intrusive ads, or installed adware (with browser force-opening capabilities).

Advertising-supported software is also proliferated by intrusive adverts. Some of the advertisements can execute scripts to perform stealthy downloads/installations upon being clicked.

How to avoid installation of adware?

It is important to always research software before downloading or purchasing it. We recommend downloading only from official and verified channels. When installing, it is essential to read terms, inspect available options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of all additions (e.g., apps, extensions, features, etc.).

We also advise being careful while browsing since fake and malicious online content usually appears genuine and harmless. For example, despite their ordinary/innocuous appearance – intrusive ads redirect to highly questionable websites (e.g., scam-promoting, gambling, adult dating, pornography, etc.).

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

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

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

Video showing how to remove ZipDomainNameRate adware using Combo Cleaner:

ZipDomainNameRate adware removal:

Remove ZipDomainNameRate-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-delivered ads can endorse content capable of causing severe issues (e.g., system infections, financial losses, etc.). This software can also decrease browsing quality and system performance. Additionally, adware is deemed to be a privacy threat since it usually has data-tracking abilities.

What does adware do?

Adware stands for advertising-supported software. It operates by enabling the placement of advertisements on various interfaces. Some types can also generate redirects and collect private data.

How do adware developers generate revenue?

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

Will Combo Cleaner remove ZipDomainNameRate adware?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your device and eliminate installed adware-type applications. It is pertinent to mention that manual removal (performed without security software) might not be a perfect solution. In some cases, even after the adware has been manually removed – file leftovers remain hidden within the system. The remnants might continue to run and cause problems. Therefore, advertising-supported software must be removed thoroughly.

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