How to remove IdeaWindow adware and the advertisements it displays

What kind of application is IdeaWindow?

Our researchers discovered IdeaWindow during a routine review of new submissions to the VirusTotal site. This rogue application displays advertisements that promote deceptive and malicious content. Due to this behavior, IdeaWindow is classed as adware. It is also part of the AdLoad malware family.

IdeaWindow adware overview

Adware stands for advertising-supported software. It enables the placement of various ads (e.g., pop-ups, banners, surveys, overlays, etc.) on visited websites and/or other interfaces.

This third-party graphical content mainly endorses online scams, untrustworthy/harmful software, and even malware. Some of the advertisements can even be triggered (i.e., by being clicked) to execute scripts that perform stealthy downloads/installations.

It is noteworthy that any legitimate products or services encountered via these adverts are unlikely to be promoted by their actual developers or other official parties. It is most probable that this endorsement is undertaken by scammers who abuse the content's affiliate programs in order to obtain illegitimate commissions.

Advertising-supported software might require specific conditions to run intrusive advertisement campaigns (e.g., compatible browser/system, visits to particular sites, etc.). However, regardless of whether IdeaWindow displays ads – it remains a threat to device/user safety.

AdLoad adware often has browser-hijacking qualities, although IdeaWindow did not exhibit these traits during our analysis.

Furthermore, software within this classification usually has data-tracking functionalities, and this might apply to the IdeaWindow app. Data of interest may include: browsing and search engine histories, Internet cookies, usernames/passwords, personally identifiable details, finance-related information, etc. The collected data can then be sold to third-parties or otherwise abused for profit.

To summarize, the presence of software like IdeaWindow on devices may result in system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by IdeaWindow
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:AdAgent-L [Adw]), Combo Cleaner (Gen:Variant.Adware.MAC.Adload.16), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Synataeb.H), 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), 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

QueueNetworks, ResearchMacMatrix, ZipDomainNameRate, SupportSkyReference, FilterBoard – are just some examples of adware we have examined recently.

Advertising-supported software seldom appears suspicious; it tends to look legitimate and harmless. This software also offers a broad range of "handy" functionalities. However, these functions are usually fake and nonoperational. Note that even if a piece of software works as indicated by its promotional material – that does not guarantee safety or legitimacy.

How did IdeaWindow install on my computer?

The bundling marketing tactic – packing regular program installation setups with unwanted/malicious supplements – is used to distribute adware.

Downloading from untrustworthy sources (e.g., freeware and free file-hosting sites, P2P sharing networks, etc.) and rushing through installation processes (e.g., using "Easy/Quick" settings, etc.) – increase the risk of unintentionally allowing bundled content into the device.

Adware is also promoted on legitimate-looking download webpages and scam sites. Most users enter these pages via redirects generated by misspelled URLs, websites that employ rogue advertising networks, intrusive ads, spam browser notifications, or installed adware (with browser force-opening abilities).

Intrusive advertisements proliferate advertising-supported software as well. When clicked on, some of these adverts can execute scripts to perform downloads/installations without user permission.

How to avoid installation of adware?

It is important to always research software prior to downloading or purchasing it. Additionally, all downloads must be performed from official and verified channels. When installing, we recommend reading terms, studying possible options, using the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opting out of all supplementary apps, extensions, features, etc.

We also advise being careful while browsing since fraudulent and malicious online content typically appears legitimate and innocuous. For example, despite the ordinary/harmless appearance – intrusive ads redirect to unreliable and questionable sites (e.g., scam-promoting, gambling, pornography, adult dating, etc.).

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

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

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

Video showing how to remove IdeaWindow adware using Combo Cleaner:

IdeaWindow adware removal:

Remove IdeaWindow-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-displayed advertisements commonly endorse content capable of causing system infections, financial losses, and other severe issues. This software can decrease browsing quality and system performance. It usually collects sensitive user information – therefore, it is considered to be a privacy threat.

What does adware do?

Adware stands for advertising-supported software. It is designed to run intrusive advertisement campaigns. Primary functions can include displaying ads on various interfaces, generating redirects, and gathering private information.

How do adware developers generate revenue?

Adware generates revenue predominantly via affiliate programs by endorsing content. The developers may earn commission from ad clicks, website visits, file downloads, product purchases, service subscriptions, or similar.

Will Combo Cleaner remove IdeaWindow adware?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and eliminate detected adware-type applications. Keep in mind that manual removal (performed without the aid of security software) might be ineffective. In some cases, even after the adware has been manually removed – file leftovers remain hidden within the system. The remaining components might continue to run and cause issues. Therefore, it is paramount to remove advertising-supported software thoroughly.

▼ Show Discussion