Removal instructions for the LaunchImprovment adware-type app

What kind of application is LaunchImprovment?

Our research team found LaunchImprovment while reviewing new file submissions to the VirusTotal platform. This application runs intrusive advertisement campaigns, and due to this behavior – it is classified as adware. LaunchImprovment is part of the AdLoad malware family.

LaunchImprovment adware overview

Adware stands for advertising-supported software. It is designed to feed users with unwanted and deceptive advertisements. They are displayed on visited websites and/or other interfaces.

Note that specific conditions may be necessary for adware to deliver intrusive advert campaigns (e.g., compatible browser/system, visits to particular sites, etc.). Even if LaunchImprovment does not display advertisements – its presence remains a threat.

Adware-delivered ads promote online scams, untrustworthy/harmful software, and potential malware. When clicked on, some intrusive adverts can even execute scripts to perform stealthy downloads/installations.

It is noteworthy that while legitimate content may be encountered through these adverts – it is highly unlikely to be endorsed by any official parties. It is most probable that this endorsement is undertaken by scammers who abuse the products' affiliate programs in order to acquire illegitimate commissions.

AdLoad applications may have browser-hijacking abilities; however, LaunchImprovment did not exhibit these qualities during testing.

Furthermore, LaunchImprovment likely has data-tracking functionalities since they are standard for adware. Information of interest may include: browsing and search engine histories, Internet cookies, account log-in credentials, personally identifiable details, finance-related data, and so forth. This vulnerable information can then be sold to third-parties or otherwise abused for profit.

In summary, the presence of software like LaunchImprovment on devices may lead to system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by LaunchImprovment
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

We have analyzed thousands of adware-type apps; VideoEthernetInteger, SyncedAdmin, ThemeRanked, and TelephoneResults are just some examples. Advertising-supported software usually appears legitimate and offers various functionalities. However, these functions are typically fake and nonoperational – their purpose is to lure users into downloading/installing the software.

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

How did LaunchImprovment install on my computer?

Adware may have "official" promotional webpages, and it is commonly pushed through online scams. Most visitors to these deceptive pages access them via redirects generated by sites using rogue advertising networks, mistyped URLs, spam browser notifications, intrusive ads, or installed adware (with browser force-opening capabilities).

Additionally, advertising-supported software can be bundled with ordinary programs. Downloading from untrustworthy channels (e.g., freeware and third-party websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, etc.) and rushing through installation processes (e.g., using "Quick/Easy" settings, etc.) – increase the risk of inadvertently permitting access for bundled content into the system.

Intrusive advertisements also proliferate adware. Once clicked on, some of these adverts can execute scripts to perform downloads/installations without user permission.

How to avoid installation of adware?

We strongly recommend researching software and downloading only from official/verified sources. When installing, we advise reading terms, investigating available options, using the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opting out of all supplementary apps, extensions, tools, etc.

Since fraudulent and malicious online content usually appears legitimate and innocuous – we also advise exercising caution while browsing. For example, while intrusive advertisements may look harmless – they redirect to highly questionable sites (e.g., scam-promoting, adult dating, pornography, gambling, etc.).

If you keep encountering ads and/or redirects of this kind, inspect the system and immediately remove all dubious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with LaunchImprovment, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

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

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

Video showing how to remove LaunchImprovment adware using Combo Cleaner:

LaunchImprovment adware removal:

Remove LaunchImprovment-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 decrease browsing quality and system performance. It delivers advertisements that endorse content capable of causing system infections, privacy issues, financial losses, and other serious problems. Furthermore, advertising-supported software is considered to be a threat to user privacy since it usually gathers private information.

What does adware do?

Adware is designed to run intrusive advertisement campaigns. Primary functions can include displaying ads on various interfaces, generating redirects, and collecting sensitive data.

How do adware developers generate revenue?

Most of the profit is made via affiliate programs by promoting content. Adware developers may earn commissions from ad clicks, website visits, file downloads, product purchases, service subscriptions, or similar.

Will Combo Cleaner remove LaunchImprovment adware?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan devices and eliminate detected adware-type applications. It is pertinent to mention that manual removal (performed without security tools) might be ineffective. In some cases, file leftovers remain hidden within the system after the adware has been manually removed. The remnants might continue to run and cause issues. Hence, advertising-supported software must be removed thoroughly.

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