How to eliminate the UpgradeStoreApp adware from your Mac

What kind of application is UpgradeStoreApp?

While inspecting new file submissions to the VirusTotal platform, our researchers discovered UpgradeStoreApp. This piece of software operates as adware, and it is part of the AdLoad malware family. UpgradeStoreApp is designed to feed users with undesirable and potentially harmful ads.

UpgradeStoreApp adware overview

Adware stands for advertising-supported software. It enables the placement of advertisements (e.g., pop-ups, banners, overlays, etc.) on visited websites and/or different interfaces. This third-party graphical content primarily promotes online scams, unreliable/hazardous software, and potential malware. Once clicked on, some of these adverts can even perform stealthy downloads/installations.

Note that while genuine content may be encountered via these ads – it is highly unlikely to be endorsed in this manner by any official parties. It is most probable that this endorsement is undertaken by scammers who abuse the products' affiliate programs to obtain illegitimate commissions.

Adware may require certain conditions to run intrusive advertisement campaigns (e.g., compatible browser/system or user geolocation, visits to specific websites, etc.). However, regardless of whether UpgradeStoreApp displays ads – it endangers device integrity and user safety.

AdLoad applications commonly have browser-hijacking capabilities, yet we did not observe these functionalities while investigating UpgradeStoreApp.

Advertising-supported software typically gathers sensitive information, and this might be true of UpgradeStoreApp. Targeted data 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.

In summary, the presence of software like UpgradeStoreApp on devices can lead to system infections, severe privacy issues, financial losses, and identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by UpgradeStoreApp
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AG [Adw]), Combo Cleaner (Gen:Variant.Adware.MAC.Adload.31), 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

SharedProjector, GallantBounce, FormatConnection, EngineOfflineAlgorithm, and OptimizationSquare are merely some examples of adware we have examined recently.

Advertising-supported software rarely looks suspicious; it tends to appear legitimate and innocuous. It can also offer a wide variety of "advantageous" functionalities, which are usually nonoperational.

However, it must be stressed that even if a piece of software works exactly as indicated by its promotional material – that is not a guarantee of either legitimacy or safety.

How did UpgradeStoreApp install on my computer?

Adware can be bundled with ordinary programs. The danger of inadvertently allowing bundled content into the system is increased by downloading from dubious channels (e.g., freeware and free fire-hosting sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, etc.) and by treating installations with negligence (e.g., skipping steps, using "Easy/Quick" settings, etc.).

Advertising-supported software can have "official" download pages, and it is endorsed on scam websites. Most visitors access these webpages via redirects generated by sites employing rogue advertising networks, spam browser notifications, misspelled URLs, intrusive ads, or installed adware (with browser force-opening abilities).

Additionally, software within this classification is proliferated by intrusive advertisements. Some of these adverts can be triggered (i.e., by being clicked) to execute scripts that perform downloads/installations without user consent.

How to avoid installation of adware?

We strongly advise researching software and downloading it only from official/trustworthy sources. Another recommendation is to treat installations with caution, e.g., by reading terms, exploring available options, using the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opting out of all additional apps, extensions, etc.

We also advise being vigilant when browsing since fake and dangerous online content typically appears genuine and innocuous. For example, while intrusive adverts may look harmless – they redirect to highly questionable sites (e.g., gambling, scam-promoting, pornography, adult dating, etc.).

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

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

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

Video showing how to remove adware and browser hijackers from a Mac computer:

UpgradeStoreApp adware removal:

Remove UpgradeStoreApp-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 may decrease browsing quality and system performance. The advertisements displayed by this software can promote content capable of causing severe issues (e.g., system infections, financial losses, etc.). Furthermore, adware is classed as a privacy threat since it usually has data-tracking functionalities.

What does adware do?

Adware stands for advertising-supported software. Primary functions can include displaying ads on various interfaces, force-opening websites, and gathering private information.

How do adware developers generate revenue?

Most of the profit comes from affiliate programs. Adware developers may earn commissions from ad clicks, website visits, file downloads, product purchases, service subscriptions, or similar.

Will Combo Cleaner remove UpgradeStoreApp adware?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and eliminate all adware-type applications installed. It is pertinent to mention that manual removal (performed without the aid of security tools) might not be an ideal solution. In some instances, file remnants stay hidden within the system after the software has been manually removed. Therefore, thorough removal is key.

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