Removing the Fearful.app adware from your operating system
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What kind of application is Fearful.app?
While reviewing new submissions to the VirusTotal website, our researchers discovered Fearful.app. Upon inspection, we determined that this application is part of the Pirrit adware family. Fearful.app operates as advertising-supported software (adware). This piece of software runs intrusive advertisement campaigns.
Fearful.app adware overview
Adware is designed to enable the placement of third-party graphical content (e.g., pop-ups, coupons, banners, overlays, surveys, and other ads) on visited websites and/or different interfaces.
The advertisements predominantly promote online scams, unreliable/harmful software, and even malware. When clicked on, some of these adverts can execute scripts to perform downloads/installations without user consent.
It is noteworthy that while genuine products or services may be encountered via these ads – they are 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 content's affiliate programs to obtain illegitimate commissions.
It must be mentioned that advertising-supported software may require specific conditions to deliver intrusive advert campaigns (e.g., compatible browser/system or user geolocation, visits to particular sites, etc.). Regardless of whether Fearful.app displays advertisements – it remains a threat to device/user safety.
While it is not uncommon for Pirrit applications to have browser-hijacking functionalities – Fearful.app did not exhibit them during our analysis.
Furthermore, adware usually collects sensitive information, and data tracking might be among Fearful.app's capabilities as well. Data of interest may include: visited URLs, viewed webpages, searched queries, Internet cookies, account log-in credentials, credit card numbers, etc. This vulnerable information can then be monetized via sale to third-parties.
In summary, the presence of software like Fearful.app on devices may result in system infections, severe privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.
| Name | Ads by Fearful.app |
| Threat Type | Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus |
| Detection Names | Avast (MacOS:Pirrit-FY [Adw]), Combo Cleaner (Adware.MAC.Generic.28243), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Pirrit.BM), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Pirrit.ac), Full List (VirusTotal) |
| Additional Information | This application belongs to the Pirrit 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. |
Adware examples
ApplicationKey, ToolFrequency, Appendix.app, and Uphasp.app are merely a few examples of adware we have investigated recently.
Software within this classification usually appears ordinary and harmless. Users can be enticed into downloading/installing it by promises of various handy functionalities. However, these functions seldom work as promised, and in most cases – they do not work at all. Note that operational features do not prove a software's legitimacy or safety.
How did Fearful.app install on my computer?
Adware can be bundled with (packed alongside) regular programs. The risk of inadvertently permitting access for bundled content into the system is increased by downloading from untrustworthy sources (e.g., freeware and third-party websites, P2P sharing networks, etc.) and by treating installations with negligence (e.g., ignoring terms, using "Quick/Easy" settings, etc.).
Additionally, adware is proliferated by intrusive advertisements. When clicked on, some of these adverts can execute scripts to perform stealthy downloads/installations.
Advertising-supported software is also promoted on legitimate-looking download pages and scam sites. Most visitors access them via redirects generated by websites utilizing rogue advertising networks, spam browser notifications, misspelled URLs, intrusive ads, or installed adware (with browser force-opening abilities).
How to avoid installation of adware?
We highly recommend researching software before downloading or purchasing it. Furthermore, all downloads must be made from official and verified channels. When installing, we advise reading terms, exploring available options, using the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opting out of all supplementary apps, tools, extensions, features, etc.
Another recommendation is to be vigilant while browsing since fraudulent and malicious online content typically appears legitimate and innocuous. For example, despite their harmless appearance – intrusive adverts redirect to unreliable and questionable sites (e.g., scam-promoting, pornography, gambling, adult dating, etc.).
In case of continuous encounters with advertisements 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 Fearful.app, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.
When removing Fearful.app, it is important to check these folders for its components (the filenames may differ in each folder, yet every single one should contain "Fearful.app"):
- ~/Library/LaunchAgents
- /Library/LaunchDaemons
- /Library/LaunchAgents
- /Library/StartupItems
Pop-up window displayed when Fearful.app adware is present on the system:
Text presented in this pop-up:
"Fearful.app" will damage your computer.
This file was downloaded on a unknown date.
OK
Show in Finder
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 Fearful.app?
- STEP 1. Remove Fearful.app related files and folders from OSX.
- STEP 2. Remove Fearful.app ads from Safari.
- STEP 3. Remove Fearful.app adware from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove Fearful.app ads from Mozilla Firefox.
Video showing how to remove adware and browser hijackers from a Mac computer:
Fearful.app adware removal:
Remove Fearful.app-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 displays advertisements that promote harmful content capable of causing serious problems (e.g., system infections, privacy issues, financial losses, etc.). Advertising-supported software usually has data-tracking functionalities – hence, it is considered to be a threat to user privacy.
What does adware do?
Adware designed to deliver intrusive advertisement campaigns. This software displays ads on various interfaces, and some types are also capable of generating redirects and collecting private data.
How do adware developers generate revenue?
Adware developers generate revenue by promoting various websites, applications, browser extensions, products, services, and so forth. Most of the profit is made through affiliate programs.
Will Combo Cleaner remove Fearful.app adware?
Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan devices and eliminate detected adware-type applications. Keep in mind that manual removal (unaided by security programs) might be ineffective. In some instances, file leftovers remain hidden within the system after the software has been manually removed. These remnants might continue to run and cause issues. Therefore, it is essential to eliminate advertising-supported software thoroughly.
Outstanding!
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