How to eliminate ExpandedDivision adware from the operating system

What kind of application is ExpandedDivision?

ExpandedDivision is a rogue application that we discovered during a routine investigation of new submissions to the VirusTotal website. Upon examination, we determined that it is adware belonging to the AdLoad malware family. ExpandedDivision operates by delivering intrusive advert campaigns.

ExpandedDivision adware overview

Adware stands for advertising-supported software. It is designed to display third-party graphical content (e.g., pop-ups, banners, surveys, overlays, etc.) on various interfaces, such as visited websites, desktops, or others.

Adware-delivered advertisements mainly promote online scams, untrustworthy/dangerous software, and even malware. Some of these ads can execute scripts to perform stealthy downloads/installations upon being clicked.

It is noteworthy that while legitimate products or services may be encountered via these advertisements – they are unlikely to be endorsed in this fashion by any official parties. It is most probable that this promotion is undertaken by scammers abusing the content's affiliate programs in order to obtain illegitimate commissions.

Advertising-supported software might not run intrusive advertisement campaigns if the browser/system or user geolocation is incompatible, specific websites are not visited, or other conditions are unsuitable. Regardless of whether ExpandedDivision displays ads – its presence on a system remains a threat to device integrity and user safety.

AdLoad applications often exhibit browser-hijacking capabilities – however, we did not observe these traits while analyzing ExpandedDivision.

Furthermore, adware typically collects private data, and this might apply to the ExpandedDivision app. Targeted information may include: visited URLs, viewed webpages, searched queries, Internet cookies, usernames/passwords, personally identifiable details, credit card numbers, and so on. The gathered data can then be shared with and/or sold to third-parties.

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

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by ExpandedDivision
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:AdAgent-L [Adw]), Combo Cleaner (Gen:Variant.Adware.MAC.AdLoad.8), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Synataeb.C), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Adload.h), 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

MicroProcess, PlatformExplorer, and DataControl are just a couple examples of adware that we have analyzed recently. While software within this classification usually appears innocuous and offers useful functionalities – it seldom operates as promised.

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

How did ExpandedDivision install on my computer?

"Bundling" – packing ordinary program installation setups with unwanted/malicious supplements – is used in adware distribution.

Downloading from dubious sources (e.g., freeware and third-party websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, etc.) and treating installations with negligence (e.g., ignoring terms, using "Quick/Easy" settings, etc.) – increase the risk of unintentionally allowing bundled content into the system.

Additionally, adware is endorsed on legitimate-looking download webpages and scam sites. The majority of users enter these pages via redirects caused by websites utilizing rogue advertising networks, intrusive ads, misspelled URLs, 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 consent.

How to avoid installation of adware?

We strongly advise researching software and downloading it only from official/trustworthy channels. Installation processes must be treated with care, e.g., by reading terms, investigating available options, using the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opting out of all supplementary apps, features, extensions, tools, etc.

Another recommendation is to be vigilant while browsing since fake and malicious online content typically appears legitimate and harmless. For example, intrusive ads may look innocuous – yet redirect to unreliable and questionable sites (e.g., scam-promoting, adult dating, gambling, pornography, etc.).

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

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

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

Video showing how to remove ExpandedDivision adware using Combo Cleaner:

ExpandedDivision adware removal:

Remove ExpandedDivision-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 severe issues, such as system infections, financial losses, etc. Furthermore, this software is classified as a privacy threat since it usually has data-tracking functionalities.

What does adware do?

Adware stands for advertising-supported software. It is designed to generate revenue through advertising. The software's primary functions can include displaying ads on various interfaces, generating redirects, and gathering vulnerable data.

How do adware developers generate revenue?

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

Will Combo Cleaner remove ExpandedDivision adware?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your device and eliminate installed adware-type apps. It must be mentioned that manual removal (unaided by security tools) might not be a perfect solution. In some instances, after the adware has been manually removed – various remnants (files) stay hidden within the system. These components might continue to run and cause problems. Hence, it is essential to eliminate advertising-supported software thoroughly.

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