Removing InitialEngine adware and the advertisements it delivers

What kind of application is InitialEngine?

Our researchers discovered InitialEngine during a routine inspection of file submissions to the VirusTotal platform. After examining this piece of software, we learned that it is adware from the AdLoad malware family. InitialEngine is designed to display ads and may possess other harmful capabilities.

InitialEngine adware overview

Adware stands for advertising-supported software. It enables the placement of advertisements on visited websites and/or different interfaces. This third-party graphical content mainly endorses online scams, unreliable/hazardous software, and potential malware. Some of the ads can even be triggered (i.e., by being clicked) to execute scripts that perform downloads/installations without user permission.

It must be mentioned that while legitimate products or services may be encountered through these adverts – they are unlikely to be promoted by their actual developers or other official parties. It is most probable that this promotion is undertaken by scammers seeking to acquire illegitimate commissions through the abuse of the content's affiliate programs.

Adware might not deliver intrusive advertisement campaigns if the browser/system is incompatible, specific websites are not visited, or other conditions are unsuitable. Even if InitialEngine does not display ads – the app's presence on a system endangers device integrity and user safety.

While we have found many instances of AdLoad adware with browser-hijacking functionalities – the InitialEngine application did not exhibit these qualities during our analysis.

Furthermore, advertising-supported software typically has data-tracking abilities, and this might be true of InitialEngine. Targeted information may include: visited URLs, viewed pages, searched queries, Internet cookies, usernames/passwords, personally identifiable details, finance-related data, and so on. This sensitive information can then be shared with and/or sold to third-parties.

To summarize, software like InitialEngine may cause system infections, severe privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by InitialEngine
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

Adware usually appears legitimate and innocuous. It can also offer a wide variety of "useful" and "advantageous" functionalities. However, these functions seldom work as promised, and in most cases – they do not work at all.

It must be stressed that even if a piece of software operates exactly as indicated by its promotional material – that is not a guarantee of legitimacy or safety.

We have examined thousands of adware-type apps; VisualFlexibility, ProcesserCache, ChipsOverallKind, StandartPartition, and ExtendedCommand are merely some of our latest finds.

How did InitialEngine install on my computer?

Advertising-supported software can be bundled with regular programs. The risk of unintentionally permitting access for bundled content into the device is increased by downloading from dubious channels (e.g., freeware and third-party websites, P2P sharing networks, etc.) and by treating installations with negligence (e.g., skipping steps, using "Easy/Quick" settings, etc.).

This software could also have "official" promotional webpages, and it is endorsed on deceptive/scam sites. Most visitors to these pages access them via redirects caused by websites employing rogue advertising networks, intrusive ads, spam browser notifications, misspelled URLs, or installed adware (with browser force-opening abilities).

Some intrusive adverts can execute scripts to perform stealthy downloads/installations upon being clicked. These advertisements are used to proliferate adware as well.

How to avoid installation of adware?

It is important to always research software before downloading or purchasing it. We recommend downloading only from official and trustworthy sources. When installing, it is crucial to read terms, explore available options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of all additional apps, extensions, tools, and so forth.

Another recommendation is to be careful while browsing since fake and malicious online content usually appears genuine and harmless. For example, while intrusive ads may look ordinary/innocuous – they redirect to highly questionable sites (e.g., gambling, pornography, scam-promoting, adult dating, etc.).

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

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

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

Video showing how to remove InitialEngine adware using Combo Cleaner:

InitialEngine adware removal:

Remove InitialEngine-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 cause a variety of serious problems through the advertisements it displays (e.g., system infections, privacy issues, financial losses, etc.). The presence of this software on a device can decrease browsing quality and system performance. Adware is also classified as a privacy threat, as it usually has data-tracking functionalities.

What does adware do?

Adware stands for advertising-supported software. Its purpose is to generate revenue for its developers by feeding users with undesirable and harmful advertisements. The software can display this third-party graphical content (e.g., pop-ups, overlays, banners, and other ads) on various interfaces. Additionally, some adware types can generate redirects and collect private information.

How do adware developers generate revenue?

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

Will Combo Cleaner remove InitialEngine adware?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your device and eliminate all adware-type applications present. Keep in mind that manual removal (unaided by security programs) might not be an ideal solution. In some instances, file leftovers remain hidden within the system after the adware has been manually removed. Furthermore, the remaining components might continue to run and cause issues. Therefore, thorough software removal is paramount.

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