How to remove LoadCoordinator adware and the ads it displays

What kind of application is LoadCoordinator?

Our research team discovered LoadCoordinator while checking our new submissions to the VirusTotal site. After inspecting this app, we determined that it is adware from the AdLoad malware family. LoadCoordinator is designed to generate revenue for its developers by feeding users with unwanted and potentially malicious advertisements.

LoadCoordinator adware overview

Adware stands for advertising-supported software. It operates by displaying third-party graphical content (e.g., pop-ups, coupons, surveys, overlays, etc.) on visited websites and/or other interfaces.

The advertisements primarily promote online scams, unreliable/harmful software, and even malware. Some adverts can be triggered (i.e., by being clicked) to execute scripts that perform sneaky downloads/installations.

It is noteworthy that while legitimate products or services may be encountered via these ads – they are unlikely to be endorsed by any 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.

Advertising-supported software might not deliver intrusive advert campaigns if the browser/system is incompatible, specific sites are not visited, or other conditions are unsuitable. Yet even if LoadCoordinator does not display advertisements – its presence on a system remains a threat.

AdLoad applications often have browser hijacker abilities – however, we did not observe these qualities while testing the LoadCoordinator adware.

Additionally, this rogue app likely gathers sensitive information. Adware usually targets browsing and search engine histories, Internet cookies, account log-in credentials, personally identifiable details, credit card numbers, etc. The collected data can be monetized through sale to third-parties.

In summary, software like LoadCoordinator may cause system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by LoadCoordinator
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:AdAgent-DH [Adw]), Combo Cleaner (Gen:Variant.Adware.MAC.Adload.23), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Synataeb.H), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Searchpro), 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

CacheOperator, OperationRate, ProgramQuest, DisplayParameter, and AnySearchService are just some examples of adware we have analyzed recently.

Software within this classification rarely appears illegitimate or otherwise suspicious; it tends to look ordinary and harmless. Users may be lured into downloading/installing adware by promises of various "advantageous" functionalities. However, these functions seldom work as promised, and in most cases – they are utterly nonoperational.

Note that even if an application or a browser extension works as indicated by its promotional material – that is not irrefutable proof of either legitimacy or safety.

How did LoadCoordinator install on my computer?

Adware is endorsed on legitimate-looking promotional webpages and scam sites. Users primarily enter these pages via redirects generated by mistyped URLs, websites utilizing rogue advertising networks, intrusive ads, spam browser notifications, or installed adware (with the ability to force-open webpages).

Advertising-supported software can also be bundled with regular programs. Download from untrustworthy channels (e.g., freeware and free file-hosting sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, etc.) and rushed installations (e.g., ignored terms, skipped steps, used "Quick/Easy" settings, etc.) – increase the risk of unintentionally allowing bundled content into the system.

Additionally, adware is proliferated by intrusive advertisements. Once clicked on, some of the adverts can execute scripts to perform downloads/installations without user permission.

How to avoid installation of adware?

We recommend researching software and downloading it only from official/verified sources. Installation processes must be treated with caution, e.g., by reading terms, exploring possible options, using the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opting out of all supplementary apps, extensions, features, tools, and so forth.

Another recommendation is to be careful while browsing since fraudulent and dangerous online content typically appears legitimate and innocuous. For example, intrusive ads may look harmless – yet redirect to highly questionable websites (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 dubious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with LoadCoordinator, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

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

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

Video showing how to remove LoadCoordinator adware using Combo Cleaner:

LoadCoordinator adware removal:

Remove LoadCoordinator-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 displays adverts that promote content capable of causing severe issues (e.g., system infections, financial losses, etc.). It can decrease browsing quality and system performance. Furthermore, adware usually collects sensitive data – hence, it is classified as a privacy threat.

What does adware do?

Adware stands for advertising-supported software. It is designed to run intrusive advertisement campaigns. This software enables the placement of ads on various interfaces, and some types can also force-open webpages and gather vulnerable information.

How do adware developers generate revenue?

Adware developers generate revenue through content promotion (e.g., websites, products, software, services, etc.). Most of the profit comes from affiliate programs.

Will Combo Cleaner remove LoadCoordinator adware?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your device and eliminate all adware-type applications present. It must be mentioned that manual removal (unaided by security tools) might not be a perfect solution. In some cases, after the advertising-supported software has been manually removed – file leftovers remain hidden within the system. These components might continue to run and cause problems. Therefore, adware must be removed thoroughly.

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