How to eliminate InitialClick adware from the operating system

What kind of application is InitialClick?

During a routine inspection of new file submissions to the VirusTotal site, our researchers discovered the InitialClick app. Upon examination, we learned that this piece of software is adware belonging to the AdLoad malware family. InitialClick operates by delivering intrusive advertisement campaigns, and it may have other harmful capabilities.

InitialClick adware overview

Adware stands for advertising-supported software. As this classification implies, the software aims to generate revenue for its developers through advertising. Typically, adware operates by displaying third-party graphical content (e.g., pop-ups, banners, surveys, overlays, coupons, and other adverts) on various interfaces.

It must be mentioned that this software might not run intrusive advert campaigns if the browser/system or user geolocation is incompatible, specific websites are not visited, or other conditions are unsuitable. Regardless of whether InitialClick delivers advertisements – it remains a threat to system integrity and user safety.

Adware-displayed ads often promote scams, untrustworthy/hazardous software, and even malware. When clicked on, some intrusive advertisements can execute scripts to perform stealthy downloads/installations.

Note that while legitimate products/services may be encountered via these adverts – they are 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.

AdLoad applications commonly have browser-hijacking abilities – however, we did not observe these qualities while analyzing InitialClick.

Furthermore, advertising-supported software usually has data-tracking functionalities, and this might apply to the InitialClick app. Information of interest may include: browsing and search engine histories, Internet cookies, log-in credentials, personally identifiable details, credit card numbers, and so on. The collected data can be sold to third-parties or otherwise abused for profit.

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

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by InitialClick
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AG [Adw]), Combo Cleaner (Gen:Variant.Adware.MAC.AdLoad.13), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Synataeb.G), 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

Wappo.app, ChannelDevice, EssentialManager, UltraApplication, ProductCommand – are merely some examples of adware we have investigated recently.

Advertising-supported software typically appears legitimate and innocuous. Users may be enticed into downloading/installing adware by promises of "useful" and "advantageous" functionalities. However, these features seldom work as promised, and in most cases – they do not work at all.

It must be mentioned that even if an application or a browser extension operates exactly as indicated by its promotional material – that is not definitive proof of either legitimacy or safety.

How did InitialClick install on my computer?

Adware is endorsed on legitimate-looking promotional webpages and scam sites. Most visitors access these pages via redirects generated by websites using rogue advertising networks, intrusive ads, spam browser notifications, mistyped URLs, or installed adware (with browser force-opening abilities).

Advertising-supported software can also be bundled with (packed alongside) ordinary programs. The risk of inadvertently allowing bundled content into the device is increased by downloading from dubious channels (e.g., freeware and free file-hosting sites, P2P sharing networks, etc.) and by treating installations with negligence (e.g., ignoring terms, using "Easy/Quick" settings, etc.).

Additionally, adware is proliferated by intrusive advertisements. Some of these adverts can be triggered (i.e., by being clicked) to execute scripts that perform sneaky downloads/installations.

How to avoid installation of adware?

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

Another recommendation is to be vigilant while browsing, as fraudulent and dangerous online content usually appears legitimate and innocuous. For example, while intrusive ads may look harmless – they redirect to highly questionable websites (e.g., scam-promoting, gambling, pornography, adult dating, etc.).

In case of continuous encounters with adverts/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 InitialClick, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

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

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

Video showing how to remove InitialClick adware using Combo Cleaner:

InitialClick adware removal:

Remove InitialClick-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-delivered advertisements promote content capable of causing serious problems (e.g., system infections, privacy issues, financial losses, etc.). This software can decrease browsing quality and system performance. Furthermore, adware usually collects vulnerable information – hence, it is considered to be a threat to user privacy.

What does adware do?

Adware stands for advertising-supported software. Its primary functions can include displaying third-party graphical content (ads) on various interfaces, generating redirects, and gathering private data.

How do adware developers generate revenue?

Adware developers profit primarily via affiliate programs by endorsing various sites, software, services, products, and other content.

Will Combo Cleaner remove InitialClick adware?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan systems and eliminate all adware-type apps detected. Keep in mind that manual removal (performed without security tools) might be ineffective. In some cases, various file remnants stay hidden within the system after the adware has been manually removed. What is more, the remaining components might continue to run and cause issues. Therefore, it is paramount to eliminate advertising-supported software thoroughly.

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