Removing the ActivityOverall adware-type application from your Mac

What kind of application is ActivityOverall?

Our researchers found the ActivityOverall app while inspecting new file submissions to the VirusTotal site. Upon examination, we determined that it is adware from the AdLoad malware family. ActivityOverall is designed to generate revenue for its developers.

ActivityOverall adware overview

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

However, specific conditions may be necessary for this software to work as designed (e.g., compatible browser/system or user geolocation, visits to particular sites, etc.). Yet even if ActivityOverall (or other adware) does not display advertisements – it remains a threat to system safety and user privacy.

The ads delivered by adware can promote various scams, untrustworthy/hazardous software, and even malware. Some of these adverts can perform stealthy downloads/installations upon being clicked.

It must be mentioned that any genuine products/services encountered via these advertisements are most likely endorsed by scammers abusing their affiliate programs to acquire illegitimate commissions.

AdLoad applications often possess browser-hijacking capabilities – however, ActivityOverall did not exhibit these traits during our analysis.

Furthermore, advertising-supported software usually gathers private information, and ActivityOverall might have such data-tracking functionalities. Information of interest may include: browsing and search engine histories, Internet cookies, log-in credentials, personally identifiable details, finance-related data, and so forth. This sensitive information can then be shared with and/or sold to third-parties.

In summary, the presence of software like ActivityOverall on devices can result in system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by ActivityOverall
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.Adload.m), 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

EntryBox, CompanyDynamic, ConnectedTools, and CenterArchive are some examples of adware-type apps we have examined recently.

Software within this category tends to appear legitimate and useful. It may lure users into downloading/installing by promising various handy features. However, these functionalities seldom work as advertised, and in most cases – they are completely nonoperational.

Remember that even if an application or a browser extension works as indicated by its promotional material – that does not guarantee its legitimacy or safety.

How did ActivityOverall install on my computer?

Adware can be bundled with (packed alongside) regular programs. Download from dubious channels (e.g., freeware and third-party websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, etc.) and rushed installations (e.g., skipped steps and sections, used "Quick/Easy" settings, etc.) – increase the threat of unintentionally permitting access for bundled content into the system.

Furthermore, adware is endorsed on legitimate-looking promotional pages and scam sites. They are mainly accessed via redirects generated by intrusive ads, misspelled URLs, websites using rogue advertising networks, spam browser notifications, and installed adware (with the ability to force-open webpages).

Intrusive advertisements also spread advertising-supported software. When clicked on, some of the adverts can execute scripts to perform downloads/installations without user consent.

How to avoid installation of adware?

It is important to always research software before downloading/purchasing. Additionally, all downloads must be made from official and trustworthy sources. When installing, we recommend reading terms, investigating available options, using the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opting out of all supplementary apps, tools, extensions, and so forth.

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

In case of continuous encounters with adverts and/or redirects of this kind, inspect the system and immediately remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with ActivityOverall, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

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

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

Video showing how to remove ActivityOverall adware using Combo Cleaner:

ActivityOverall adware removal:

Remove ActivityOverall-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 may endorse content capable of causing severe issues (e.g., system infections, financial losses, etc.). Its presence on a device can decrease browsing quality and system performance. Adware usually has data-tracking abilities – therefore, it is classed as a privacy threat.

What does adware do?

Adware stands for advertising-supported software. It operates by displaying ads on various interfaces. Some types are also capable of generating redirects and collecting sensitive data.

How do adware developers generate revenue?

Adware generates revenue predominantly via affiliate programs by endorsing content (e.g., sites, products, services, etc.).

Will Combo Cleaner remove ActivityOverall adware?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan computers and eliminate detected adware-type applications. It is noteworthy that manual removal (performed without the aid of security programs) might not be ideal. In some instances, various file leftovers stay hidden within the system – after the adware has been manually removed. The remaining components might continue to run and cause issues. Therefore, advertising-supported software must be eliminated thoroughly.

▼ Show Discussion