How to eliminate TaskSite adware from your Mac

What kind of application is TaskSite?

While investigating new file submissions to VirusTotal, our researchers found the TaskSite adware. This application belongs to the AdLoad malware family. Its purpose is to run intrusive advertisement campaigns. However, adware can possess other harmful capabilities aside from displaying ads.

TaskSite adware overview

Adware stands for advertising-supported software. It typically operates by enabling the placement of third-party graphical content (e.g., pop-ups, coupons, banners, surveys, overlays, etc.) on visited websites or other interfaces.

However, certain conditions may be necessary for this software to work as intended. Yet even if TaskSite does not deliver advertisements – it endangers device integrity and user safety regardless.

Adware-displayed advertisements can endorse various scams, unreliable/dangerous software, and even malware. Stealthy downloads are another concern with this software, as some adverts can carry them out once clicked on.

It is pertinent to mention that while legitimate products or services may be encountered via these ads – 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 motivated to acquire illegitimate commissions by abusing the endorsed content's affiliate programs.

AdLoad apps commonly have browser-hijacking functionalities – however, TaskSite did not exhibit these qualities during testing.

What is more, advertising-supported software usually has data-tracking abilities, and this might be true of TaskSite. Information of interest may include: URLs visited, webpages viewed, search queries typed, Internet cookies, account log-in credentials, personally identifiable details, credit card numbers, and so forth. The gathered information can be sold to third-parties or otherwise abused for profit.

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

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by TaskSite
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:PuAgent-H [PUP]), Combo Cleaner (Gen:Variant.Adware.MAC.Adload.27), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Synataeb.A), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Adload.g), 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

SaveScheduler, MachineAnalyzer, Proboscideous.app, MegabyteExecute, ObsessionLandscape, and SourceUpdater are just some of our newly found adware-type applications.

Advertising-supported software seldom appears suspicious – it tends to look ordinary and harmless. Users may be enticed into downloading/installing adware by promises of various "handy" functionalities. However, these features rarely work as promised, and in most cases – they are utterly nonoperational.

Remember that even if a piece of software works exactly as indicated by its promotional material – that alone does not prove legitimacy or safety.

How did TaskSite install on my computer?

Adware can have "official" promotional pages, and they are endorsed on scam websites. They are most commonly accessed via redirects generated by sites that utilize rogue advertising networks, intrusive adverts, spam browser notifications, misspelled URLs, or installed adware (with the ability to force-open webpages).

Furthermore, advertising-supported software can be bundled with ordinary programs. The threat of inadvertently permitting access for bundled content into the system is increased by downloading from dubious channels (e.g., freeware and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, etc.) and by approaching installations with negligence (e.g., ignoring terms, skipping steps, using "Easy/Quick" settings, etc.).

Intrusive advertisements also proliferate adware. Some of these ads can execute scripts to perform sneaky downloads/installations upon being clicked.

How to avoid installation of adware?

It is important to research software before downloading or purchasing. All downloads must be made from official and trustworthy sources. When installing, we advise reading terms, exploring available options, using the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opting out of all additions (e.g., apps, extensions, features, etc.).

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

If you keep encountering adverts 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 TaskSite, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

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

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

Video showing how to remove TaskSite adware using Combo Cleaner:

TaskSite adware removal:

Remove TaskSite-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 ads may promote content that can cause system infections, privacy issues, financial losses, and other serious problems. The software's presence on a device can decrease browsing quality and system performance. Additionally, adware is classed as a privacy threat since it usually has data-tracking functionalities.

What does adware do?

Adware stands for advertising-supported software. As the naming implies, its purpose is to generate revenue for its developers/publishers through advertising. The software's primary functions can include displaying ads on various interfaces, generating redirects, and collecting private data.

How do adware developers generate revenue?

Adware developers profit predominantly via affiliate programs by promoting content (e.g., sites, software, products, services, etc.).

Will Combo Cleaner remove TaskSite adware?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and eliminate installed adware-type apps. It is noteworthy that manual removal (performed without security tools) might not be an ideal solution. In some instances, various file remnants stay hidden within the system after the adware has been manually removed. Furthermore, the remaining components might continue to run and cause problems. Therefore, it is essential to remove advertising-supported software thoroughly.

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