Removal instructions for ApplicationPlatform adware and the ads it delivers

What kind of application is ApplicationPlatform?

Our research team discovered ApplicationPlatform while browsing new file submissions to the VirusTotal website. After analyzing this app, we determined that it is advertising-supported software (adware). ApplicationPlatform belongs to the AdLoad malware family. The application is designed to deliver intrusive ad campaigns.

ApplicationPlatform adware overview

The purpose of adware is to generate revenue for its developers through advertising. It is typically achieved by displaying ads on visited websites, desktops, or other interfaces.

The advertisements can endorse online scams, untrustworthy/harmful software, and even malware. Once clicked on, some intrusive adverts can execute scripts to perform sneaky downloads/installations.

It is noteworthy that any genuine content encountered via these ads is most likely promoted by scammers abusing its affiliate programs to acquire illegitimate commissions.

Specific conditions may be necessary for adware to work as intended (e.g., compatible browser/system or user geolocation, visits to particular sites, etc.). However, even if ApplicationPlatform does not deliver advertisements – it remains a threat to device/user safety.

In the past, we have found many AdLoad applications with browser-hijacking functionalities, but we did not observe these qualities during our analysis of ApplicationPlatform.

Advertising-supported software usually possesses data-tracking abilities, and this might apply to ApplicationPlatform. Information of interest may include: visited URLs, viewed webpages, searched queries, browser cookies, log-in credentials, personally identifiable details, finance-related data, and so on. The gathered information can be sold to third-parties or otherwise abused for profit.

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

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by ApplicationPlatform
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AG [Adw]), Combo Cleaner (Gen:Variant.Adware.MAC.Adload.31), 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

We have investigated countless adware-type apps; GlobalConnection, CoreInterface, AssistiveEntry, and BalanceDesktop are just some examples.

Advertising-supported software rarely looks illegitimate or otherwise suspicious – it tends to appear ordinary and innocuous. Users may be enticed into downloading/installing adware by promises of various functionalities. However, these functions seldom work as promised, and in most cases – they do not work at all.

Remember that even if a piece of software operates as indicated by its promotional material – that is not irrefutable proof of either legitimacy or safety.

How did ApplicationPlatform install on my computer?

Adware is promoted on legitimate-looking download pages and scam websites. Users primarily access these webpages via redirects generated by intrusive ads, sites that utilize rogue advertising networks, mistyped URLs, spam browser notifications, or installed adware (with browser force-opening capabilities).

Additionally, advertising-supported software can be bundled with regular programs. The risk of inadvertently allowing bundled content into the system is increased by downloading from untrustworthy sources (e.g., freeware and third-party websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, etc.) and by treating installations with negligence (e.g., ignoring terms, using "Quick/Easy" settings, etc.).

Adware is also spread by intrusive advertisements. Some of these adverts can be triggered (i.e., by being clicked) to execute scripts that perform downloads/installations without user consent.

How to avoid installation of adware?

We strongly recommend researching software prior to downloading or purchasing. Furthermore, all downloads must be performed from official and verified channels. Installation processes have to be approached with caution, e.g., by reading terms, investigating available options, using the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opting out of all supplementary apps, extensions, features, etc.

We also advise being careful while browsing, as fraudulent and malicious online content typically appears legitimate. For example, while intrusive ads may look ordinary/harmless – they redirect users to unreliable and questionable sites (e.g., scam-promoting, gambling, pornography, adult dating, etc.).

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

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

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

Video showing how to remove ApplicationPlatform adware using Combo Cleaner:

ApplicationPlatform adware removal:

Remove ApplicationPlatform-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?

The presence of adware on a device can result in a diminished browsing experience and system performance. Adware-displayed advertisements promote content capable of causing severe issues (e.g., system infections, financial losses, etc.). Furthermore, this software is considered to be a privacy threat since it usually possesses data-tracking functionalities.

What does adware do?

Adware stands for advertising-supported software. It typically operates by feeding users with unwanted and possibly malicious ads, i.e., the software displays third-party graphical content on various interfaces. Additionally, some adware types generate redirects and collect private data.

How do adware developers generate revenue?

Adware developers generate revenue by promoting various websites, software, products, services, and other content. The majority of the profit is made through affiliate programs.

Will Combo Cleaner remove ApplicationPlatform adware?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan systems and eliminate all adware-type applications that are installed. Keep in mind that manual removal (performed without the aid of security software) might be ineffective. In some cases, after the adware has been manually removed – various components (files) stay hidden within the system. What is more, these remnants might continue running and causing issues. Therefore, it is essential to eliminate advertising-supported software thoroughly.

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