jtgillen

Q: Adware problems and problems with Adware Medic

I have downloaded and uninstalled Adware Medic three times.  I cannot scan my 2013 MacBook Retina Pro, running Yosemite 10.3.3.  I get the pop-up: "Unknown error in scanning process NilObjectException (0) - Any ideas on how to get it to scan?  Thanks!

Macbook, Mac OS X (10.5)

Posted on Jun 2, 2015 7:27 AM

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Q: Adware problems and problems with Adware Medic

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  • by D.Cohen,Helpful

    D.Cohen D.Cohen Jun 2, 2015 7:30 AM in response to jtgillen
    Level 6 (8,424 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 2, 2015 7:30 AM in response to jtgillen

    Try using this adware removal tool:

    http://www.thesafemac.com/downloads/TSMART.zip

     

    You can also remove the adware manually using the steps provided by Apple: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203987


    Also, I believe it would be a good idea to install AdBlock.


    Hope this helps!

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Jun 2, 2015 7:39 AM in response to jtgillen
    Level 10 (208,000 points)
    Applications
    Jun 2, 2015 7:39 AM in response to jtgillen

    You can't rely on any software to remove malware automatically. Please describe the underlying problem.

  • by jtgillen,

    jtgillen jtgillen Jun 2, 2015 7:58 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 2, 2015 7:58 AM in response to Linc Davis

    I have been on Macs since the 16MB Classic c 1991, and this is the first problem I have had.  I THINK http://www.thesafemac.com/downloads/TSMART.zip may have solved the problem.  While working with Firefox, I would use a link to the next page, to spellcheck and save, or even to log in or log out and would get a vertical and horizontal row of adds from AdChoice that I would have to close to continue working. It was driving me crazy.  Apple Support recommended Adware Medic, but I kept getting the error message: "Unknown error in the scanning process NilObjectException (0)-"  We shall see if TSMART has made me ad free.  Thanks!

  • by Kurt Lang,

    Kurt Lang Kurt Lang Jun 2, 2015 8:03 AM in response to jtgillen
    Level 8 (37,946 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 2, 2015 8:03 AM in response to jtgillen

    Interesting. Thomas stopped working on the original adware removal tool TSMART some time ago because it was getting to be too difficult to maintain. So he developed AdwareMedic to replace it. I'm sure he'd be interested in knowing what the older, obsolete tool fixed the new one didn't so he can fix it.

  • by cdhw,

    cdhw cdhw Jun 2, 2015 8:05 AM in response to jtgillen
    Level 4 (2,668 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Jun 2, 2015 8:05 AM in response to jtgillen

    Contact its author:

     

         http://www.thesafemac.com/contact/

     

    C.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Jun 4, 2015 5:38 PM in response to jtgillen
    Level 10 (208,000 points)
    Applications
    Jun 4, 2015 5:38 PM in response to jtgillen

    If you have installed adware more than once in your life, the problem has not been solved, and it will never be solved if you continue to rely on software rather than on safe computing practices for protection. What you've done is very much a step in the wrong direction.

     

    <Edited by Host>

  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. Jun 2, 2015 9:42 AM in response to jtgillen
    Level 7 (30,924 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 2, 2015 9:42 AM in response to jtgillen

    jtgillen wrote:

     

    I get the pop-up: "Unknown error in scanning process NilObjectException (0) - Any ideas on how to get it to scan?

     

    I need to fix that error message so it gives better information. It is caused by a problem accessing Safari's Extensions folder. This is typically the result of permissions problems in your home folder, interference by anti-virus software, or, in some cases, a failing hard drive.

     

    To solve the permissions issue, see:

     

    http://www.adwaremedic.com/kb/permissions_issues.php

     

    Follow the instructions there for repairing the home folder permissions. (Repairing permissions with Disk Utility will not solve this particular problem.)

     

    If that doesn't help, try restarting in safe mode:

     

    Try safe mode if your Mac doesn't finish starting up - Apple Support

     

    While in safe mode, try scanning with AdwareMedic.

     

    If none of that works, please feel free to contact me for additional assistance, either here or via e-mail:

     

    http://www.thesafemac.com/contact/

     

    Note that TSMART is very old, and it's very unlikely that it removed everything from your system that needs to be removed.

     

    (Fair disclosure: I may receive compensation from links to my sites, TheSafeMac.com and AdwareMedic.com.)

  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. Jun 2, 2015 9:45 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 7 (30,924 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 2, 2015 9:45 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Linc Davis wrote:

     

    Apple Support personnel will say anything to get you off the phone.

     

    That is a highly unfair characterization of Apple Support personnel. I'm sure it's true in some cases, people being people. However, I've personally spoken to more than 100 different Apple Support personnel who had questions or comments about adware, and in every one of these cases, they had the best interests of their customers in mind.

  • by jtgillen,

    jtgillen jtgillen Jun 2, 2015 10:24 AM in response to thomas_r.
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 2, 2015 10:24 AM in response to thomas_r.

    Hello Thomas,

    I reset password - same error message when I tried to run Adware Medic

    Started in safe mode - same error message when I tried to run Adware Medic

    I am open to any and all suggestions.  Fortunately, I have always been careful about links, pop-ups, and emails, so this has been a new adventure!

  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. Jun 2, 2015 10:47 AM in response to jtgillen
    Level 7 (30,924 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 2, 2015 10:47 AM in response to jtgillen

    jtgillen wrote:

     

    I reset password - same error message when I tried to run Adware Medic

    Started in safe mode - same error message when I tried to run Adware Medic

     

    Why don't you drop me a line privately? If you're willing, I'd like you to run some tests without feeling awkward about posting the results on a public site.

  • by jtgillen,

    jtgillen jtgillen Jun 2, 2015 10:47 AM in response to cdhw
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 2, 2015 10:47 AM in response to cdhw

    Thanks cdhw,

    The Adware site said to ask here so that more than one individual could be helped by the question not covered already.

  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. Jun 2, 2015 10:48 AM in response to jtgillen
    Level 7 (30,924 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 2, 2015 10:48 AM in response to jtgillen

    Also, note that you weren't supposed to reset the password, you were supposed to use the Reset Password utility to reset home folder permissions and ACLs. Is that what you did?

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Jun 2, 2015 12:04 PM in response to jtgillen
    Level 10 (208,000 points)
    Applications
    Jun 2, 2015 12:04 PM in response to jtgillen
    I have always been careful about links, pop-ups, and emails

    Then you have no use for "adwaremedic."

  • by cdhw,Helpful

    cdhw cdhw Jun 2, 2015 12:20 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 4 (2,668 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Jun 2, 2015 12:20 PM in response to Linc Davis

    Apple Support Communities Use Agreement

     

    1. Be polite. Everyone should feel comfortable reading Submissions and participating in discussions. Apple will not tolerate flames or other inappropriate statements, material, or links. Most often, a "flame" is simply a statement that is taunting and thus arbitrarily inflammatory. [...]
    2. Post constructive comments and questions. Unless otherwise noted, your Submission should either be a technical support question or a technical support answer.

     

    C.

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