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TerryLindsayMartin

Q: how to stop or block remove google adchoices

want to get rid of these pop up ads how?

Posted on Jun 22, 2015 11:32 AM

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Q: how to stop or block remove google adchoices

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Klaus1,Helpful

    Klaus1 Klaus1 Jun 22, 2015 11:56 AM in response to TerryLindsayMartin
    Level 8 (48,821 points)
    Jun 22, 2015 11:56 AM in response to TerryLindsayMartin

    Adware removal/prevention:

     

    http://www.adwaremedic.com

     

    as recommended by all senior contributors here, except one.

    (Should you receive posts disputing the trustworthiness of AdwareMedic from that one dissenter, consider this quote from its author, Thomas_r:

     

    If Linc's comments here cause anyone to think that AdwareMedic is not trustworthy, I'd ask you to discuss the matter with a local Apple tech, such as an Apple Genius at a local Apple Store. There's no need to take my word, Linc's, or anyone else's here, on the matter. An Apple representative can clear up the matter for you.)

     

    Linc will then argue that you should do your own research and not trust the word of any stranger about any software. IMO by coming here and asking for advice (which you are obviously free to accept or completely ignore) you have researched the question!

     

    Removal/prevention of Google cookies:

     

    http://www.google.com/privacy_ads.html


    <Edited By Host>

  • by Linc Davis,Helpful

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Jun 22, 2015 11:54 AM in response to TerryLindsayMartin
    Level 10 (207,926 points)
    Applications
    Jun 22, 2015 11:54 AM in response to TerryLindsayMartin

    There is no need to download anything to solve this problem. You may have installed a variant of the "VSearch" ad-injection malware. Follow Apple Support's instructions to remove it.

    If you have trouble following those instructions, see below.

    Malware is always changing to get around the defenses against it. This procedure works as of now, as far as I know. It may not work in the future. Anyone finding this comment a few days or more after it was posted should look for a more recent discussion, or start a new one.

    The VSearch malware tries to hide itself by varying the names of the files it installs. To remove it, you must first identify the naming pattern.

    Triple-click the line below on this page to select it, then copy the text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination  command-C:

    /Library/LaunchDaemons

    In the Finder, select

              Go Go to Folder...

    from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. You won't see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.

    A folder named "LaunchDaemons" may open. Look inside it for two files with names of the form

              com.something.daemon.plist

    and

               com.something.helper.plist

    Here something is a variable string of characters, which can be different in each VSearch infection. So far it has always been an alphanumeric string without punctuation, such as "cloud," "dot," "highway," "submarine," or "trusteddownloads." Sometimes it's a meaningless string such as "e8dec5ae7fc75c28" rather than a word. Sometimes the string is "apple," and then you must be especially careful not to delete the wrong files, because many built-in OS X files have similar names.

    If you find these files, leave the LaunchDaemons folder open, and open the following folder in the same way:

    /Library/LaunchAgents

    In this folder, there may be a file named

              com.something.agent.plist

    where the string something is the same as before.

    If you feel confident that you've identified the above files, back up all data, then drag just those three files—nothing else—to the Trash. You may be prompted for your administrator login password. Close the Finder windows and restart the computer.

    Don't delete the "LaunchAgents" or "LaunchDaemons" folder or anything else inside either one.

    The malware is now permanently inactivated, as long as you never reinstall it. You can stop here if you like, or you can remove two remaining components for the sake of completeness.

    Open this folder:

    /Library/Application Support

    If it has a subfolder named just

               something

    where something is the same string you saw before, drag that subfolder to the Trash and close the window.

    Don't delete the "Application Support" folder or anything else inside it.

    Finally, in this folder:

    /System/Library/Frameworks

    there may be an item named exactly

                v.framework

    It's actually a folder, though it has a different icon than usual. This item always has the above name; it doesn't vary. Drag it to the Trash and close the window.

    Don't delete the "Frameworks" folder or anything else inside it.

    If you didn't find the files or you're not sure about the identification, post what you found.

    If in doubt, or if you have no backups, change nothing at all.

    The trouble may have started when you downloaded and ran an application called "MPlayerX." That's the name of a legitimate free movie player, but the name is also used fraudulently to distribute VSearch. If there is an item with that name in the Applications folder, delete it. I don't recommend that you install the genuine "MPlayerX," because it's hosted on the rogue "SourceForge" website and is bundled with other malware.

    This trojan is often found on illegal websites that traffic in pirated content such as movies. If you, or anyone else who uses the computer, visit such sites and follow prompts to install software, you can expect more of the same, and worse, to follow. Never install any software that you downloaded from a bittorrent, or that was downloaded by someone else from an unknown source.

    In the Security & Privacy pane of System Preferences, select the General tab. The radio button marked Anywhere  should not be selected. If it is, click the lock icon to unlock the settings, then select one of the other buttons. After that, don't ignore a warning that you are about to run or install an application from an unknown developer.

    Then, still in System Preferences, open the App Store or Software Update pane and check the box marked

              Install system data files and security updates (OS X 10.10 or later)

    or

              Download updates automatically (OS X 10.9 or earlier)

    if it's not already checked.