Bob e. Williams

Q: What is Mac Adware Cleaner?

     Unfortunately (I think) I started to download "Mac Adware Cleaner" when it popped up on my iMac (21.5", Mid 2014)

with OS X El Capitan Ver. 10.11.2 operating system.

     I stopped at some point and closed it out. I now have an "Mac Adware Cleaner" icon on my Launchpad.

Mac Adware Cleaner App .png

     I would like to get rid of it and any stuff it might have put on my computer. I am not an expert at all, but I learned from this.

>     So is it dangerous?

>     How do I get rid of it?

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.2)

Posted on Jan 22, 2016 4:53 PM

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Q: What is Mac Adware Cleaner?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by ChitlinsCC,Helpful

    ChitlinsCC ChitlinsCC Jan 22, 2016 5:06 PM in response to Bob e. Williams
    Level 5 (7,534 points)
    Notebooks
    Jan 22, 2016 5:06 PM in response to Bob e. Williams

    Malwarebytes | Free Anti-Malware Detection & Removal Software for Apple Macintosh Computers

    SNIPped Allan's post

    ===

     

     

    Mac Adware Cleaner is made by the folks who make Advanced Mac Cleaner, which is a junk app that is frequently distributed with adware. (Hmm, ironic, huh... they sneak in with adware, then show you pop-ups to help you get rid of the adware they rode in with.) The pop-up you're seeing is caused by Advanced Mac Cleaner, which probably means you've also got some other kind of adware on your system.

     

    Allan's suggestion will help you remove both Advanced Mac Cleaner and whatever adware was installed alongside it.

     

    Thomas Reed

    Director of Mac Offerings, Malwarebytes

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Jan 22, 2016 7:57 PM in response to Bob e. Williams
    Level 10 (207,926 points)
    Applications
    Jan 22, 2016 7:57 PM in response to Bob e. Williams

    First, never use any kind of "anti-virus" or "anti-malware" software on a Mac. That's how you cause problems, not how you solve them.

    You may have installed ad-injection malware ("adware").

    Back up all data first.

    Some of the most common types of adware can be removed by following Apple's instructions. But before you follow those instructions, you can attempt an automatic removal.

    If you're not already running the latest version of OS X ("El Capitan"), updating or upgrading in the App Store may cause the adware to be removed automatically. If you're already running the latest version of El Capitan, you can nevertheless download the current updater from the Apple Support Downloads page and run it. Again, some kinds of malware will be removed—not all. There is no such thing as automatic removal of all possible malware, either by OS X or by third-party software. That's why you can't rely on software to protect you.

    If the malware is removed in your case, you'll still need to make changes to the way you use the computer to protect yourself from further attacks. Ask if you need guidance.

    If the malware is not removed automatically, and you can't remove it yourself by following Apple's instructions, see below.

    This easy procedure will detect any kind of adware that I know of. Deactivating it is a separate, and even easier, procedure.

    Some legitimate software is ad-supported and may display ads in its own windows or in a web browser while it's running. That's not malware and it may not show up. Also, some websites carry intrusive popup ads that may be mistaken for adware.

    If none of your web browsers is working well enough to carry out these instructions, restart the computer in safe mode. That will disable the malware temporarily.

    Step 1

    Please 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/LaunchAgents

    In the Finder, select

              Go Go to Folder...

    from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. Press return. Either a folder named "LaunchAgents" will open, or you'll get a notice that the folder can't be found. If the folder isn't found, go to the next step.

    If the folder does open, press the key combination command-2 to select list view, if it's not already selected. Please don't skip this step.

    There should be a column in the Finder window headed Date Modified. Click that heading twice to sort the contents by date with the newest at the top. If necessary, enlarge the window so that all of the contents are showing.

    Follow the instructions in this support article under the heading "Take a screenshot of a window." An image file with a name beginning in "Screen Shot" should be saved to the Desktop. Open the screenshot and make sure it's readable. If not, capture a smaller part of the screen showing only what needs to be shown.

    Start a reply to this message. Drag the image file into the editing window to upload it. You can also include text in the reply.

    Leave the folder open for now.

    Step 2

    Do as in Step 1 with this line:

    /Library/LaunchAgents

    The folder that may open will have the same name, but is not the same, as the one in Step 1. As in that step, the folder may not exist.

    Step 3

    Repeat with this line:

    /Library/LaunchDaemons

    This time the folder will be named "LaunchDaemons."

    Step 4

    Open the Safari preferences window and select the Extensions tab. If any extensions are listed, post a screenshot. If there are no extensions, or if you can't launch Safari, skip this step.

    Step 5

    If you use the Firefox or Chrome browser, open its extension list and do as in Step 4.

  • by conniefromoakland,

    conniefromoakland conniefromoakland Jun 3, 2016 8:47 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 3, 2016 8:47 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Screen Shot 2016-06-03 at 08.41.44.pngScreen Shot 2016-06-03 at 08.40.32.pngScreen Shot 2016-06-03 at 08.41.44.pngScreen Shot 2016-06-03 at 08.39.17.png

  • by conniefromoakland,

    conniefromoakland conniefromoakland Jun 3, 2016 8:52 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 3, 2016 8:52 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Sorry, I accidentally sent an email without text.  This is in reply to your explanation for Bob e. Williams.  I was hoping you could help me get rid of adware.  Here are the Launch files.  Thanks!

     

    Screen Shot 2016-06-03 at 08.41.44.pngScreen Shot 2016-06-03 at 08.40.32.pngScreen Shot 2016-06-03 at 08.39.17.png

  • by pinkstones,

    pinkstones pinkstones Jun 3, 2016 8:58 AM in response to conniefromoakland
    Level 5 (4,209 points)
    Safari
    Jun 3, 2016 8:58 AM in response to conniefromoakland

    Please start your own thread.

  • by carolinefromel cajon,

    carolinefromel cajon carolinefromel cajon Sep 7, 2016 6:59 PM in response to conniefromoakland
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 7, 2016 6:59 PM in response to conniefromoakland

    Screen Shot 2016-09-07 at 6.47.00 PM.png

    Screen Shot 2016-09-07 at 6.54.11 PM.png

    Screen Shot 2016-09-07 at 6.56.49 PM.png

  • by carolinefromel cajon,

    carolinefromel cajon carolinefromel cajon Sep 7, 2016 7:16 PM in response to carolinefromel cajon
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 7, 2016 7:16 PM in response to carolinefromel cajon

    now what happens next? Do I need to do anything else today or wait for a reply?

    Thanks

  • by etresoft,

    etresoft etresoft Sep 7, 2016 9:28 PM in response to carolinefromel cajon
    Level 7 (29,051 points)
    Sep 7, 2016 9:28 PM in response to carolinefromel cajon

    Hello Caroline,

    There will be no reply. This thread is nine months old. You should create your own thread.

     

    I suggest you use EtreCheck to remove your adware. Download EtreCheck from http://www.etrecheck.com, run it, and paste the results in a new thread that you create. EtreCheck is perfectly safe to run, does not ask for your password to install, and is signed with my Apple Developer ID.

     

    If adware is installed, EtreCheck will help you remove it, although you may have to supply a password. If you aren’t comfortable with that, just post the EtreCheck report here and other helpers can tell you exactly what files need to be deleted and how to do so.

     

    And by the way. You currently have 3 different "clean up" tools installed, and lots of adware. I guess 3 different products were unsuccessful at preventing your adware infection. I'm pretty sure EtreCheck will fix that.

     

    Disclaimer: Although EtreCheck is free, there are other links on my site that could give me some form of compensation, financial or otherwise.