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Removing Advanced Mac Cleaner

How do I get rid of Advanced Mac Cleaner and virus messages on my MacBook Pro OX 10.9.5?

Posted on May 28, 2016 9:49 AM

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Posted on Feb 28, 2017 4:42 PM

I recently had a problem with Advanced Mac Cleaner getting into my iMac, and this advice is the most effective I've seen so far. Thank you!

I accessed the Library by pressing the Options button and clicking Go in the Finder menu. From there I opened the LauchAgents and Application Support folders and eliminated all files that looked like "adware cleaner," "pcv," "amc," "awc." That seems to have worked!

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 28, 2017 4:42 PM in response to Linc Davis

I recently had a problem with Advanced Mac Cleaner getting into my iMac, and this advice is the most effective I've seen so far. Thank you!

I accessed the Library by pressing the Options button and clicking Go in the Finder menu. From there I opened the LauchAgents and Application Support folders and eliminated all files that looked like "adware cleaner," "pcv," "amc," "awc." That seems to have worked!

Mar 5, 2017 5:48 AM in response to Blumberg6pack

Review my comment from 2/28. By no means am I an expert on OS X; but, make sure you clear files from the LaunchAgent and Application Support folders in the Library. I even found a dedicated folder "Mac Advanced Cleaner" in the Library, which I deleted in whole.

To get to the Library, press the options key while clicking Go in the Finders menu. Scroll and click on the Library.

May 28, 2016 10:31 AM in response to grherman

You installed a fake "utility" called "Advanced Mac Cleaner" and/or "AdwareCleaner." Like any software that purports to automatically "clean up" or "speed up" a Mac, it's a scam.

To remove it, please take the steps below. Some of the files listed may be absent in your case. Back up all data before proceeding.

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.

If you paid for the software with a credit card, consider reporting the charge to the bank as fraudulent.

Step 1

Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:

~/Library/LaunchAgents

Right-click or control-click the highlighted line and select

Services Open

from the contextual menu.* A folder named "LaunchAgents" may open. If it does, look inside it for files with a name that begins in either of these ways:

com.pcv.

com.adwarecleaner.

Move any such files to the Trash.

Log out or restart the computer and empty the Trash.

*If you don't see the contextual menu item, copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. In the Finder, select

Go Go to Folder...

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

Step 2

The malware is now permanently inactivated, as long as you don't reinstall it. This step is optional.

Delete the following items, if they exist, as in Step 1:

/Library/Application Support/amc

~/Library/AdvancedMacCleaner

There's no need to log out or restart after taking this step.

The problem started when you downloaded something, perhaps an application called "FileZilla" or "NicePlayer," when prompted to do so by a popup on a website. Never visit that site again. All legitimate software should be downloaded directly from the developer's website or from the Mac App Store, if applicable.

"Advanced Mac Cleaner" may have been bundled with other malware that was installed at the same time. If you still have problems with web browsers after removing it, ask for instructions.

May 28, 2016 1:52 PM in response to grherman

Got rid of Advanced MAC Cleaner, but still have a virus that I can't get rid of. Message comes under (1) Apple http://apple.com-----up.date/Mac/Scan/Safari_Warning?os=OS%20X%2010.9%20Maverick s&city=Arlington&ip=173.17.86.5&device=D…


Warning Message


MacOSX is infected with viruses and other malicious applications. Viruses must be removed and system damage repaired.


It appears when I use Safari.

Jul 9, 2016 6:44 AM in response to jlauve

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. The malware will be disabled 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.

Removing Advanced Mac Cleaner

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