is adware removal pro safe to use?

Hello Semisal01,

Scamware is a huge problem right now and anti-virus and anti-adware is a favourite market for the scammers. If you want advice for a particular product, please include a link to the product's web site. There could be a great product called "adware removal pro" (or "ad aware removal pro"?) But you might actually be trying to download a copycat that is malware in disguise. There is no way for us to tell which one you are talking about.

Just a small addition to Etresoft's comment. It's not perhaps the best way round to download and then finding yourself needing to ask if it was a good idea. With any form of security aid, virus detecter and the like, write to us in these forums first. You will quickly be made aware of any shortcomings.

There was a scam app in the Mac App Store called Adware Removal Pro. Malwarebytes has detected that as a PUP (potentially unwanted program) for a while now, and it would appear that it has been removed from the App Store when I checked this morning.

If this is what you downloaded, you should delete it, but should note that it doesn't actually have any malicious behaviors (other than not really doing what it advertises being able to do). If this isn't it, please let us know exactly what you downloaded, and from where.

Note that there are a large number of scam anti-adware and anti-virus apps on the Mac App Store right now. Do not download any such product from the Mac App Store.

Ad-Aware is a Windows-only anti-virus company, with no Mac products that I can find, so I'm guessing your reference to "ad aware" must have been a typo.

The most disappointing part here is, Apple has done nothing to help her Mac customers.

Why? Don't they know there is a problem?

Why don't they care?

This problem has been in place for a long time.

How many updates has OS-X gone through since then?

What did Apple do?

If a third party can write a program to fix this problem, what's the matter with the Apple programmers?

Why can't they make one themselves?

Why don't their programmers see this as an opportunity for job security... they can do updates for the next n years, eh?

Something is not right. Why is a user error not Apple's problem?

Does Apple sell computers only to those with a doctor degree in computer science?

If Apple is in the car business, will they sell cars that you must know how to double clutch before you can drive it? Why is it so hard to build cars that my grandma can drive too?

This is so sad.

Apple: please say something. I will apologize if I were wrong. Right now, I am as confused as I am frustrated. I am sorry.

A photographer will read any photo magazines to gain inspiration. And so will any artists visiting galleries and scientists reading up on any scientific journals. Why are Apple employees different? What is the Apple corporate policy on employees reaching out to the real world? What is Apple's policy on freedom of thinking and expression? What is wrong with lending a helping hand?

This is so sad.

People keep talking about how to "avoid" getting adware.

People are looking for ways to fix a mistake that often, they don't even know they walked into a trap.

Of course there are stupid people, how else would there be smart people?

We will save a dog.

We will save a tree.

We want to be politically correct when it comes to saving people.

Let us pray that Apple stock price will keep on going up, thank to the, eh, the ones who do not even know what they did.

Ok, I am still looking for ways to get rid of the ssp thing.

Somebody must know how to do that.

It's not in “/Library/LaunchDaemons”

It's not in “~/Library/LaunchAgents”

There is no file names such as “com.aedilic-Prajapati.plist” , “com.zpwzKxZz.plist” or “com.apple.athechyer.plist”.

But there are people out there who wrote (sell?) programs that will find and remove whatever is doing this, so somebody must know the file name, where it is hiding and so they can remove it; or what files do not belong...

May be one day, somebody will share that info.

That's all one can hope for when one comes into a bar and said "Help".

No, please don't get up. We will wait for a retired doctor or police officer who does not mind.

Next time, we will "avoid" getting robbed, raped, stabbed, gun shot, killed. For now, let us bleed.

Sorry to trouble you all, sorry I rocked the boat.

If you are having a specific problem, then, by all means, mention it at some point. Resurrecting a long-dead thread with random complaints about Apple's policies is not an effective way to get your problem resolved.

Adware these days usually uses unique file names. If you have an adware infection, the files on your machine are very likely unique to your machine. You won't find it unless you know what to look for and where to look. Those two directories you mentioned are two of those places, but there are at least 3 or 4 more. The file names could be a random sequence of alphanumeric digits, an unknown, but plausible name, or something that starts with "com.apple". It is impossible to know for sure without checking the underlying code signature of the executable. Even then, it can be tricky.

I just so happen to have written an app that can look for these files. Download EtreCheck from https://www.etrecheck.com, run it, and paste the results here. EtreCheck is perfectly safe to run, does not ask for your password to install, and is signed with my Apple Developer ID. When you are done, EtreCheck can be thrown in the trash.

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.

Most anti-adware apps only look for know files or known patterns of files. They can be effective if those known files are the ones you have. EtreCheck works differently. It looks for provably valid files and then reports everything that might possibly be suspicious. If anything shows up in that "possible adware" list, you can post your EtreCheck report and we can tell you whether you do have adware or not. But whatever you do, please start your own thread and do it there. 🙂

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

What is "ssp" and what does it have to do with Semisal01's problem?

Next time, we will "avoid" getting robbed, raped, stabbed, gun shot, killed. For now, let us bleed.

Yes, that is the best solution to all of those problems. Learn how to take care of yourself because help will often not be there in time to save you.

If you fail to learn how to prevent being taken in by scams, installing malware, or self-inflicted damage to your computer, it will often be too late to help you after the fact.

Thank you for letting me squeeze tooth paste and thank you for coming out with possible solution. Thank you for sticking your neck out.

I believe that there must be experts out there and one of them will come with the tool box. Thank you.

At 70+ years old, our value system from the 50's is trust. If you say download and run it then delete after, I trust you.

After running the App, it said click "check" click "clean" and I did all that.

I ran the App again after.

There is still a bunch of "Lookup"

Here's the list.

Launch Agents: ⓘ

[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-05-31) [Lookup]

[running] com.amazon.sendtokindle.launcher.plist (Shell Script d18c2039 - installed 2014-10-28) [Lookup]

[running] com.epson.Epson_Low_Ink_Reminder.launcher.plist (? e5b56ea9 77024e44 - installed 2012-12-01) [Lookup]

[running] com.epson.eventmanager.agent.plist (? cd93600d 3b1d3aeb - installed 2012-12-04) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (Google, Inc. - installed 2017-07-10) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (? 9247748d be93c7fb - installed 2017-02-11) [Lookup]

[running] com.rosettastone.rosettastonedaemon.plist (Rosetta Stone Ltd. - installed 2013-12-31) [Lookup]

[running] com.wacom.wacomtablet.plist (Wacom Technology Corp. - installed 2015-10-05) [Lookup]

Launch Daemons: ⓘ

[loaded] com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist (? 68cad67 0 - installed 2012-11-05) [Lookup]

[running] com.adobe.agsservice.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-05-29) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (? 2afb3af7 85012398 - installed 2017-07-24) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.apple.installer.osmessagetracing.plist (Apple, Inc. - installed 2017-07-14)

[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (Google, Inc. - installed 2017-07-26) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (Shell Script e3fefdd2 - installed 2016-12-12) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.wacom.displayhelper.plist (Apple, Inc. - installed 2017-07-14)

User Launch Agents: ⓘ

[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (? 56ebbe7d b8887e79 - installed 2016-10-20) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.dropbox.DropboxMacUpdate.agent.plist (Dropbox, Inc. - installed 2017-08-10) [Lookup]

User Login Items: ⓘ

Dropbox Application

(/Applications/Dropbox.app)

iSkysoft Helper Compact Application

(~/Library/Application Support/Helper/iSkysoft Helper Compact.app)

Aimersoft Helper Compact Application

(~/Library/Application Support/Helper/Aimersoft Helper Compact.app)

Internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

WacomNetscape: 2.1.0-1 (installed 2014-03-01) [Lookup]

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: 3.0.0.126 (installed 2012-10-04) [Lookup]

AdobeExManDetect: AdobeExManDetect 1.1.0.0 (installed 2013-12-20) [Lookup]

WacomTabletPlugin: WacomTabletPlugin 2.1.0.6 (installed 2015-10-05) [Lookup]

AdobeAAMDetect: AdobeAAMDetect 1.0.0.0 (installed 2016-01-25) [Lookup]

FlashPlayer-10.6: 26.0.0.151 (installed 2017-08-08) [Lookup]

Silverlight: 5.1.41212.0 (installed 2016-02-25) [Lookup]

QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (installed 2017-07-14)

Flash Player: 26.0.0.151 (installed 2017-08-08) [Lookup]

iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 (installed 2013-04-17)

AdobePDFViewer: 9.5.5 (installed 2013-05-16) [Lookup]

GarminGpsControl: 4.0.4.0 Release (installed 2012-11-02) [Lookup]

JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 121 build 13 (installed 2017-02-11) Check version

User internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

BrowserPlus_2.9.8: 2.9.8 (installed 2010-08-07) [Lookup]

npUplayer.1.0.2.7: mydlink services plugin_x86_64 1.0.2.7 (installed 2015-12-11) [Lookup]

Safari Extensions: ⓘ

[not loaded] Search Genius - Operator mac (installed 2016-04-10)

[not loaded] Translate - SideTree.com - Apps for Mac and Web - http://SideTree.com/extensions.html#Translate (installed 2016-01-29)

[disabled] Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on - Google, Inc. - http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout (installed 2014-10-16)

[disabled] iTube Studio - iSkysoft Studio - http://www.iskysoft.com (installed 2017-01-02)

3rd Party Preference Panes: ⓘ

Akamai NetSession Preferences (installed 2015-09-23) [Lookup]

BrowserPlus (installed 2010-08-07) [Lookup]

Flash Player (installed 2017-07-24) [Lookup]

Flip4Mac WMV (installed 2012-09-14) [Lookup]

Java (installed 2017-02-11) [Lookup]

WacomTablet (installed 2015-10-05) [Lookup]

I do let the grand children play with the machine while I am out in the garden playing with my plants and grandma making macaroni and cheese. I don't think it matters what the kids did. They are 100x smarter then I was when I was 6 and 11. I do delegate authority but not responsibility. They did not screw up, I did, I let them do what they want. So, it's my bad. Big deal.

Again, I thank you for bringing possible solutions instead of highlighting problems.

Go ahead, look at the list and correct me if I were wrong. Don't pull your punches. Thank you.

I don't know what is ssp and I don't know what it has to do with Semisa101.

All I know is when I google how to remove ssp, there are many articles about downloading this or that to remove ssp. When I google is it safe to download those apps, this page came up. But there are no direct answers. There are lots of point left point right. So I squeezed. I am sorry if that hurts. But one expert did stick his/her neck out for me and I am grateful.

We grew up in very violent environments. Back in the 50's, we got our *** kicked a lot. Sorry I didn't die early enough and our successful ways stayed with me. I am sorry our way upset you. My sincere apology.

First of all, you selectively edited your EtreCheck report and omitted a number of sections. That will only serve to reduce the quality and accuracy of any suggestions people might make from it. You have a couple of "grey area" login items. You can go to System Preference > Users & Groups > your account > Login Items to remove them. The restart your machine.

No one here knows what you are talking about with "ssp". Is that some kind of pop up dialog or something? You have to meet us halfway and give us some indication of where you saw those 3 letters "ssp" and in what context.

All I know is when I google how to remove ssp, there are many articles about downloading this or that to remove ssp.

Yes, you can probably google, "how do I uninstall a ham sandwich," and you will probably get the same responses. That's because almost all of those are Scams trying to get you to install their Malware.

Those are the kind of things you must learn to protect yourself against. If you install some type of ransomware, there is nothing anyone can do to "fix" it. Through ignorance, you will have allowed someone to encrypt your hard drive. Nothing will protect you from that beforehand except learning to be wary of the scheme.

You've recently posted on another thread asking about ssp in relation to someone getting a scam popup claiming to have scanned their Mac and needing "cleaning." Did you get the same type of popup that claimed you had "ssp" and it needs to clean it?

It's OK.

Thanks to your EtreCheck, the Ssp.zryydi.com whatever is gone after I followed your advice to run EtreCheck, and followed its instruction to clean and remove.

All I can say is, I charted with Apple so many times, often up to 3 hours; I had Apple called me, did screen share and they can do nothing.

But here, in this discussion group, you came in and showed my your EtreCheck. I am not even sure if Apple supports you. But whatever it is, you are the king. EtreCheck came through like a hero.

I got what I need. I thank you. And yes, I will donate. That's all that matters.

I apologize for not listening to you for one thing: I am not throwing my EtreCheck into the trash. (I did, I moved it back). It worked. I have no Ssp.blahblahblah for almost 24 hours. And my iMac has not gone into sleep mode suddenly either. So, I am keeping EtreCheck for at least a few more months just for insurance.

I will run it again in a week if everything is perfect, just so I can access you donate button and I will pay. I have always hope that Apple will in fact do this on Screen Share and charge me $99 for it and I will pay. But Apple won't. So, you won. Thank you sir.

Problem solved.

btw: I am sure EtreCheck had also removed a lot of junk in my iMac from 2006 that was from my old MacBook Pro saved in the old Time Capsule and kept on being backup'ed onto the current iMac running 10.12.6. and the new Time Capsule. Please thank EtreCheck for showing the installed dates so I know how old some junk were. Much obliged.

I'd be inclined to question 'SecureMacOS' given doubts about privacy & general up-frontness (is that a word ?). Not that the threat is near so bad as there being nothing one can do to prevent it; unless anyone's somehow forced to install some pop-up or banner recommended 'update'.

Thank etresoft. He wrote the Etrecheck program.