Finished Applying Browser Update POP-UP Redirect (Mac)
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Finished Applying Browser Update?
"Finished Applying Browser Update" is a pop-up window informing users that a browser update was completed. Note that the information provided is false. This pop-up is displayed only on Safari web browsers.
Once the "Close" button is clicked, the browser crashes and all opened tabs are closed. Reopening the browser results in a redirect to the Safe Finder fake search engine.
If you encounter pop-ups such as "Finished Applying Browser Update", your system and web browser are probably infected with adware-type/browser-hijacking applications. These are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs). Once installed, they modify browser settings, collect browsing-related information, and feed users with ads.
Generally, browser hijackers change settings such as default search engine, homepage, and new tab URL - assigning them to a website (usually, a fake search engine). Users are forced to visit the website when they open browsers or new tabs, or enter search queries into the URL bar.
Furthermore, browser hijackers prevent users from undoing these changes by reassigning settings when attempts are made to modify them. PUAs also record browsing-related information such as geo-locations, search queries, URLs of visited websites, IP addresses, and other data of this kind. Developers share the data with third parties who misuse it to generate revenue.
Note that some of these third parties might be cyber criminals, and the collected data might include personal/sensitive information. If the installed PUA is of the adware type, users are often served with intrusive ads, such as pop-ups, surveys, banners, coupons, and so on.
These are frustrating, since they are displayed using tools that enable placement of third party graphical content on any site. Therefore, they conceal underlying content of visited websites. Generally, they also redirect users who click them to untrustworthy, deceptive and/or potentially malicious websites.
In some cases, these ads run scripts that download/install other unwanted apps. Therefore, having PUAs installed on your system can lead to various problems such as privacy issues, computer infections, and problems relating to browsing safety or even identity theft.
| Name | Finished Applying Browser Update pop-up |
| Threat Type | Mac malware, Mac virus |
| Symptoms | Your Mac became slower than normal, you see unwanted pop-up ads, you get redirected to shady websites. |
| Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers, torrent file downloads. |
| Damage | Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites, loss of private information. |
| Malware Removal (Mac) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your Mac with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Most of these PUAs are promoted by developers as 'useful tools' which provide various features, however, this is simply to trick people into downloading and installing them. Rather than delivering the functionality promised, they cause problems and perform dubious actions to generate revenue for their developers. We recommend that you remove all unwanted apps immediately.
How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?
In some cases, PUAs can be downloaded from their websites, however, most users install them inadvertently through intrusive ads or together with regular (usually free) software.
To trick users into downloading or installing unwanted apps, developers often use "bundling", a deceptive method that hides potentially unwanted apps in "Advanced", "Custom" and other similar settings/options of the installation set-ups. Typically, information about the presence of additionally-included (unwanted) apps is not properly disclosed.
Furthermore, many users are likely to skip installation steps without checking the settings/options, thus allowing various PUAs to be installed.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
To prevent these installations, download software (especially freeware) from official and trustworthy sources. Avoid using third party software downloaders or installers and torrents. Check "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings, and deselect unwanted offers and features. Only then finish the installation.
Be careful when browsing the web, especially clicking intrusive ads. These often seem legitimate, since developers (potentially cyber criminals) invest time and money into their design. Once clicked, however, they often redirect users to untrustworthy websites, such as gambling, adult dating, pornography, and so on.
If you click an ads accidentally, close it and check installed extensions, add-ons, and plug-ins on your browser and programs on your computer. Uninstall any dubious/unwanted entries immediately. If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate them.
Instant automatic Mac malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of Mac malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
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Quick menu:
- What is Finished Applying Browser Update?
- STEP 1. Remove PUA related files and folders from OSX.
- STEP 2. Remove rogue extensions from Safari.
- STEP 3. Remove rogue add-ons from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove potentially unwanted plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox.
Video showing how to remove adware and browser hijackers from a Mac computer:
Potentially unwanted applications removal:
Remove potentially unwanted applications from your "Applications" folder:
Click the Finder icon. In the Finder window, select "Applications". In the applications folder, look for "MPlayerX","NicePlayer", or other suspicious applications and drag them to the Trash. After removing the potentially unwanted application(s) that cause online ads, scan your Mac for any remaining unwanted components.
Remove adware-related files and folders
Click the Finder icon, from the menu bar. Choose Go, and click Go to Folder...
Check for adware generated files in the /Library/LaunchAgents/ folder:
In the Go to Folder... bar, type: /Library/LaunchAgents/
In the "LaunchAgents" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by adware - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Adware commonly installs several files with the exact same string.
Check for adware generated files in the ~/Library/Application Support/ folder:
In the Go to Folder... bar, type: ~/Library/Application Support/
In the "Application Support" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious folders. For example, "MplayerX" or "NicePlayer", and move these folders to the Trash.
Check for adware generated files in the ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ folder:
In the Go to Folder... bar, type: ~/Library/LaunchAgents/
In the "LaunchAgents" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by adware - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Adware commonly installs several files with the exact same string.
Check for adware generated files in the /Library/LaunchDaemons/ folder:
In the "Go to Folder..." bar, type: /Library/LaunchDaemons/
In the "LaunchDaemons" folder, look for recently-added suspicious files. For example "com.aoudad.net-preferences.plist", "com.myppes.net-preferences.plist", "com.kuklorest.net-preferences.plist", "com.avickUpd.plist", etc., and move them to the Trash.
Scan your Mac with Combo Cleaner:
If you have followed all the steps correctly, your Mac should be clean of infections. To ensure your system is not infected, run a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus. Download it HERE. After downloading the file, double click combocleaner.dmg installer. In the opened window, drag and drop the Combo Cleaner icon on top of the Applications icon. Now open your launchpad and click on the Combo Cleaner icon. Wait until Combo Cleaner updates its virus definition database and click the "Start Combo Scan" button.
Combo Cleaner will scan your Mac for malware infections. If the antivirus scan displays "no threats found" - this means that you can continue with the removal guide; otherwise, it's recommended to remove any found infections before continuing.
After removing files and folders generated by the adware, continue to remove rogue extensions from your Internet browsers.
Remove malicious extensions from Internet browsers
Remove malicious Safari extensions:
Open the Safari browser, from the menu bar, select "Safari" and click "Preferences...".
In the preferences window, select "Extensions" and look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions. When located, click the "Uninstall" button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Safari browser - none are crucial for regular browser operation.
- If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Safari.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
- If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.
Remove malicious extensions from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window) and select "Add-ons and themes". Click "Extensions", in the opened window locate all recently-installed suspicious extensions, click on the three dots and then click "Remove".
- If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Mozilla Firefox.
Outstanding!
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