Eliminate PasteBoard adware from the system

What is PasteBoard?

PasteBoard (also known as PasteBoardHelper) is an ordinary adware-type application that usually infiltrates computers without users' consent.

It is very likely to install together with the Spotlight.app and Spaces.app unwanted apps, which are designed to redirect users to searchbaron.com. After successful infiltration, PasteBoard continually delivers intrusive advertisements and records information relating to users' browsing habits.

Applications such as PasteBoard usually deliver coupons, banners, pop-ups, and other advertisements that often conceal underlying content, thereby significantly diminishing the browsing experience. PasteBoard delivers ads using third party tools that enable placement of third party graphical content on any site.

Furthermore, the ads often redirect to dubious websites and execute scripts designed to download/install other unwanted applications. Thus, clicking them is risky and can result in various computer infections. Another important issue is data tracking.

As with most adware-type applications, PasteBoard gathers data relating to browsing activity (e.g., queries entered into search engines, websites visited, pages viewed, Internet Protocol [IP] addresses, and similar). Collected information is likely to contain personal details that developers share with third parties to generate revenue.

These people (potentially, cyber criminals) misuse private information to generate even more revenue. Therefore, having a data-tracking app installed on your computer can lead to serious privacy issues, including identity theft. We strongly recommend that you eliminate this adware immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by PasteBoardHelper
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Ikarus (PUA.OSX.AMCleaner), Full List (VirusTotal)
Symptoms	Your Mac becomes slower than normal, you see unwanted pop-up ads, you are redirected to dubious websites.
Distribution methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers, torrent file downloads.
Damage	Internet browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious 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. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner for Mac To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Limited seven days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

There are dozens of adware-type apps that share many similarities with PasteBoard including NameSync, GeneralNetSearch, and Related-Offers - the list goes on. Most offer "useful features", however, these claims are merely attempts to give the impression of legitimacy and trick users to install.

In fact, unwanted apps usually provide no value for regular users, since their only purpose is to generate revenue for the developers. Rather than enabling the functions promised, they cause redirects, gather data, and deliver advertisements, thereby significantly diminishing the browsing experience.

How did PasteBoard install on my computer?

As mentioned above, PasteBoard usually infiltrates systems without users' consent, since these apps are usually proliferated using intrusive advertisements (such as those PasteBoard itself delivers) and a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" (stealth installation of third party applications together with regular software).

Developers hide "bundled" applications behind various sections (such as "Custom" or "Advanced" settings) of the download/installation processes.

Furthermore, many users often rush these procedures, skip steps, and click advertisements. In doing so, they expose their systems to risk of various infections and compromise their privacy. Therefore, the main reasons for computer infections are poor knowledge of these threats and careless behavior.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

The key to computer safety is caution. Therefore, pay attention during the download/installation processes and when browsing the Internet. Never download applications using third party downloaders/installers, since most promote ("bundle") unwanted applications. Software should be downloaded from official sources only, preferably using direct download links.

Choose "Custom/Advanced" settings and study each window of the download/installation dialogs. Opt-out of all additionally-included applications and decline offers to download/install them. Bear in mind that intrusive advertisements usually seem legitimate, since developers invest many resources into their design.

In fact, these ads often redirect to dubious websites (gambling, pornography, adult dating, and similar). If you frequently encounter such ads/redirects, remove all suspicious applications/browser plug-ins immediately. If your computer is already infected with PasteBoard, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Screenshot of PasteBoard adware process in Activity Monitor:

Another example of the PasteBoard adware process ("PasteBoardHelper") in Activity Monitor:

Screenshot of PasteBoardHelper files:

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:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner for Mac By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Limited seven days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is PasteBoard?
• STEP 1. Remove PasteBoard related files and folders from OSX.
• STEP 2. Remove PasteBoard ads from Safari.
• STEP 3. Remove PasteBoard adware from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove PasteBoard ads from Mozilla Firefox.

Video showing how to remove adware and browser hijackers from a Mac computer:

PasteBoard adware removal:

Remove PasteBoard-related 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.

▼ Show Discussion