How to get rid of SwiftEngine adware?
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
How to remove SwiftEngine from Mac?
What is SwiftEngine?
SwiftEngine is the name of an app that supposed to help its users to browse the web. Nevertheless, it is known that SwiftEngine is designed to serve advertisements and gather various data. Apps of this type are classified as adware. Since most people do not download applications like SwiftEngine intentionally, they are also known as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).
If installed, adware-type applications display coupons, banners, surveys, pop-up ads, and/or other intrusive content on most or all opened websites. Very often adware serves ads that are designed to redirect people who click them to various questionable or even malicious websites. In some cases they are designed to cause downloads and/or installations of PUAs by executing certain scripts. Either way, it is not safe to click such advertisements. Research shows that this particular app can access sensitive information such as passwords, phone numbers, credit card details and so on. Besides, it is very likely that it is designed to record browsing data (such as IP addresses, addresses of visited websites, entered search queries, etc.) too. SwiftEngine's developers may misuse personal information to generate revenue, which means its users may become victims of identity theft, experience monetary loss, problems with privacy, browsing safety, and so on. It is worth mentioning that people behind this app might share recorded information with third parties (potentially cyber criminals).
Name | Ads by SwiftEngine |
Threat Type | Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus |
Detection Names | Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.Script.SearchExt.gen), ZoneAlarm by Check Point (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.Script.SearchExt.gen), 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. |
Removal |
To eliminate Ads by SwiftEngine our malware researchers recommend scanning your computer with Combo Cleaner. |
SwiftEngine is very similar to other adware-type apps, like BeginnerData, ManagementMark and FilterIdea and many others. As a rule, apps of this type serve unwanted ads and record various details but do not deliver any value. In other words, most of them do not operate as they were advertised. In order to avoid any possible problems that might occur because of installed adware it is required to uninstall it from browsers and/or systems as soon as possible.
How did SwiftEngine install on my computer?
Most of the times unwanted apps get downloaded and/or installed through intrusive advertisements that people click, or during downloads and/or installations of various software. It is known that developers often include unwanted apps in setups of other programs but do not disclose information about it properly. To be more precise, they hide offers to download or install additional apps in settings like "Custom", "Advanced" or download and/or installation setups. This distribution method is called "bundling", developers use to trick people downloading and/or installing unwanted apps through setups of desired software. It often works because not all people check and change those settings, by leaving them unchanged they often give unwanted apps permissions to be downloaded or installed as well.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
All software should be downloaded from official websites, especially if that software is free. Third party downloaders, installers, unofficial websites, Peer-to-Peer networks (like torrent clients, eMule), and other sources should not be used as tools to download or install any files or programs. Furthermore, if download or installation setup contains any settings like "Custom", "Advanced", then they should not be left unchecked. Those settings often include offers to download or install unwanted software, they should be dismissed before finishing downloads and installations. Also, it is not recommended to click ads that are displayed on questionable pages. For example, on pages related to adult dating, gambling, pornography, and so on. Very often those ads lead to shady pages or cause unwanted downloads, installations. If there are any suspicious extensions, add-ons or plug-ins installed on a browser, then they should be removed from it immediately. The same applies to programs of this kind that are installed on a computer. If your computer is already infected with SwiftEngine, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.
Pop-up window displayed once SwiftEngine installation is over:
SwiftEngine adware installed on Safari browser:
Installation folder of the SwiftEngine app:
Instant automatic removal of Ads by SwiftEngine:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced computer skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of Ads by SwiftEngine. 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. Free scanner checks if your computer is infected. To remove malware, you have to purchase the full version of Combo Cleaner.
Quick menu:
- What is SwiftEngine?
- STEP 1. Remove SwiftEngine related files and folders from OSX.
- STEP 2. Remove SwiftEngine ads from Safari.
- STEP 3. Remove SwiftEngine adware from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove SwiftEngine ads from Mozilla Firefox.
Video showing how to remove SwiftEngine adware using Combo Cleaner:
SwiftEngine adware removal:
Remove SwiftEngine-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 ads by swiftengine 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 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 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 in the correct order you Mac should be clean of infections. To be sure 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 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 it's virus definition database and click "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.
Ads by SwiftEngine removal from Internet browsers:
Remove malicious extensions from Safari:
Remove ads by swiftengine related Safari extensions:
Open 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 normal browser operation.
- If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Safari.
Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:
Remove ads by swiftengine related Mozilla Firefox add-ons:
Open your Mozilla Firefox browser. At the top right corner of the screen, click the "Open Menu" (three horizontal lines) button. From the opened menu, choose "Add-ons".
Choose the "Extensions" tab and look for any recently-installed suspicious add-ons. When located, click the "Remove" button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Mozilla Firefox browser - none are crucial for normal browser operation.
- If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Mozilla Firefox.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Remove ads by swiftengine related Google Chrome add-ons:
Open Google Chrome and click the "Chrome menu" (three horizontal lines) button located in the top-right corner of the browser window. From the drop-down menu, choose "More Tools" and select "Extensions".
In the "Extensions" window, look for any recently-installed suspicious add-ons. When located, click the "Trash" button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Google Chrome browser - none are crucial for normal browser operation.
- If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.