Do not trust the centersourceoffreeupgrade.best deceptive web page

How to remove apps that might be responsible for opening centersourceoffreeupgrade[.]best on Mac computers

What is centersourceoffreeupgrade[.]best?

The centersourceoffreeupgrade[.]best website encourages visitors to update Adobe Flash Player. In fact, it distributes a fake updater that does not update Flash Player, but simply installs some unwanted, potentially malicious software. We strongly advise against download anything from centersourceoffreeupgrade[.]best or other similar web pages. In most cases, people do not visit websites such as centersourceoffreeupgrade[.]best intentionally - they are usually redirected to them by other dubious sites, deceptive ads, or potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) that are installed on their browsers.

Once visited, centersourceoffreeupgrade[.]best states that the current version of the installed Adobe Flash Player is outdated and encourages users to update it. It also states that the installed version does not include the latest security updates and has been blocked. Essentially, visitors are encouraged to update Adobe Flash Player, otherwise they will supposedly be unable to use it. Note, however, that it is likely that this fake updater will install adware-type software, such as MyCouponsmart. It might also be used to distribute malware. Adware is a type of software that serves coupons, banners, surveys, pop-ups and other advertisements. People who click content displayed by adware usually arrive at various untrustworthy websites. Adware can sometimes lead to unwanted downloads and installations. This happens when people click ads, which then execute scripts that cause download/installation of unwanted, potentially malicious applications. As mentioned, various fake Flash Player updaters can be used to infect systems with malicious programs. They often infect computers with additional malware (such as ransomware), steal personal information (credit card details, passwords, and other confidential details), log keystrokes, and perform other actions that can cause financial, data loss, problems relating to privacy, browsing safety, and so on. In any case, no software that is distributed through sites such as centersourceoffreeupgrade[.]best can ever be trusted.

Threat Summary:

Name	centersourceoffreeupgrade.best pop-up
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Fake Claim	According to this web page, the visitor's Adobe Flash Player is outdated and does not include the latest security updates.
Detection Names (AdobeFlashPl_CKWH4.zip)	Avast (MacOS:Agent-FJ [Adw]), AVG (MacOS:Agent-FJ [Adw]), Ikarus (Trojan.MAC.Generic), Full List (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address (centersourceoffreeupgrade[.]best)	212.83.128.68
Promoted Unwanted Application	This page promotes a fake updater of Adobe Flash Player.
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, deceptive pages, adware and other PUAs.
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 three days free trial available.

Browsers often open these sites due to adware or other PUAs that are installed on them. Generally, apps of this type are advertised as useful, legitimate, and so on, however, they deliver no useful features and cause only problems (display ads, open dubious pages, gather various information, etc.). To avoid being redirected to centersourceoffreeupgrade[.]best and other dubious pages, problems relating to browsing safety, privacy (or even identity theft), uninstall all unwanted, suspicious software from your browsers and operating systems.

How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?

Some potentially unwanted apps can be downloaded from their download websites, however, people generally download and install them through intrusive advertisement that they (willingly or unintentionally) click, or when those apps are included into the set-ups of various software. Offers to download and/or install additional software are often hidden in "Custom", "Advanced" or similar settings of the download/installation set-ups. When people download or install software without checking and changing these settings, they can allow PUAs to be downloaded and/or installed by default. Furthermore, PUAs can be downloaded and installed by clicking deceptive ads that run certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Download software from official, trustworthy websites. Note that third party software downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks and other similar channels/tools are often used to distribute unwanted applications. Check "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings of any download or installation setup and deselect offers to download or install additionally-included (unwanted) apps. Intrusive ads that are displayed on dubious web pages should not be clicked, since they often open untrustworthy websites or cause unwanted downloads/installations. Remove any unwanted apps (extensions, add-ons, plug-ins) installed on the browser. The same applies to software of this kind installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate them.

Text in the upper pop-up of the main centersourceoffreeupgrade[.]best web page:

Update to the latest version of Flash Player. Your current Adobe Flash Player version is out of date.

Text in the lower pop-up of the main centersourceoffreeupgrade[.]best web page:

Flash Player Update REQUIRED
Install latest version of Adobe Flash Player in order to continue watching.
Download

Text in the background web page:

Latest version of Flash Player is required to encode and/or decode (Play) audio files in high quality. - Click here to update for latest version.

Software update
Adobe Flash Player
Install the latest update
Update now

"Adobe Flash Player" is an essential plugin for your browser that allows you to view everything from video to games and animation on the web. The version of “Adobe Flash Player" on your system does not include the latest security updates and has been blocked.

To continue using “Adobe Flash Player", download an updated version.
Update Download Flash...

Screenshot of a second centersourceoffreeupgrade.best pop-up:

Text in this pop-up:

Software update
"Adobe Flash Player" is out-of-date

The version of this plug-in on your computer doesn't include the latest security updates. Flash cannot be used until you download an update from Adobe.

Appearance of centersourceoffreeupgrade[.]best scam, first example (GIF):

Appearance of centersourceoffreeupgrade[.]best scam, second example (GIF):

centersourceoffreeupgrade[.]best leads to sites that also encourage people to use the fake Flash Player updater:

Text in this page:

Latest version of Flash Player is recommended to encode and/or decode (play) audio files in high quality - click here to update for latest version.

Adobe Flash Player Installer

Update your Flash Player in order to continue

The version of "Adobe Flash Player" on your system does not include the latest flash update and has been blocked. To continue using "Adobe Flash Player", download an update version.

Restore OK Update

Screenshots of fake Flash Player updaters:

Instant automatic Mac malware removal: 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 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 three days free trial available.

Quick menu:

• What is centersourceoffreeupgrade[.]best?
• 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 centersourceoffreeupgrade.best pop-up 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.

centersourceoffreeupgrade.best pop-up removal from Internet browsers:

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Remove centersourceoffreeupgrade.best pop-up 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 centersourceoffreeupgrade.best pop-up 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 centersourceoffreeupgrade.best pop-up 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.

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