How to uninstall UpgradeIdeas adware from the Mac operating system

What is UpgradeIdeas?

UpgradeIdeas is an adware-type application, which is endorsed as capable of improving the browsing experience by providing fast searches, accurate search results and so on. In fact, UpgradeIdeas diminishes the browsing experience by running intrusive advertisement campaigns.

Additionally, most apps categorized as adware have data tracking capabilities, which are employed to gather information relating to users' browsing activity. Due to its dubious proliferation methods, UpgradeIdeas is also classified as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA).

Adware delivers a wide variety of intrusive ads such as pop-ups, surveys, banners, coupons and many other types. These ads are a nuisance and a threat. They affect browsing by limiting browsing speed and website visibility (i.e., they overlay web pages), however, they also have several harmful capabilities.

When clicked, intrusive ads redirect to sale-based, untrusted, rogue, compromised, deceptive/scam and malicious sites. They can also be triggered (when clicked) to execute scripts designed to stealthy download/install rogue software. PUAs commonly infiltrate systems in this manner.

They range of unwanted applications varies considerably, and is not just adware. Some can force-open similarly dangerous web pages and even hijack browsers. The latter are classified as browser hijackers, since they modify browsers, restrict/deny access to settings to promote fake search engines.

Regardless of their specific capabilities, PUAs can track data. They can monitor browsing activity (URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, etc.) and collect users' personal information (IP addresses, geolocations and other details). This data might contain vulnerable information and is shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) seeking to misuse it for financial gain.

To summarize, PUAs can cause browser and system infiltration/infections, lead to serious privacy issues and even identity theft. To ensure device integrity and user safety, you are advised to remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins immediately upon detection.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by UpgradeIdeas
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AB [Trj]), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Adload.g), Full List Of Detections (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.

UtilityParse, ContentBenefits, ThreadProperty, SystemSpot are some examples of other adware-type apps. They may seem legitimate and often tempt people into downloading/installing with offers of "useful" functions. In fact, these features do not work as promised, if at all.

This extends to all unwanted applications. The only purpose of this software is to generate profit for the developers at users' expense. They are useless to regular users and can also cause serious issues. PUAs deliver intrusive ad campaigns, force-open untrusted and malicious web pages, hijack browsers and track sensitive data.

How did UpgradeIdeas install on my computer?

PUAs proliferate via the download/installation set-ups of other applications. This deceptive marketing technique of pre-packing regular products with unwanted or malicious software is called "bundling".

Rushing download/installation processes (e.g. skipping steps and sections, etc.) endangers devices with potential infiltration of unwanted or high-risk content. Some PUAs have "official" download web pages. When clicked, intrusive ads can execute scripts to download/install PUAs without users' permission.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

You are advised to research all products before download/installation. Use only official and verified download channels. Peer-to-Peer sharing networks (BitTorrent, eMule, Gnutella, etc.), free file-hosting sites and other third party downloaders are untrusted and offer likewise suspicious content.

When downloading/installing, read the terms, explore all available options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings and opt-out of supplementary apps, tools, features, etc. Intrusive ads typically seem normal and innocuous, however, they can redirect to dubious web pages (e.g. gambling, adult-dating, pornography and so on).

If you encounter these advertisements/redirects, inspect the system and remove all dubious applications and/or browser extensions/plug-ins without delay. If your computer is already infected with UpgradeIdeas, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Pop-up window displayed once UpgradeIdeas installation is complete:

Screenshot of UpgradeIdeas adware installation folder:

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

Video showing how to remove UpgradeIdeas adware using Combo Cleaner:

UpgradeIdeas adware removal:

Remove UpgradeIdeas-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.

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