How to remove CrowdExclusive adware

What is CrowdExclusive adware?

Promoted as supposedly improving the browsing experience, CrowdExclusive is actually an adware-type application. This app runs intrusive advertisement campaigns, which deliver various annoying and harmful ads. Due to its dubious proliferation methods, it is also classed as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA).

Software classified as adware delivers various pop-ups, banners, coupons, surveys and other ads. These significantly affect the browsing experience, as they diminish browsing speed and limit website visibility (by overlaying page content). Intrusive advertisements are a threat to device and user safety.

When clicked, they redirect to sale-oriented, untrusted, rogue, deceptive, compromised, scam and malicious web pages. Furthermore, they can be triggered (when clicked) to execute scripts designed to stealthily download/install software. PUAs are infiltrated into systems in this manner.

These unwanted applications also have other capabilities as well as delivery of intrusive ads. They can force-open various dangerous sites. These apps can also hijack browsers by modifying browser settings (to promote fake search engines) and restricting/denying access to them.

Furthermore, most PUAs have data tracking capabilities, which are employed to monitor users' browsing habits. They monitor browsing activity (URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries typed, etc.) and gather personal information (IP addresses, geolocations and other details).

This sensitive data can include personally identifiable information and is often shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) intent on misusing it for profit. The presence of data tracking software can thus lead to serious privacy issues, financial loss and even identity theft.

Therefore, to ensure device integrity and user safety, you are advised to eliminate all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins immediately upon detection.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by CrowdExclusive
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AB [Trj]), BitDefender (Gen:Variant.Adware.MAC.Adload.5), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Synataeb.C), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Adload.h), 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.

FocusBrowse, ChoiceFinder, ProcessFresh are some examples of other adware-type apps. They often seem legitimate and entice people into downloading/installing them with offers of "useful" features, however, these functions rarely work. In fact, such promotional tactics and nonoperational features are common traits of all PUAs.

The only purpose of these unwanted applications is to generate revenue for the developers at users' expense. PUAs operate by running intrusive ad campaigns, cause redirects to untrusted and malicious websites, hijack browsers and track vulnerable data.

How did CrowdExclusive install on my computer?

PUAs proliferate via the download/installation set-ups of other products. "Bundling" is the term used to define this deceptive marketing technique of packing regular software with unwanted or malicious additions.

By rushing through download and installation processes (e.g. skimmed or ignoring terms, skipping steps, using pre-set options, etc.) users risk unintentionally allowing bundled content onto systems. Some PUAs have "official" download pages. Intrusive ads also proliferate these apps. Once clicked, they can execute scripts to download/install PUAs without users' consent.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

All products should be researched to verify their legitimacy prior to download/installation or purchase. You are advised to use official and trustworthy download channels. Untrusted sources (e.g. unofficial and free file-hosting sites, P2P sharing networks [BitTorrent, Gnutella, eMule, etc.]) and other third party downloaders can offer deceptive or bundled content.

Treat download and installation processes with caution. Read the terms, study all possible options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings and decline download/installation of supplementary apps, tools, features and other additions.

Intrusive ads typically seem normal and harmless, however, they can redirect to dubious web pages (e.g. pornography, adult-dating, gambling and so on). If you encounter these advertisements/redirects, inspect the system and remove all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins without delay.

If your computer is already infected with CrowdExclusive, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Pop-up window displayed once CrowdExclusive installation is over:

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

Video showing how to remove CrowdExclusive adware using Combo Cleaner:

CrowdExclusive adware removal:

Remove CrowdExclusive-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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