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How to remove advertisements delivered by ActiveMulti adware

Also Known As: Ads by ActiveMulti
Type: Mac Virus
Damage level: Medium

What is ActiveMulti?

ActiveMulti is a rogue application with browser hijacker characteristics and classified as adware. It operates by delivering intrusive advertisements, altering browser settings and promoting fake search engines. This app promotes Safe Finder via the akamaihd.net website.

Additionally, most adware and browser hijackers have data tracking capabilities, which are employed to monitor users' browsing habits. Since most users download/install ActiveMulti intentionally, it is also classified as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA).

ActiveMulti adware

ActiveMulti adware delivers pop-ups, banners, coupons, surveys and other intrusive ads. These reduce browsing speed and limit website visibility, significantly diminishing the browsing experience. When clicked, the ads redirect to various untrusted and malicious web pages, and some can even execute scripts to stealthily download/install rogue software (e.g. PUAs).

Browser hijackers, with which ActiveMulti shares characteristics, operate by reassigning the homepage, default search engine and new tab/window URLs to the addresses of bogus search engines. Therefore, each new browser tab/window opened and each search query typed into the URL bar redirects to a fake search engine.

In the case of ActiveMulti, these actions redirect to akamaihd.net, which then redirects to Safe Finder. As few illegitimate web search engine can actually generate unique results, they simply redirect to genuine sites (Safe Finder redirects to search.yahoo.com).

It is highly likely that ActiveMulti can also track data, since most PUAs have such capabilities. Unwanted apps typically monitor browsing activity (URLs visited, web pages viewed, search queries typed, etc.) and collect personal information (IP addresses, geolocations and other details).

The gathered data is commonly shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) seeking to misuse it for profit. To summarize, the presence of PUAs such as ActiveMulti on computers can cause system infiltration and infections, lead to financial loss, serious privacy issues and even identity theft.

Therefore, to ensure device and user safety, it is crucial to remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins immediately upon detection.

Threat Summary:
Name Ads by ActiveMulti
Threat Type Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names Avast (MacOS:Adload-AB [Trj]), Sophos AV (Adloadr (PUA)), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Synataeb.D), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Adload.g), Full List (VirusTotal).
Additional Information This application belongs to the Adload malware family.
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.

DisplayAdviceMainPanelSearch and SelectionDaily are some examples of other adware infections. Software of this type may seem normal and useful, however, the features are usually nonoperational. This extends to most PUAs. These unwanted applications have just one goal: to generate revenue for the developers.

They are useless to regular users and cause serious problems. PUAs run intrusive ad campaigns, modify browsers, redirect to untrusted/malicious websites and collect private data.

How did ActiveMulti install on my computer?

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

Rushing download/installation processes (e.g. ignoring terms, using pre-set options, skipping steps and sections, etc.) increases the risk of unintentionally allowing bundled content onto systems. Some PUAs have "official" promotional pages, from which they can be downloaded.

Intrusive ads spread these applications as well. When clicked, they can execute scripts to stealthily download/install PUAs.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

All products should be researched prior to download/installation or purchase. Use only official and verified download channels. Unofficial and free file-hosting sites, P2P sharing networks (BitTorrent, eMule, Gnutella, etc.) and other third party downloaders are untrusted and should be avoided.

When downloading/installing, you are advised to read the terms, explore all available options, use "Custom" or "Advanced" settings to opt-out of additional apps, tools, features, etc. Intrusive advertisements often seem legitimate and harmless, however, they can redirect to various dubious websites (e.g. pornography, adult-dating, gambling and others).

If you encounter these ads/redirects, inspect the system and immediately eliminate all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with ActiveMulti, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Pop-up window displayed once ActiveMulti installation is complete:

pop-up displayed once ActiveMulti installation is done

ActiveMulti redirecting users to Safe Finder website via akamaihd.net:

ActiveMulti redirecting users to Safe Finder website via akamaihd.net

ActiveMulti adware installation folder:

ActiveMulti adware install 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:

Video showing how to remove ActiveMulti adware using Combo Cleaner:

ActiveMulti adware removal:

Remove ActiveMulti-related potentially unwanted applications from your "Applications" folder:

mac browser hijacker removal from 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

Mac Go To Folder step

Click the Finder icon, from the menu bar. Choose Go, and click Go to Folder...

Mac removing related files and folders - step 1Check for adware generated files in the /Library/LaunchAgents/ folder:

Mac go to /Library/LaunchAgents - step 1

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: /Library/LaunchAgents/

Mac go to /Library/LaunchAgents - step 2

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.

Mac removing related files and folders - step 2Check for adware generated files in the ~/Library/Application Support/ folder:

Mac go to /Library/Application Support - step 1

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: ~/Library/Application Support/

Mac go to /Library/Application Support - step 2

In the "Application Support" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious folders. For example, "MplayerX" or "NicePlayer", and move these folders to the Trash.

Mac removing related files and folders - step 3Check for adware generated files in the ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ folder:

Mac go to ~/Library/LaunchAgents - step 1

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: ~/Library/LaunchAgents/

Mac go to ~/Library/LaunchAgents - step 2

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.

Mac removing related files and folders - step 4Check for adware generated files in the /Library/LaunchDaemons/ folder:

Mac go to /Library/LaunchDaemons - step 1

In the "Go to Folder..." bar, type: /Library/LaunchDaemons/

Mac go to /Library/LaunchDaemons - step 2

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.

Mac removing malware related files and folders - step 5Scan 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.

Mac remove malware with Combo Cleaner - step 1

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.

Mac remove malware with Combo Cleaner - step 2

After removing files and folders generated by the adware, continue to remove rogue extensions from your Internet browsers.

Remove malicious extensions from Internet browsers

Safari iconRemove malicious Safari extensions:

Removal of malicious extensions in Safari - step 1

Open the Safari browser, from the menu bar, select "Safari" and click "Preferences...".

Removal of malicious extensions in Safari - step 2

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.

Google Chrome logoRemove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Removal of malicious extensions in Google Chrome - step 1

Click the Chrome menu icon Google 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".

Removal of malicious extensions in Google Chrome - step 2

  • If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.

Mozilla Firefox logoRemove malicious extensions from Mozilla Firefox:

Removal of malicious extensions in Mozilla Firefox - step 1

Click the Firefox menu firefox menu icon (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".

Removal of malicious extensions in Mozilla Firefox - step 2

  • If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Mozilla Firefox.

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About the author:

Tomas Meskauskas

Tomas Meskauskas - expert security researcher, professional malware analyst.

I am passionate about computer security and technology. I have an experience of over 10 years working in various companies related to computer technical issue solving and Internet security. I have been working as an author and editor for pcrisk.com since 2010. Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn to stay informed about the latest online security threats. Contact Tomas Meskauskas.

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Malware activity

Global malware activity level today:

Medium threat activity

Increased attack rate of infections detected within the last 24 hours.

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