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How to remove ServiceBuilder adware

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

What is ServiceBuilder?

ServiceBuilder supposedly improves the browsing experience and is useful in various other ways, however, this app serves advertisements, gathers information (including private, sensitive details) and promotes Safe Finder (by opening it via akamaihd.net).

In most cases, people download and install adware unintentionally. Therefore, ServiceBuilder and other apps of this type are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

ServiceBuilder adware

Typically, software such as ServiceBuilder feeds users with coupons, banners, surveys, pop-ups and other advertisements that conceal underlying content of visited web pages. People who click these ads are often led to untrusted, potentially malicious websites or they allow them to execute scripts designed to cause download/installation of unwanted software.

Furthermore, ServiceBuilder can read data such as credit card details, telephone numbers, passwords and other sensitive information. The developers sell the data to third parties including cyber criminals or misuse it to make fraudulent purchases/transactions, steal identities and accounts, etc.

Therefore, ServiceBuilder's users might become victims of identity theft, suffer monetary loss, experience problems relating to online privacy and other serious issues. Note that ServiceBuilder might record information relating to users' browsing habits. For example, details such as geolocations, entered search queries, addresses of visited pages, IP addresses, etc.

In any case, ServiceBuilder and other apps of this type should be removed from your browser and computer immediately.

Threat Summary:
Name Ads by ServiceBuilder
Threat Type Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Synataeb.D), 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.

More examples of similar adware are DisplaySuccess, CoordinatorMedia and GroupSource. Commonly, these apps are advertised as useful and legitimate.

They supposedly deliver various features, improve the browsing experience and provide other value, however, adware-type apps are designed only to serve advertisements and gather data, which can cause serious problems.

How did ServiceBuilder install on my computer?

Typically, people download and install PUAs together with other (usually free) programs. I.e., when these apps are included into the download/installation set-ups as 'additional offers'. This distribution method of potentially unwanted apps is known as "bundling".

Unwanted downloads and installations are caused when people acquire their programs without checking and changing the default settings, and declining offers to download or install additional apps. Typically, these offers are mentioned in "Advanced", "Custom", and "Manual" settings.

These unwanted downloads and installations can also be caused by clicking deceptive advertisements that execute certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

All programs and files should be downloaded from official pages and through direct links. Other channels and sources such as third party downloaders, unofficial web pages, and Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., torrent clients, eMule) should not be used. The same applies to installations via third party installers.

Furthermore, download and installation set-ups that contain settings such as "Custom", "Advanced" should be checked for offers to download or install additional (unwanted) software. Additional downloads and installations can be avoided by changing the settings (decline additional offers of software) before completing the process.

Do not trust or click ads that appear on dubious web pages, since they can open untrusted web pages or cause unwanted downloads/installations. Remove any unwanted/unknown or suspicious extensions, add-ons or plug-ins installed on the browser. Also remove any programs of this kind installed on the operating system immediately.

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

Pop-up window displayed once ServiceBuilder installation is complete:

pop-up displayed once ServiceBuilder installation is done

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

ServiceBuilder redirecting users to Safe Finder website via akamaihd.net

ServiceBuilder installed on Safari:

servicebuilder adware installed on safari 

ServiceBuilder installation folder:

servicebuilder adware contents 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 ServiceBuilder adware using Combo Cleaner:

ServiceBuilder adware removal:

Remove ServiceBuilder-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.

PCrisk security portal is brought by a company RCS LT. Joined forces of security researchers help educate computer users about the latest online security threats. More information about the company RCS LT.

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Removal Instructions in other languages
Malware activity

Global malware activity level today:

Medium threat activity

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

QR Code
Ads by ServiceBuilder QR code
Scan this QR code to have an easy access removal guide of Ads by ServiceBuilder on your mobile device.
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Platform: macOS

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