How to uninstall StockCommon adware

What is StockCommon?

StockCommon is an adware-type application, which serves various advertisements via the user interface. Additionally, it is designed to promote the Safe Finder website through another dubious web address (akamaihd.net). Commonly, apps of this type not only serve ads but also collect information relating to users' browsing habits.

StockCommon is likely to have these characteristics. People often download and install adware inadvertently. For this reason, apps such as StockCommon are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

In most cases, people who have adware such as StockCommon installed on the browser and/or operating system are served with ads that include coupons, banners, surveys, pop-ups, etc. Clicking these advertisements allows them to open dubious websites or even download and install other PUAs.

Therefore, never click ads that appear due to installed adware (including those that appear on dubious web pages). Many adware-type apps enable the developers to generate revenue by collecting information relating to browsing activities. Usually, they target details such as geolocations, addresses of opened/visited websites, entered search queries, and IP addresses.

They might also record private, sensitive information. The details are sold to third parties (cyber criminals) who would misuse them to generate revenue in other ways.

It is not safe to have StockCommon or other similar apps installed on browsers and/or computers, since this could cause problems relating to browsing safety and online privacy, and users might even become victims of identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by StockCommon
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names	Endgame (Malicious (moderate Confidence)), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Synataeb.C), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Adload.h), ZoneAlarm by Check Point (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Adload.h), 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 apps that are very similar to StockCommon include TechnologyCustom, BufferKey and BoostSelect. They are advertised as legitimate and useful, however, few improve the browsing experience or deliver any features, or any other value. On the contrary, adware is designed only to display ads and gather information, which can be the reason behind serious issues.

How did StockCommon install on my computer?

PUAs are often distributed using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling", which developers employ to deceive people into downloading and installing unwanted apps together with other programs. They include unwanted apps into the download/installation set-ups of other programs as 'additional offers' and hope that users will fail to decline them.

The offers can generally be found in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings - many users fail to check and change the settings when they download and install programs, thereby allowing rogue apps that are included in the set-ups to infiltrate. Sometimes unwanted downloads and installations can be caused by clicking deceptive ads, which then execute certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Do not use unofficial web pages, Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule), third party downloaders, installers or other channels of this kind to download or install your programs. Use official websites and direct links. Check all "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar options of the download/installation setup and decline any offers to download or install unwanted software.

Do not click intrusive advertisements that appear on dubious pages (e.g., pages relating to gambling, pornography, adult dating), since these can open other untrusted websites or even cause download/installation of unwanted applications.

Remove any unwanted, suspicious extensions, add-ons and plug-ins installed on the browser, and programs of this kind installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with StockCommon, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Pop-up window displayed once StockCommon installation is complete:

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

StockCommon installed on Safari:

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

Video showing how to remove StockCommon adware using Combo Cleaner:

StockCommon adware removal:

Remove StockCommon-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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