How to remove GeneralCache adware

What is GeneralCache?

The GeneralCache app is designed to display ads, promote the Safe Finder website via akamaihd.net, and promote a fake search engine by changing certain browser settings. Generally, these apps also gather data. Therefore, GeneralCache operates as adware and a browser hijacker.

People often download and install these programs unintentionally and, for this reason, they are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

Apps such as GeneralCache feed users with intrusive ads - they display coupons, banners, surveys, pop-ups and others. You are advised against trusting or clicking ads that are served by such software. They can open dubious websites and sometimes even cause unwanted downloads and installations by running certain scripts.

Furthermore, GeneralCache has characteristics of a browser hijacker: it promotes a fake search engine. Generally, these PUAs achieve this by modifying browsers settings such as the address of the homepage, default search engine, and new tab.

In this way, they ensure that users are forced to visit a certain address when they open a browser, new tab, or enter search queries into the URL bar. When used to search, fake search engines display results generated by other search engines or generate results that might include links to dubious pages.

Apps that promote fake search engines can also prevent users from removing their addresses from browser settings. The only solution is to remove the browser hijacker. GeneralCache and similar apps often track browsing-related information (like IP addresses, geolocations, entered search queries, addresses of visited pages, etc.), and other private, sensitive details.

The developers misuse the information to generate revenue by selling it to third parties, or in various other ways. Note that the data might even be sold to cyber criminals. This particular app can read passwords, credit card details and some other sensitive information, which could  be misused to make fraudulent purchases and transactions, steal identities, accounts, etc.

Therefore, never trust or install software such as GeneralCache. If it is already installed, remove it from browsers and operating systems immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by GeneralCache
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Additional Information	This application belongs to 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.

GeneralCache is very similar to many other adware-type apps including, for example, BasicDesktop, TypicalFraction and ProduceStyle.

These apps are advertised as useful, and supposedly include various features, however, most are designed only to generate revenue for the developers by serving ads and gathering information. Furthermore, they can cause various issues, depending on what data they can read.

How did GeneralCache install on my computer?

In many cases, users inadvertently download and/or install potentially unwanted apps by clicking deceptive ads that execute certain scripts. They are more often causes by downloading and/or installing programs that have PUAs included into the set-ups. This second PUA distribution method is called "bundling".

Developers include unwanted apps into the set-ups of various programs and do not disclose related information properly. Offers to download and/or install the unwanted apps are mentioned in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings of set-ups, however, many users fail to check and change these settings, thereby allowing PUAs to infiltrate.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Third party downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g, torrent clients, eMule), free file hosting pages, and so on, are often used to distribute potentially unwanted, sometimes even malicious, apps.

Therefore, download only from official pages and through direct links. Check all "Advanced", "Custom" and other settings of the setups and decline offers to download or install additional, unwanted apps. Do not click ads that are displayed on dubious web pages, since these can open other rogue web pages and execute scripts that cause download/installation of unwanted apps.

Remove any unwanted, suspicious extension, add-ons and plug-ins already installed on the browser immediately. Also remove software of this kind that is installed on the computer. If your computer is already infected with GeneralCache, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Pop-up window displayed once GeneralCache installation is complete:

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

GeneralCache installed on Safari:

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

Video showing how to remove GeneralCache adware using Combo Cleaner:

GeneralCache adware removal:

Remove GeneralCache-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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