How to uninstall AdjustableSkill adware from the operating system

What is AdjustableSkill?

AdjustableSkill is an adware-type application with browser hijacker traits. Following successful installation, it runs intrusive advertisement campaigns (i.e. delivers various ads), makes alterations to browser settings and promotes fake search engines. AdjustableSkill promotes z6airr.com in this way.

Note that on Google Chrome browsers, it promotes search.navigationbuffer.com. Additionally, most adware-type apps and browser hijackers have data tracking capabilities, which are employed to monitor users' browsing activity. Due to the dubious techniques used to proliferate AdjustableSkill, it is classified as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA).

One of the methods used to distribute this app is via fake Adobe Flash Player updates. Note that rogue software updaters/installers are used to spread Trojans, ransomware and other malware, as well as PUAs.

Adware delivers pop-ups, banners, coupons, full-page and other intrusive ads. These significantly diminish the browsing experience, since they overlay web page content and restrict browsing speed. Furthermore, once clicked, intrusive ads redirect to various untrusted/malicious websites and some can even stealthily download/install rogue software (e.g. PUAs).

Browser hijackers assign the addresses of fake search engines as the homepage, default search engine and new tab/window URLs. Therefore, with this software installed, new browser tabs/windows opened and searches made via the URL bar redirect to the promoted address.

AdjustableSkill promotes z6airr.com or search.navigationbuffer.com in this manner. Fake search engines are seldom capable of generating unique results, and so they redirect to (or cause redirection chains ending with) Yahoo, Bing, Google and other legitimate sites.

Browser hijackers can also limit/deny access to the browser settings and/or reset any permitted changes made. Therefore, recovering a hijacked browser is impossible without removing the software affecting it.

Most PUAs (adware and browser hijackers included) can monitor browsing activity (visited URLs, viewed pages, searched queries, etc.) and collect personal information extracted from it (IP addresses, geolocations and other details). The collected data is typically shared with and/or sold to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals).

To summarize, the presence of unwanted apps on devices can lead to system infections, financial loss, serious privacy issues and even identity theft. To ensure device and user safety, all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins must be eliminated without delay.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by AdjustableSkill
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:AdAgent-L [Adw]), Sophos AV (Adloadr (PUA)), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Synataeb.C), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Adload.i), 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.

NetProgress, PersonalSearch and PracticalRemote are some examples of other adware-type apps. They may seem normal and innocuous, and users are enticed into download/installation with offers of "useful" functionality. Despite how good the features promised may sound, they are rarely operational.

This is true of most PUAs. The only purpose of this unwanted software is to generate revenue at users' expense. Rather than delivering any real value, PUAs run intrusive ad campaigns, hijack browsers, cause redirects and gather private data.

How did AdjustableSkill install on my computer?

PUAs are distributed through the download/installation set-ups of other products. This deceptive marketing technique of packing regular software with unwanted or malicious additions is called "bundling".

Rushing download/installation processes (e.g. ignoring terms, skipping steps and sections, etc.) increases the risk of inadvertently allowing dubious and/or bundled content into the system. Intrusive advertisements proliferate these applications as well. When clicked, they can execute scripts to make downloads/installations without users' permission.

Some PUAs have "official" promotional sites, from which they can be downloaded.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

You are strongly advised to research all products prior to download/installation and/or purchase. Use only official and verified download channels. Unofficial and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks and other third party downloaders commonly offer deceptive and/or bundled content, and are therefore untrusted.

When downloading/installing, read the terms, study all available options, use the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings and opt-out of supplementary apps, tools, features, and so on. Intrusive ads may seem legitimate, however, they can redirect to dubious web pages (e.g. gambling, pornography, adult-dating, and many others).

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

AdjustableSkill adware distributed via fake Adobe Flash Player updater/installer:

Pop-up window displayed once AdjustableSkill adware installation is complete:

AdjustableSkill adware installed onto the Safari browser:

Appearance of AdjustableSkill adware promoting z6airr.com (GIF):

Google Chrome browser settings modified by AdjustableSkill adware, assigning search.navigationbuffer.com as the default:

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

Video showing how to remove AdjustableSkill adware using Combo Cleaner:

AdjustableSkill adware removal:

Remove AdjustableSkill-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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