How to remove PromoteOptimization adware

What is PromoteOptimization?

PromoteOptimization is designed to serve advertisements, collect sensitive information, and promote z6airr.com and adjustablesample.com (addresses of fake search engines) by changing certain browser settings. In this way, it functions as adware and a browser hijacker.

In most cases, users download and install apps like PromoteOptimization unintentionally and, for this reason, they are classified as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

In most cases, adware serves banners, coupons, banners, surveys, pop-ups and other types of advertisements. These can open dubious websites or even execute scripts designed to cause download/installation of PUAs. Therefore, it is not safe to click ads served by adware.

As mentioned, PromoteOptimization promotes z6airr.com (if installed on Safari) and adjustablesample.com (if installed on Chrome). Generally, apps of this kind promote fake search engines by changing browser settings such as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab.

These search engines are fake, since they do not generate unique results - they simply display results generated by other search engines (e.g., Yahoo, Google, Bing). Note that z6airr.com and adjustablesample.com redirect users to search.yahoo.com.

Some can also include links to untrusted websites in their results. Note that browser hijackers often prevent users from removing the fake search engine URLs from browser settings (the only solution is to uninstall the hijacker from the browser and operating system).

Furthermore, PromoteOptimization can read sensitive information from web browsers, including telephone numbers, credit card details and passwords. This information can be misused steal personal accounts and identities, make fraudulent transactions and purchases, and for other purposes.

Furthermore, the data could be sold to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals). Therefore, PromoteOptimization users might become victims of identity theft, suffer monetary loss, and experience problems relating to privacy, browsing safety and other issues.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by PromoteOptimization
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:AdAgent-L [Adw]), AVG (MacOS:AdAgent-L [Adw]), 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.

Examples of other apps similar to PromoteOptimization are ProgramInitiator, ExtendedWindow and PracticalProcesser. They display advertisements, gather data and promote fake search engines. They are useless for regular users. Having these apps installed on the browser and/or computer can cause serious problems.

Therefore, never download or install PromoteOptimization or other similar apps.

How did PromoteOptimization install on my computer?

Commonly, adware, browser hijackers and other PUAs are distributed through the download/installation set-ups of other programs. This distribution method is known as "bundling". Developers who use it, include PUAs into the set-ups as 'additional offers', which can be found in "Custom", "Advanced", and other similar settings.

When users download and install programs without checking and changing these setting, they agree by default with offers to download and install additionally-included software (PUAs). In some cases, unwanted downloads and installations are caused by clicking deceptive advertisements that execute certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Check all "Custom", "Advanced ansd other similar settings, and decline offers to download or install additionally-included apps. Download files and programs only from official websites and using direct download links. Third party downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., torrent clients, eMule, etc.) are used to distribute unwanted, even malicious apps.

Do not click intrusive ads that appear on pages relating to pornography, adult dating, gambling and so on, since they can open dubious pages or even execute scripts designed to download and install unwanted apps. Remove any unwanted, suspicious extensions, add-ons and plug-ins that are installed on the browser, and programs of this kind installed on the operating system.

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

Pop-up window displayed once PromoteOptimization installation is complete.

PromoteOptimization adware installed on Safari:

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

Video showing how to remove PromoteOptimization adware using Combo Cleaner:

PromoteOptimization adware removal:

Remove PromoteOptimization-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.

▼ Show Discussion