How to remove the EssentialElement adware from your operating system?

How to remove EssentialElement adware from Mac?

What is EssentialElement?

EssentialElement is a rogue app, classified as adware. Additionally, it has browser hijacker qualities. Following successful installation, EssentialElement runs intrusive advertisement campaigns and makes alterations to browser settings - in order to promote illegitimate search engines. Due to the dubious techniques used to distribute EssentialElement, it is also considered to be a PUA (Potentially Unwanted Application). Most PUAs (adware and browser hijackers included) have data tracking abilities, which are employed to spy on users' browsing activity.

Adware delivers pop-ups, banners, surveys, coupons, full-page and other intrusive ads. They overlay webpage content and slow down the browsing speed, thereby seriously diminishing the browsing quality. However, these adverts are more than just a nuisance. Once clicked on, intrusive advertisements redirect to a variety of unreliable/malicious websites and some can even stealthily download/install software (e.g. PUAs). Browser hijackers assign the addresses of illegitimate web searchers as browsers' homepage, default search engine and new tab/window URLs. Hence, every single new browser tab/window opened and web search done via the URL bar - redirect to the address of the promoted search engine. These fake web searchers are seldom able to provide search results, so they tend to redirect to (or cause redirection chains ending with) Yahoo, Bing, Google and other legitimate search engines. Furthermore, browser hijackers can reset any changes users attempt to make to their browsers and/or restrict/deny access to the browsers' settings outright - to ensure persistence. Therefore, recovering an affected browser is impossible without removing the software hijacking it. What is more, PUAs usually monitor browsing activity (URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries typed, etc.) and collect personal information inferred from it (IP addresses, geolocations and other details). The gathered data is monetized by being shared with and/or sold to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals). In summary, presence of unwanted software on devices can lead to system infections, severe privacy issues, financial losses and even identity theft. To protect device integrity and user safety, all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins must be removed without delay.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by EssentialElement
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 three days free trial available.

LeadingLibrary, AdminLink, MegaSource and SkillFormat are some examples of other adware-type apps. They appear ordinary and innocuous. In addition, adware typically offers a broad range of "handy" features. However, these functions rarely operate as promised and in most cases - they are utterly nonoperational. In fact, this applies to nearly all PUAs. The only goal of unwanted software is to generate profit for the developers. Therefore instead of delivering on any promises, PUAs can run intrusive ad campaigns, cause redirects, hijack browsers and collect sensitive data.

How did EssentialElement install on my computer?

PUAs can be downloaded/installed together with other software. This deceptive marketing method of packing regular products with unwanted or malicious additions - is termed "bundling". By rushing through download/installation processes (e.g. by ignoring terms, using pre-set options, etc.) - users risk inadvertently allowing dubious and/or bundled content into their devices. Intrusive advertisements are also used to proliferate PUAs. When clicked on, the ads can execute scripts to download/install these applications. Some PUAs have "official" download webpages as well.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

It is important to research software prior to download/installation and/or purchase. Only official and verified download channels must be used. Unofficial and free file-hosting sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks and other third party downloaders - are deemed to be untrustworthy, due to often offering harmful and/or bundled content. Download and installation processes must be treated with caution; that includes - reading terms, studying all possible options, using the "Custom/Advanced" settings and opting-out from supplementary apps, tools, functions and other additions. Intrusive adverts appear legitimate, however they redirect to various questionable websites (e.g. gambling, adult-dating, pornography, etc.). In case of encounters with such ads and/or redirects, the system must be inspected and all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins detected - immediately removed from it. If your computer is already infected with EssentialElement, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Pop-up window displayed once EssentialElement adware's installation is over:

EssentialElement adware's installation folder:

Instant automatic Mac malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced computer 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 three days free trial available.

Quick menu:

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

Video showing how to remove EssentialElement adware using Combo Cleaner:

EssentialElement adware removal:

Remove EssentialElement-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 ads by essentialelement 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 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 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 in the correct order you Mac should be clean of infections. To be sure 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 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 it's virus definition database and click "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.

Ads by EssentialElement removal from Internet browsers:

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Remove ads by essentialelement related Safari extensions:

Open 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 normal browser operation.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Safari.

Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Remove ads by essentialelement related Mozilla Firefox add-ons:

Open your Mozilla Firefox browser. At the top right corner of the screen, click the "Open Menu" (three horizontal lines) button. From the opened menu, choose "Add-ons".

Choose the "Extensions" tab and look for any recently-installed suspicious add-ons. When located, click the "Remove" button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Mozilla Firefox browser - none are crucial for normal browser operation.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Mozilla Firefox.

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Remove ads by essentialelement related Google Chrome add-ons:

Open Google Chrome and click the "Chrome menu" (three horizontal lines) button located in the top-right corner of the browser window. From the drop-down menu, choose "More Tools" and select "Extensions".

In the "Extensions" window, look for any recently-installed suspicious add-ons. When located, click the "Trash" button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Google Chrome browser - none are crucial for normal browser operation.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.

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