How to remove the CompellingState adware from the operating system?

How to remove CompellingState from Mac?

What is CompellingState?

CompellingState functions not only ad adware but also as a browser hijacker. More precisely, it generates advertisements and modifies browser settings without user's permission. It is likely that CompellingState collects browsing-related and/or other information as well. Typically, users do not download and install such apps on purpose, therefore, they are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs). This app is distributed via fake installer for Adobe Flash Player.

Applications like CompellingState display banners, coupons, pop-up ads, surveys and/or ads of other types. It is common that their ads are designed to promote various untrustworthy websites or even cause unwanted download and/or installation of some shady software by running certain scripts. As mentioned in the first paragraph, CompellingState modifies browser's settings/functions as a browser hijacker. It means that it promotes some fake search engine by changing the address of a homepage, default search engine and new tab to an address of some fake search engine. Typically, such changes can be undone only when a browser hijacker (in this case CompellingState) is no longer installed on a browser and/or the operating system.

Additionally, it is likely that CompellingState collects geolocations, addresses of visited pages, entered search queries, IP addresses and other browsing-related information. Although, it is possible that it collects sensitive information as well. What is worse, its developers could misuse gathered data for malicious purposes. For instance, they could monetize it by selling it to third parties (potentially cyber criminals). In such case users may encounter issues related to browsing safety, privacy, or even have their identities stolen.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by CompellingState
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Agent-MT [Trj]), AVG (MacOS:Agent-MT [Trj]), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/TrojanDownloader.Adload.AE), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Cimpli.m), Full List (VirusTotal)
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.

CompellingState is similar to OperativeMachine, ActivityInput, StandardBoost and many other apps that are designed to generate ads, promote some fake search engine and/or gather various data. Most of these apps are useless to their users and designed only to generate revenue for their developers. Therefore, they should never be installed neither on a browser or the operating system.

How did CompellingState install on my computer?

CompellingState is distributed via fake installer that mimics the installer for Adobe Flash Player. It is worthwhile to mention that fake/third party installers can be used to distribute ransomware, some Trojan-type malware, or other software of this kind as well. Also, it is common that PUAs are distributed by using a marketing method called "bundling". More precisely, by including them in various download and/or installation settings other programs as additional offers. Users agree with unwanted offers when finish downloads and/or installations of certain programs without changing "Custom", "Advanced", or other settings that are available in their download and/or installation setups. Advertisements can be used for distribution of unwanted apps as well - by designing them to execute certain scripts. Users cause unwanted downloads, installations when they click those ads.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Software (and files) should not be downloaded through third party downloaders, Peer-to-Peer networks (like eMule, torrent clients), from unofficial sites, etc., or installed via third party installers. It is advisable to use only official, trustworthy websites and direct download links for that. Downloads and installations should be finished without checking if there are any unwanted offers that could be declined via "Custom", "Advanced", and other similar settings, or by unticking certain checkboxes. Ads on questionable pages should not be trusted as well. Those ads could be designed to execute scripts that would download and/or install of some unwanted software, or they could open other shady pages. Also, there should not be any suspicious, unwanted apps (plug-ins, add-ons, extensions etc.) installed on a web browser or programs of this kind installed on a computer. If your computer is already infected with CompellingState, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Fake Adobe Flash Player installer used to distribute CompellingState:

Files related to the CompellingState adware that need to be removed:

• ~/Library/Application Support/.[random_string]/Services/com.CompellingState.service.app
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.CompellingState.service.plist
• /Library/Application Support/.[random_string]/System/com.CompellingState.system
• /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.CompellingState.system.plist

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

Video showing how to remove CompellingState adware using Combo Cleaner:

CompellingState adware removal:

Remove CompellingState-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 compellingstate 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 CompellingState removal from Internet browsers:

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Remove ads by compellingstate 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 compellingstate 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 compellingstate 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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