How to remove the AccessibilityDock adware?

How to remove AccessibilityDock from Mac?

What is AccessibilityDock?

AccessibilityDock is designed to generate advertisements and force users to use a fake search engine (visit its address). In other words, AccessibilityDock is designed to function as adware and a browser hijacker. Additionally, this app may be designed to collect information about its users (details relating to browsing habits or other information). It is not common for apps like AccessibilityDock to be downloaded and installed by users on purpose. For this reason, they are called potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

Typically, apps like AccessibilityDock generate revenue for their developers by serving banners, coupons, pop-up ads, surveys, or other advertisements. Users who click on those advertisements open dubious pages (e.g., download pages for PUAs, scam websites). Sometimes by clicking on those ads, users cause unwanted downloads, installations. However, they cause it only when the ads that they have clicked are designed to execute certain scripts. Another problem with the AccessibilityDock application is that it hijacks browsers by changing their settings such as the address of a homepage, new tab, and default search engine. It changes them to an address of a fake search engine. Typically, fake search engines show results generated by another search engine (legitimate engine like Google or some questionable search engine) or generate results that may include links to untrustworthy pages and dubious advertisements. It is noteworthy that a hijacked browser cannot be stopped from opening a certain address unless a browser hijacker (in this case, AccessibilityDock) is no longer installed on it.

Furthermore, it is possible that AccessibilityDock is designed to gather Internet Protocol addresses, URLs of visited websites, geolocations, entered search queries, and other data of this kind. Moreover, it may be capable of reading sensitive information, such as credit card details, saved passwords, telephone numbers, or other personal data. It is common that PUAs collect information that could be monetized in some way (e.g., used for marketing purposes or sold to third parties). What is worse, developers of PUAs that can access sensitive data may use it to make fraudulent purchases, transactions, steal accounts, identities, etc. It is not safe to have AccessibilityDock or any other app of this kind installed on the operating system or a web browser.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by AccessibilityDock
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.

It is common that apps like AccessibilityDock are advertised as legitimate applications with valuable features. However, these apps do not improve the browsing experience or are useful in any other way. On the contrary, they feed users with ads, force them to visit shady addresses, and (or) collect data about them that later could be misused for questionable or even malicious purposes. If AccessibilityDock or any other app is installed, then it should be uninstalled immediately. A couple of examples of other apps like AccessibilityDock are ExpandedTask, CacheImprovment, and MicroClick.

How did AccessibilityDock install on my computer?

In most cases, users download, install potentially unwanted apps unintentionally. In some cases, users cause it by clicking deceptive ads that can cause downloads, installations of PUAs by running certain scripts. In other cases, when PUAs are included in downloaders, installers of other programs as additional offers. This software distribution method is called "bundling". It is used to trick users into downloading, installing PUAs alongside wanted (usually free) programs. Additionally, included/bundled apps can opted out using "Custom", "Advanced" (or other settings), or by unticking checkboxes. Users download and install PUAs when they finish downloads, installations without changing any of those settings.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

It is advisable to download applications (and files) from official websites, platforms like App Store, and via direct links. Other sources for downloading them are not reliable - for example, third-party downloaders, torrent clients, eMule, or other Peer-to-Peer networks, unofficial websites. Third-party installers should never be used as tools to install apps too. It is also recommended not to finish downloads, installations without checking downloaders, installers for "Advanced", "Custom," or other settings, or checkboxes. In other words, downloads, installations should be finished only after declining unwanted offers. Additionally, it is advisable to avoid clicking on ads while visiting shady websites. Those ads can cause unexpected, unwanted downloads, installations, or open shady pages. Unknown, unwanted, suspicious extensions, plug-ins, or add-ons installed on a web browser and software of this kind installed on the operating system should be removed. If your computer is already infected with AccessibilityDock, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Pop-up window that appears once AccessibilityDock is installed:

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

Video showing how to remove AccessibilityDock adware using Combo Cleaner:

AccessibilityDock adware removal:

Remove AccessibilityDock-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 accessibilitydock 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 AccessibilityDock removal from Internet browsers:

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Remove ads by accessibilitydock 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 accessibilitydock 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 accessibilitydock 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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