How to uninstall the ProType browser hijacker?

What is ProType?

Browser hijacker is a form of potentially unwanted application (PUA) that modifies browser's settings to promote an address of a fake search engine.

ProType changes browser's settings to search.82paodatc.com. Additionally, this browser hijacker adds "Managed by your organization" to Google Chrome browsers.

It is noteworthy that the majority of apps like ProType collect browsing data. They are called PUAs because most of them get downloaded and installed unintentionally.

It is common that browser hijackers promote fake search engines by changing settings such as the address of a default search engine, homepage, and new tab. ProType changes those addresses to the search.82paodatc.com address.

As mentioned in the introduction paragraph, ProType promotes a fake search engine. More precisely, it forces users to use a search engine that shows results generated by Yahoo and Google (search.82paodatc.com redirects users to search.yahoo.com or google.com).

Although, not all fake search engines show results generated by legitimate search engines. There are fake search engines that generate misleading results (promote questionable websites), display unwanted ads, or redirect users to untrustworthy pages.

In one way or another, it is strongly recommended to use only legitimate search engines and avoid visiting pages like search.82paodatc.com. It is worthwhile to mention that an address like search.82paodatc.com cannot be removed from the browser's settings (changed to another address) - not while a browser hijacker is installed.

Therefore, to be able to remove search.82paodatc.com from settings, users need to uninstall ProType first. It is common that apps like ProType can access and collect information related to user's browsing habits.

For example, IP addresses, geolocations, entered search queries, visited websites, and so on. There are browser hijackers that can access sensitive information as well.

Installed PUAs that collect data should be uninstalled as soon as possible because collected data could be used by their developers to generate revenue. For example, it could be used for marketing purposes, sold to third parties (potentially cybercriminals).

Therefore, the installed browser hijacker may be the reason behind problems related to online privacy, browsing safety, or other issues (for example, identity theft).

Threat Summary:

Name	search.82paodatc.com
Threat Type	Browser hijacker, Mac malware, Mac virus
Serving IP Address	99.84.253.115
Symptoms	Your Mac became slower than normal, you see unwanted pop-up ads, you get redirected to shady websites.
Distribution methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake Flash Player installers, torrent file downloads.
Damage	Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady 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.

There are many browser hijackers like ProType on the Internet. A couple of examples are Conf Search, OpticalRatePro, and AccessibleSearchEngine.

Usually, the main difference between apps of this type is the address (or addresses) that they are designed to promote. In most cases, browser hijackers (and other PUAs) are advertised as useful, legitimate - they are supposed to provide accurate search results, include some features, etc.

However, their main purpose is to generate revenue for their developers in ways that may cause various problems to their users. Therefore, if an app like ProType is installed on a browser or the operating system, then it should be removed.

How did ProType install on my computer?

Sometimes PUAs (including browser hijackers) are distributed via deceptive advertisements that download or install them by executing certain scripts. However, those ads cannot cause undesired downloads, installations if they are not clicked.

A more popular way to distribute PUAs is to include them in downloaders or installers for other programs as additional offers - to bundle them with other programs.

Usually, unwanted offers can be declined via "Manual", "Advanced", "Custom", or other settings, or by unticking ticked checkboxes before finishing downloads or installations. However, not all users check and change those settings, and by not doing so, users agree with any included offers.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Applications should be downloaded from official websites (and through direct links). Downloads from unofficial pages, third-party downloaders, Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., torrent clients, eMule), and other sources of this kind are not trustworthy.

They can be used to distribute PUAs or even malicious programs. It is not safe to use third-party installers too.

Furthermore, it is recommended to check downloaders and installers with "Custom", "Advanced" or other settings (or checkboxes) for additional offers and decline them. Such offers should be declined before finishing downloads, installations.

Additionally, it is recommended not to click ads that appear on questionable pages. Quite often, those ads are used to advertise shady pages or cause unwanted downloads, installations.

All unwanted, unknown, or suspicious extensions, add-ons, or plug-ins installed on a browser or programs of this kind installed on the operating system should be removed. If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate them.

Search.82paodatc.com redirects to search.yahoo.com (GIF):

Search.82paodatc.com redirects to google.com (GIF):

"Managed by your organization" on Chrome:

Search.82paodatc.com in browser's settings as a default search engine:

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Quick menu:

• What is ProType?
• STEP 1. Remove ProType related files and folders from OSX.
• STEP 2. Remove ProType redirect from Safari.
• STEP 3. Remove ProType browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove ProType homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.

Video showing how to remove ProType browser hijacker using Combo Cleaner:

ProType redirect removal:

Remove ProType 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 browser hijacker-related files and folders

Click the Finder icon from the menu bar. Choose Go, and click Go to Folder...

Check for browser hijacker 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 browser hijackers - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Browser hijacker commonly installs several files with the exact same string.

Check for browser hijacker 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 browser hijacker 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 browser hijackers - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Browser hijacker commonly installs several files with the exact same string.

Check for browser hijacker 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 browser hijackers, continue to remove rogue extensions from your Internet browsers.

Remove browser hijackers from Internet browsers

Remove Safari browser hijackers:

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.

Change your homepage:

In the "Preferences" window, select the "General" tab. To set your homepage, type the preferred website URL (for example: www.google.com) in the Homepage field. You can also click the "Set to Current Page" button if you wish to set your homepage to the website you are currently visiting.

Change your default search engine:

In the "Preferences" window, select the "Search" tab. Here you will find a drop-down menu labeled "Search engine:" Simply select your preferred search engine from the drop-down list.

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

Remove Google Chrome browser hijackers:

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".

Change your homepage

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable the malicious extension (if present), look for a browser hijacker URL below the "Open a specific or set of pages" option. If present, click on the three vertical dots icon and select "Remove".

Change your default search engine:

To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list look for a browser hijacker URL, when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Delete".

• 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".

Change your homepage

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Settings", in the opened window disable malicious extension (if present), remove the browser hijacker URL and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change your default search engine:

In the URL address bar, type "about:config" and press Enter. Click "Accept the Risk and Continue".

In the search filter at the top, type: "extensionControlled". Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the button.

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

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