How to remove the ElemntState adware from your operating system?
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is ElemntState?
ElemntState is a rogue application classified as adware. This app also has browser hijacker qualities. Following successful installation, it delivers intrusive advertisement campaigns and causes redirects to fake search engines (through modifications to browser settings).
ElemntState likely has data tracking abilities, as that is typical of adware and browser hijackers. Since most users download/install this piece of software inadvertently, it is categorized as a PUA (Potentially Unwanted Applications).
One of the deceptive techniques used to distribute ElemntState is proliferation via fake Adobe Flash Player updates. It is noteworthy that fraudulent updaters/installers are used to spread not just PUAs but malware (e.g., trojans, ransomware, etc.) as well.
Adware enables the placement of banners, pop-ups, coupons, surveys, full-page, and other intrusive advertisements. This graphical content is placed on any visited website and/or different interfaces.
The adverts slow down the browsing speed and overlay webpages, thereby crippling the browsing experience. Furthermore, intrusive ads endanger device and user safety.
Once clicked on, the advertisements redirect to various rogue, misleading, compromised, deceptive/scam, and malicious sites. What is more, some of these ads can be triggered (by being clicked) to execute scripts to stealthily download/install software (e.g., PUAs).
Browser hijackers make alterations to browser settings - in order to promote fake search engines. They reassign browsers' homepage, new tab/window, and default search engine URLs - to fake web searcher addresses.
Hence, with such a piece of software installed: new browser tabs/windows opened and search queries typed into the URL bar - redirect to the promoted search engine. Illegitimate web searchers usually cannot generate search results, so they tend to redirect to (or cause redirection chains ending with) Yahoo, Bing, Google, and other genuine search engines.
Browser hijackers can restrict/deny access to the browser settings and/or undo any permitted changes made. Therefore, recovering a hijacked browser is impossible without removing the software affecting it.
Most PUAs (adware and browser hijackers included) can track data. Targeted information includes: browsing and search engine histories (e.g., URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries typed, etc.), IP addresses/ geolocations, personally identifiable details, and so forth.
The gathered data is then monetized by being shared with and/or sold to third-parties (potentially, cyber criminals). In summary, the presence of unwanted software on devices can lead to system infections, severe privacy issues, financial losses, and identity theft.
To protect device and user safety, all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins must be eliminated immediately upon detection.
| Name | Ads by ElemntState |
| Threat Type | Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus |
| Detection Names (.service) | Avast (MacOS:Adload-AM [Trj]), Cyren (MacOS/Adload.A.gen!Camelot), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/TrojanDownloader.Adload.AE), Ikarus (Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload), Full List (VirusTotal) |
| Detection Names (.system) | Avast (MacOS:Adload-AM [Trj]), Cyren (MacOS/Adload.A.gen!Camelot), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/TrojanDownloader.Adload.AE), Ikarus (Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload), 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. |
BrowserActivity, SphinxLookup, and GeneralObject are some examples of apps within the adware classification. This software usually appears legitimate and harmless.
Users are enticed into download/installation and/or purchase with offers of various "useful" features. However, the promised functions are seldom operational.
In fact, this applies to practically all PUAs. The sole goal of unwanted applications is to generate profit for the developers; they have no real value for the users.
PUAs are designed to run intrusive advert campaigns, force-open untrustworthy and malicious sites, hijack browsers, and collect private information.
How did ElemntState install on my computer?
PUAs are distributed via download/installation setups of other products. This false marketing technique of packing regular software with unwanted or malicious additions - is called "bundling".
Rushed download/installation processes (e.g., ignored terms, skipped steps, etc.) increase the risk of unintentionally allowing bundled content into the system. Intrusive adverts proliferate PUAs as well. Once clicked on, the ads can execute scripts to download/install this software without user permission. PUAs may also have "official" promotional/download webpages.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
It is recommended to research software products before download/installation and/or purchase. Additionally, all downloads must be performed from official and verified sources.
Untrustworthy download channels, e.g., unofficial and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, and other third-party downloaders - often offer harmful and bundled content. When downloading/installing, it is advised to read terms, explore possible options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt-out from additional apps, tools, features, etc.
Intrusive adverts appear ordinary; however, they redirect to highly unreliable and questionable sites (e.g., pornography, gambling, adult-dating, and many others). In case of encounters with such ads or redirects, the system must be checked and all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins detected - immediately removed from it.
If your computer is already infected with ElemntState, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.
Pop-up window displayed when ElemntState adware is present on the system:
Text presented in the pop-up:
"ElemntStated" will damage your computer.
This file was downloaded on an unknown date.
OK
Show in Finder
Delusive installer (fake Adobe Flash Player updater) promoting ElemntState adware;
First installation step:
Second installation step:
Files related to the ElemntState adware that need to be removed:
- ~/Library/Application Support/.[random_string]/Services/com.ElemntState.service.app
- ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.ElemntState.service.plist
- /Library/Application Support/.[random_string]/System/com.ElemntState.system
- /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.ElemntState.system.plist
IMPORTANT NOTE! In some cases malicious applications like ElemntState alter system proxy settings, thereby causing unwanted redirects to a variety of questionable websites.
The redirects are likely to remain even after removing the application itself. Thus, you'll have to restore them manually.
Step 1: Click on the gear icon in the Dock to navigate to the system settings. If the icon is not present in the Dock, you can find it in the Launchpad.
Step 2: Navigate to the Network settings.
Step 3: Select the connected network and click "Advanced...".
Step 4: Click on the "Proxies" tab and untick all the protocols. You should also set the settings of each protocol to default - "*.local, 169.254/16".
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 ElemntState?
- STEP 1. Remove ElemntState related files and folders from OSX.
- STEP 2. Remove ElemntState ads from Safari.
- STEP 3. Remove ElemntState adware from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove ElemntState ads from Mozilla Firefox.
Video showing how to remove ElemntState adware using Combo Cleaner:
ElemntState adware removal:
Remove ElemntState-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.
Outstanding!
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