How to remove the TypeInitiator adware?

What is TypeInitiator?

TypeInitiator is a type of software that generates revenue for its developer by automatically displaying advertisements. It is important to mention that this app has characteristics of a browser hijacker - it changes certain browser's settings to promote a fake search engine. Typically, users download and install apps oft his type unknowingly. For this reason, they are called potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

TypeInitiator in detail

Usually, applications like TypeInitiator generate banners, coupons, surveys, pop-up ads and other advertisements. The problem with ads displayed by apps like TypeInitiator is that they can be designed to open untrustworthy websites (pages like jagmocutiong[.]com, dency[.]site and so on), or run certain scripts and cause unexpected downloads, installations (download or install PUAs).

Therefore, it is not safe to click ads that appear because an app like TypeInitiator is installed on a browser or the operating system. Another reason not to download and install TypeInitiator is that this app hijacks browsers by changing their settings.

More precisely, this app promotes a fake search engine (its address) by changing settings such as the address of a default search engine, homepage and new tab. Usually, fake search engines show results generated by legitimate engines like Yahoo, Google, or they generate their own results that may contain links to potentially malicious pages.

In one way or another, it highly advisable not to use any fake search engines or trust apps designed to promote them. One more problem with adware-type apps and browser hijackers is that they can be designed to collect IP addresses, geolocations, addresses of opened pages, entered search queries, and other browsing data or even sensitive details.

In some cases, apps of this kind are capable of accessing data that could be used to steal online accounts, identities, make fraudulent purchases, unauthorized transactions, and so on. More precisely, apps of this kind can be designed to collect login credentials, credit card details, email addresses, names, surnames and other personal information.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by TypeInitiator
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names (.service)	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AM [Trj]), AVG (MacOS:Adload-AM [Trj]), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/TrojanDownloader.Adload.AE), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Cimpli.m), Full List (VirusTotal)
Detection Names (.system)	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AM [Trj]), AVG (MacOS:Adload-AM [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 seven days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

More adware examples

StartEssentials, CharacterSearch, and DefaultUpgrade are the names of other adware-type applications. It is worth mentioning that there are lots of other apps of this type on the Internet. Typically, they are useless to their users and can cause various problems. As a rule, the main purpose of adware is to generate revenue for its developer by displaying advertisements.

How did TypeInitiator install on my computer?

Research shows that TypeInitiator is distributed through a deceptive installer that looks like the installer for Adobe Flash Player. It is very common for fake installers to be used as tools to distribute potentially unwanted applications or even malicious programs like trojans, ransomware. It is strongly recommended not to trust apps that are distributed using unofficial installers.

In some cases, users unintentionally download or install potentially unwanted applications by clicking deceptive advertisements. More precisely, when they click advertisements designed to run certain scripts. It is worth mentioning that ads that can cause downloads, installations appear mostly on untrustworthy websites.

More often, users download, install potentially unwanted apps through downloaders, installers for other programs - when apps of this kind are included as additional offers and users do not decline them. Typically, offers to download or install PUAs can be declined by unticking ticked checkboxes or via "Custom", "Advanced", "Manual", or other settings. When users finish downloads and installations without making changes in those settings, they agree to download and install both wanted and unwanted apps.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

It is strongly advisable not to use third-party downloaders or installers, questionable websites, Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., torrent clients, eMule), etc., to download or install programs files. It is common that the aforementioned sources are used to distribute PUAs, malicious apps/files. Downloads should come from reliable sources such as official websites and direct links.

Also, it is not recommended to finish downloads and installations without checking downloaders, installers for "Custom", "Advanced" and other settings and declining unwanted offers. Additionally, it is advisable not to click any ads that questionable websites (for example, on pages relating to gambling, pornography, adult dating) have on them.

Those ads are likely to be used to promote potentially malicious websites or cause unwanted downloads, installations. Also, there should not be any unwanted extensions, plug-ins, or add-ons installed on a browser or programs of this kind installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with TypeInitiator, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Text in the pop-up window displayed when TypeInitiator adware is present on the system:

"TypeInitiatord" will damage your computer.
 
This file was downloaded on an unknown date.

OK
Show in Finder

Delusive application installer promoting TypeInitiator adware:

Delusive application installer promoting TypeInitiator adware (second installation step):

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

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

IMPORTANT NOTE! In some cases malicious applications like TypeInitiator 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 TypeInitiator?
• STEP 1. Remove TypeInitiator related files and folders from OSX.
• STEP 2. Remove TypeInitiator ads from Safari.
• STEP 3. Remove TypeInitiator adware from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove TypeInitiator ads from Mozilla Firefox.

Video showing how to remove TypeInitiator adware using Combo Cleaner:

TypeInitiator adware removal:

Remove TypeInitiator-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.

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