How to remove the DominantFormula adware from your operating system?

What is DominantFormula?

DominantFormula is a piece of rogue software classified as adware. Additionally, it has browser hijacker qualities. DominantFormula runs intrusive advertisement campaigns, modifies browsers to promote fake search engines, and likely spies on users' browsing activity and collects sensitive data.

Since most users download/install adware and browser hijackers unintentionally, they are also categorized as PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications). Software like DominantFormula is commonly distributed via fraudulent Adobe Flash Player updates. It is noteworthy that fake updaters/installers may proliferate malware.

DominantFormula adware in detail

Adware can deliver various banners, pop-ups, coupons, surveys, full-page, and other intrusive advertisements. These ads severely diminish the browsing experience by overlaying webpage content and slowing down the browsing speed. Furthermore, intrusive adverts pose a threat to device and user safety.

The advertisements endorse a variety of sale-based pages (either legitimate or fraudulent products), rogue, untrustworthy, deceptive/scam, compromised, and malicious websites. What is more, some intrusive ads can be triggered (by being clicked) to download/install software (e.g., PUAs) stealthily.

Browser hijackers reassign browsers' homepage, default search engine, and new tab/window URLs - to fake web searcher addresses. Hence, every single new browser tab/window opened and search queries typed into the URL bar - redirect to the promoted address.

Illegitimate search engines usually cannot provide search results, so they redirect to (or cause redirection chains ending with) Yahoo, Bing, Google, and other genuine ones. Browser hijackers can undo any changes users try to make to their browsers, and/or they can deny access to the browser settings. Therefore, restoring a hijacked browser is impossible without removing the software affecting it.

DominantFormula may have data tracking abilities, as it is typical of such software. Targeted information includes: browsing and search engine histories, 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 apps on devices can lead to system infections, severe privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft. To ensure device integrity and user privacy, all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins must be removed without delay.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by DominantFormula
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AG [Adw]), Combo Cleaner (Adware.MAC.Generic.23224), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Synataeb.F), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Adload.h), 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.

Adware in general

UpgradedPlatform, DigitalSearchApp, AnalyserKey, SearchPrimaryData, and ExtendedTransaction are some examples of apps within the adware classification. They appear ordinary and harmless. Users are lured into download/installation with nonoperational functionalities.

Practically all PUAs promise various features that seldom work as advertised, and in most cases - they do not work at all. The only purpose of unwanted software is to generate revenue for the developers. PUAs are designed to run intrusive ad campaigns, hijack browsers, cause redirects, and collect private information.

How did DominantFormula install on my computer?

PUAs are spread via download/installation setups of other products. This false marketing technique of packing regular software with unwanted or malicious additions - is called "bundling". These supplements can be left unmentioned or hidden within the "Custom/Advanced" install settings.

Hence, by rushing through download/installation processes (e.g., ignoring terms, skipping steps and sections, using "Easy/Express" settings, etc.), users risk inadvertently allowing bundled content into their devices, thereby endangering the systems with potential infections.

Intrusive ads are also used to proliferate PUAs. Once clicked on, the advertisements can execute scripts to download/install these applications without user permission. Some PUAs may have "official" promotional sites from which they can be downloaded and/or purchased.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

It is recommended to research products prior to download/installation and/or purchase. Only official and verified download channels must be used. Untrustworthy sources, e.g., unofficial and freeware websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, and other third-party downloaders - often offer bundled and harmful content.

When downloading/installing, it is advised to read terms, explore possible options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings to opt-put from additional apps, tools, features, etc. Intrusive advertisements appear legitimate; however, they redirect to various questionable sites (e.g., gambling, pornography, adult-dating, and so forth).

Should users encounter such ads and/or redirects, they must check their devices and immediately remove all dubious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins detected. If your computer is already infected with DominantFormula, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Pop-up window displayed once DominantFormula adware's installation is over:

DominantFormula adware's installation folder:

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

Video showing how to remove DominantFormula adware using Combo Cleaner:

DominantFormula adware removal:

Remove DominantFormula-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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