How to eliminate the PowerLane adware
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What kind of application is PowerLane?
We have discovered the PowerLane application while visiting download pages for cracked software and pages displaying fake pop-ups. After examining PowerLane, we found that it is an advertising-supported application that can read browsing history and sensitive information from websites.
PowerLane adware in detail
Apps that function as adware generate unwanted advertisements. For example, pop-ups, banners, coupons. More often than not, clicking on those ads opens questionable/potentially malicious websites (various scams, pages used to promote shady apps, and even malicious sites). Thus, we strongly advise not to trust PowerLane and its ads.
Our team has noticed that PowerLane can read passwords, credit card details, other sensitive information, and browsing history. Its developers may misuse such information for malicious purposes - they may use it to steal online accounts, identities, make fraudulent purchases).
| Name | Ads by PowerLane |
| Threat Type | Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus |
| Detection Names | Avast (MacOS:AdAgent-AW [Adw]), Combo Cleaner (Adware.MAC.Generic.25547), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Synataeb.G), Fortinet (Adware/Synataeb!OSX), Full List (VirusTotal) |
| 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. |
More about adware
Adware-type apps can be designed to hijack web browsers - they can change the settings of a web browser to promote a fake search engine. Fake search engines promote shady websites and (or) do not generate any unique results. Examples of apps similar to PowerLane are OptionFlow, SharedAllocate, PremiumLatest.
How did PowerLane install on my computer?
Adware is distributed using deceptive web pages, advertisements, downloaders, or installers for other software. Deceptive websites used to distribute adware usually display fake messages/pop-ups to trick users into installing downloaded software. Ads can download or install adware when designed to run certain scripts.
Downloaders and installers that have adware in them also have "Custom", "Advanced", or other settings. Adware gets downloaded or installed alongside other software when those settings are not changed to deselect unwanted downloads or installations.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Download files and applications from official websites (and through direct links). Avoid opening files downloaded from questionable sources such as unofficial sites, third-party downloaders, free file hosting pages, P2P networks, etc. Do not click on shady ads (ads appearing on dubious pages) and fake "Download" or similar buttons.
Always check downloaders and installers for optional downloads and installations and deselect unwanted ones. If your computer is already infected with PowerLane, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.
A pop-up that appears after the installation of PowerLane adware:
PowerLane installed on Safari:
PowerLane's Contents 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 PowerLane?
- STEP 1. Remove PowerLane related files and folders from OSX.
- STEP 2. Remove PowerLane ads from Safari.
- STEP 3. Remove PowerLane adware from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove PowerLane ads from Mozilla Firefox.
Video showing how to remove PowerLane adware using Combo Cleaner:
PowerLane adware removal:
Remove PowerLane-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.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What harm can adware cause?
Software of this type can slow down a computer, diminish web browsing experience, invade privacy, and (or) cause other issues.
What does adware do?
Adware displays advertisements. Sometimes, it has additional functionality - it hijacks a web browser and (or) collects various data.
How do adware developers generate revenue?
In most cases, they use various affiliate programs to monetize adware. They use their software to advertise various services, products, web pages. In some cases, they use deceptive methods for that.
Will Combo Cleaner remove PowerLane adware?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and eliminate adware (including PowerLane). It will ensure that no files that belong to adware are left in the operating system, which is often a problem while manually removing adware. Commonly, adware components remain in the system even after the (manual) removal.
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