Removing CommonOperation adware and the advertisements it displays
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What is CommonOperation?
During a routine inspection of new submissions to VirusTotal, our research team found the CommonOperation application. Following our analysis, we determined that this piece of software operates as adware and belongs to the AdLoad malware family.
CommonOperation adware overview
Adware may require certain conditions (e.g., compatible browser/system specs or user geolocation, visits to particular websites, etc.) to run intrusive advertisement campaigns. However, regardless of whether CommonOperation (or other adware) displays advertisements - its presence endangers device and user safety.
The adverts delivered by advertising-supported software pose various threats, as they typically endorse online scams, untrustworthy/harmful sites and apps, and even malware. Some intrusive ads are capable of infiltrating software into systems upon being clicked.
It is pertinent to mention that any legitimate products encountered via these advertisements are unlikely to be endorsed in this fashion by their actual developers. This promotion is primarily undertaken by scammers abusing the products' affiliate programs to obtain illegitimate commissions.
Furthermore, CommonOperation might have browser hijacker abilities as they are common for AdLoad adware - although this app did not exhibit any during testing.
CommonOperation may also have data tracking functionalities since they are standard for advertising-supported software. Information of interest may include: browsing data, personally identifiable details, log-in credentials, credit card numbers, etc. The gathered data is monetized through sale to third-parties.
To summarize, the presence of software like CommonOperation on devices can result in system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.
| Name | Ads by CommonOperation |
| Threat Type | Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus |
| Detection Names | Avast (MacOS:Adload-AG [Adw]), Combo Cleaner (Gen:Variant.Adware.MAC.AdLoad.13), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Synataeb.G), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Adload.j), 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. |
Adware examples
CapacityMegabyte, InitiatorActivity, MajorLauncher, LogicCheck - are just some examples of our newest adware finds. Advertising-supported software usually appears ordinary and harmless. It entices users into download/installation with various functionalities. However, these functions rarely work as promised, and in most cases - they do not work at all.
How did CommonOperation install on my computer?
Adware is proliferated using dubious and deceptive techniques. It can be bundled (packed together with) regular programs. Download from untrustworthy sources (e.g., freeware and third-party sites, P2P sharing networks, etc.) and rushed installations - increase the risk of allowing bundled content into the system.
Fake Adobe Flash Player updaters/installers are employed in distribution as well. Intrusive advertisements also spread adware. Some of these ads can make stealthy downloads/installations - when clicked on.
Advertising-supported software may have "official" promotional pages, and it is commonly endorsed on scam websites. Users typically enter such webpages via redirects caused by sites that use rogue advertising networks, spam browser notifications, mistyped URLs, intrusive adverts, or installed adware (with browser force-opening capabilities).
How to avoid installation of adware?
We strongly advise researching software and using official/verified download channels. Installation processes must be treated with caution, e.g., reading terms, studying available options, and using the "Custom/Advanced" settings to opt-out of all additions.
Another recommendation is being vigilant when browsing - since illegitimate and malicious content usually appears innocuous. For example, intrusive advertisements may look legitimate, but they redirect to highly questionable websites (e.g., pornography, adult-dating, gambling, etc.).
If you experience ads/redirects of this kind, inspect the system and immediately remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with CommonOperation, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.
Pop-up window displayed once CommonOperation adware's installation is over:
CommonOperation 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
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Quick menu:
- What is CommonOperation?
- STEP 1. Remove CommonOperation related files and folders from OSX.
- STEP 2. Remove CommonOperation ads from Safari.
- STEP 3. Remove CommonOperation adware from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove CommonOperation ads from Mozilla Firefox.
Video showing how to remove CommonOperation adware using Combo Cleaner:
CommonOperation adware removal:
Remove CommonOperation-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?
Adware endangers device integrity and user safety. It can diminish the browsing experience and system performance. This software is also considered a privacy threat, as it usually has data tracking functionalities. What is more, adware-displayed ads promote dubious/malicious content that can cause serious problems (e.g., system infections, financial losses, etc.).
What does adware do?
The primary functionality of adware is to enable the placement of various advertisements on visited websites and/or other interfaces. However, this software may also be capable of force-opening sites and gathering private data.
How do adware developers generate revenue?
Adware generates revenue primarily via affiliate programs as commissions for promoting various websites, applications, products, services, and similar.
Will Combo Cleaner remove CommonOperation adware?
Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan computers and eliminate all adware-type applications present. It is worth mentioning that manual removal (unaided by security software) might be ineffective. Since sometimes, after the adware itself has been (manually) removed - various components are left behind. Furthermore, these remnants may continue running and causing issues. Therefore, it is paramount to eliminate adware thoroughly.
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