How to remove PickGrid adware from the operating system
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What kind of software is PickGrid?
PickGrid is an advertising-supported application that generates annoying/intrusive advertisements. Our team discovered this app after executing a fake installer downloaded from a shady website claiming that the installed version of Adobe Flash Player is out of date. PickGrid is not a trustworthy application - it should never be installed.
PickGrid adware in detail
Advertisements generated by PickGrid (and similar apps) can open pages asking to provide sensitive information (e.g., credit card details, passwords), instructing to download potentially malicious apps, call fake technical support numbers, etc. In some cases, those ads can cause unexpected downloads or even installations by running certain scripts.
After testing numerous apps similar to PickGrid, we learned that they can be capable of reading sensitive information. What is worse, their developers may misuse obtained information to hijack personal accounts, steal money, and for other malicious purposes.
| Name | Ads by PickGrid |
| Threat Type | Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus |
| Detection Names | Avast (MacOS:AdAgent-AW [Adw]), Combo Cleaner (Adware.MAC.Generic.27137), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Synataeb.G), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Searchproxy.a), 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. |
Adware in general
Adware displays intrusive advertisements to promote mainly questionable/untrustworthy websites and software. In addition to showing unwanted ads, adware can read personal data and (or) hijack a web browser to promote a fake search engine (by changing its settings). Thus, it is highly advisable not to download and install apps like PickGrid.
More adware examples are ModuleView, IndexerClient, and DigitGuild.
How did PickGrid install on my computer?
Advertising-supported apps often get installed via fake installers for the Adobe Flash Player (or other software), shady advertisements, or software bundles. In all cases, it is uncommon for adware to be installed intentionally.
Users install adware with other software when they finish installations without changing certain settings. Typically, installers (and downloaders) containing adware have "Custom", "Advanced", or similar settings (or ticked checkboxes).
How to avoid installation of unwanted applications?
Do not click on shady advertisements appearing on questionable pages or agree to receive notifications from websites of this kind. Download applications from legitimate sources (official pages and stores). Do not use P2P networks, shady pages, third-party downloaders, torrent sites, etc., to download apps or files.
Deselect unwanted applications using the provided settings before downloading/installing software. If your computer is already infected with PickGrid, 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 PickGrid adware:
PickGrid'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 PickGrid?
- STEP 1. Remove PickGrid related files and folders from OSX.
- STEP 2. Remove PickGrid ads from Safari.
- STEP 3. Remove PickGrid adware from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove PickGrid ads from Mozilla Firefox.
Video showing how to remove PickGrid adware using Combo Cleaner:
PickGrid adware removal:
Remove PickGrid-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?
The most common issues that adware causes are diminished web browsing experience (ads generated by adware conceal the contents of visited pages), slower computer performance, and invaded privacy.
What does adware do?
Adware displays unwanted/annoying advertisements. In addition to bombarding users with ads, adware can hijack a web browser (by manipulating its settings) and collect information.
How do adware developers generate revenue?
In most cases, adware is monetized by participating in affiliate programs and promoting websites, products, services, etc.
Will Combo Cleaner remove PickGrid adware?
Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and eliminate adware-type apps. In some cases, it is diffucult to remove adware manually without leaving any files in the system. Thus, we recommend using Combo Cleaner for adware removal.
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