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How to remove GeneralOperation adware

Also Known As: Ads by GeneralOperation
Type: Mac Virus
Damage level: Medium

What kind of application is GeneralOperation?

GeneralOperation is the name of an application we discovered while inspecting a fake installed downloaded from a deceptive web page. We learned that the purpose of GeneralOperation is to display intrusive advertisements. Thus, we classified GeneralOperation as adware. In most cases, users install adware inadvertently.

GeneralOperation adware

GeneralOperation adware in detail

GeneralOperation is an untrustworthy application that can show ads designed to open deceptive and even malicious pages. Clicking advertisements displayed by this app can lead to phishing websites, technical support scam sites, websites encouraging to download shady software, etc. Also, it can trigger unexpected downloads and installations.

Our team examined many apps similar to GeneralOperation and found that they can read sensitive information. They can access credit card details, passwords, telephone numbers, and other sensitive data. Developers of untrustworthy apps can misuse such information for malicious purposes (e.g., to steal online accounts, money, and identities).

One more reason to uninstall installed adware is that it can be designed to change a web browser's settings. Adware can operate as a browser hijacker: it can change the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page to force users to browse the Internet using a shady search engine.

Threat Summary:
Name Ads by GeneralOperation
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.
▼ 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

Advertising-supported applications bombard users with annoying advertisements that can open potentially malicious pages and lead to unwanted downloads and installations. Also, adware can track users (collect browsing-related and even sensitive information) and promote untrustworthy or fake search engines.

More adware examples are ConnectedField, PrimaryRotator, and AlphaExplorer.

How did GeneralOperation install on my computer?

It is common for apps like GeneralOperation to be distributed via deceptive websites claiming that the Adobe Flash Player installer or other software is outdated. Users install adware via fake installers downloaded from those pages.

Also, adware can be bundled with other software (mostly freeware). In such cases, unwanted installations are caused when software installations are finished without deselecting adware or other unwanted apps via "Advanced", "Custom", or similar settings.

Shady advertisements and notifications from untrustworthy websites can lead to unwanted downloads and installations too.

How to avoid installation of unwanted applications?

Download applications from legitimate sources such as official pages and stores. Do not click suspicious links or use third-party downloaders, P2P networks, third-party stores, unofficial pages, and similar sources to download files or apps.

Also, do not trust advertisements on suspicious websites or allow such pages to show notifications. Deselect unwanted apps using the provided settings before downloading or installing programs. If your computer is already infected with GeneralOperation, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

A window that appears after the installation of GeneralOperation adware:

generaloperation adware pop-up displayed once installation is finished

GeneralOperation's installation folder:

generaloperation adware 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:

Video showing how to remove GeneralOperation adware using Combo Cleaner:

GeneralOperation adware removal:

Remove GeneralOperation-related potentially unwanted applications from your "Applications" folder:

Manual removal of malicious Mac applications

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

Mac Go To Folder step

Click the Finder icon, from the menu bar. Choose Go, and click Go to Folder...

Mac removing related files and folders - step 1Check for adware generated files in the /Library/LaunchAgents/ folder:

Mac go to /Library/LaunchAgents - step 1

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: /Library/LaunchAgents/

Mac go to /Library/LaunchAgents - step 2

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.

Mac removing related files and folders - step 2Check for adware generated files in the ~/Library/Application Support/ folder:

Mac go to /Library/Application Support - step 1

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: ~/Library/Application Support/

Mac go to /Library/Application Support - step 2

In the "Application Support" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious folders. For example, "MplayerX" or "NicePlayer", and move these folders to the Trash.

Mac removing related files and folders - step 3Check for adware generated files in the ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ folder:

Mac go to ~/Library/LaunchAgents - step 1

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: ~/Library/LaunchAgents/

Mac go to ~/Library/LaunchAgents - step 2

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.

Mac removing related files and folders - step 4Check for adware generated files in the /Library/LaunchDaemons/ folder:

Mac go to /Library/LaunchDaemons - step 1

In the "Go to Folder..." bar, type: /Library/LaunchDaemons/

Mac go to /Library/LaunchDaemons - step 2

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.

Mac removing malware related files and folders - step 5Scan 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.

Mac remove malware with Combo Cleaner - step 1

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.

Mac remove malware with Combo Cleaner - step 2

After removing files and folders generated by the adware, continue to remove rogue extensions from your Internet browsers.

Remove malicious extensions from Internet browsers

Safari iconRemove malicious Safari extensions:

Removal of malicious extensions in Safari - step 1

Open the Safari browser, from the menu bar, select "Safari" and click "Preferences...".

Removal of malicious extensions in Safari - step 2

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.

Google Chrome logoRemove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Removal of malicious extensions in Google Chrome - step 1

Click the Chrome menu icon Google 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".

Removal of malicious extensions in Google Chrome - step 2

  • If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.

Mozilla Firefox logoRemove malicious extensions from Mozilla Firefox:

Removal of malicious extensions in Mozilla Firefox - step 1

Click the Firefox menu firefox menu icon (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".

Removal of malicious extensions in Mozilla Firefox - step 2

  • 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 can cause problems related to online privacy, lead to untrustworthy pages, slow down a computer, diminish the web browsing experience, and cause other issues.

What does adware do?

Advertising-supported software displays advertisements. Additionally, adware can hijack a web browser and gather various data.

How do adware developers generate revenue?

Most advertising-supported apps are monetized by promoting websites, products, services, etc. Their developers participate in affiliate programs or use other methods to generate revenue.

Will Combo Cleaner remove GeneralOperation adware?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will remove adware from the operating system. It will remove all of its components. Manual removal can be difficult because files belonging to adware may remain in the system even after the removal. Thus, we recommend using specialized apps like Combo Cleaner for adware removal.

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About the author:

Tomas Meskauskas

Tomas Meskauskas - expert security researcher, professional malware analyst.

I am passionate about computer security and technology. I have an experience of over 10 years working in various companies related to computer technical issue solving and Internet security. I have been working as an author and editor for pcrisk.com since 2010. Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn to stay informed about the latest online security threats. Contact Tomas Meskauskas.

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Malware activity

Global malware activity level today:

Medium threat activity

Increased attack rate of infections detected within the last 24 hours.

QR Code
Ads by GeneralOperation QR code
Scan this QR code to have an easy access removal guide of Ads by GeneralOperation on your mobile device.
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Platform: macOS

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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.