Remove Mac Adware Cleaner

Mac Adware Cleaner is a computer program that some people find too annoying. First, it may arrive on Mac system without user’s approval. Mac Adware Cleaner normally arrives on the computer alongside adware and other software bundles that routinely spread over the internet to distribute malicious programs.

On its official website, Mac Adware Cleaner is endorsed as an effective cleaning tool that finds junk files, adware, and malware. It also claims to protect your computer and secure your online browsing by removing unwanted history, cookies, searches, downloads, and cached files from Safari and other browsers.

Mac Adware Cleaner seems to be a useful tool, however, due to its association with various adware and PUP’s, security experts find it disturbing to see this program running on the computer. In addition, Mac Adware Cleaner runs a scan and produces tricky results. It aims to deceive computer users via these mockery scans that try to convince them into upgrading the program to a paid registered version.

As you can see, Mac Adware Cleaner is a program that was made simply to be sold without any valid attestation to its effectiveness. Thus, we cannot declare that it is safe to install the program and let it be your default Mac OS X optimization tool.

Image of Mac Adware Cleaner

If you share similar findings with us and wanted to remove Mac Adware Cleaner from the computer, we have outlined and easy-to-follow procedures on this page. Scan the computer with suggested anti-malware tool to ensure that all items, including hidden ones will be deleted.

Procedures to Remove Mac Adware Cleaner

This section contains complete instructions to assist you in removing potentially unwanted program from Mac computer.

Procedures published on this page are written in method that can be easily understand and execute by Mac users.

Quick Fix - Scan the Mac Computer with Combo Cleaner

Combo Cleaner is a trusted Mac utility application with complete antivirus and optimization features. It is useful in dealing with adware and malware. Moreover, it can get rid of unwanted program like Mac Adware Cleaner. You may need to purchase full version if you require to maximize its premium features.

1. Download the tool from the following page:

2. Double-click the downloaded file and proceed with the installation.

3. In the opened window, drag and drop the Combo Cleaner icon onto your Applications folder icon.

Install Combo Cleaner

4. Open your Launchpad and click on the Combo Cleaner icon.

5. Wait until antivirus downloads its latest virus definition updates and click on "Start Combo Scan" to start removing Mac Adware Cleaner.

Combo Cleaner Scanner

6. As shown in the image below, Combo Cleaner accurately detects Mac Adware Cleaner rogue program. Proceed with the removal of the virus by upgrading Combo Cleaner to full version.

Combo Cleaner Scan Result

Free features of Combo Cleaner include Disk Cleaner, Big Files finder, Duplicate files finder, and Uninstaller. To use antivirus and privacy scanner, users have to upgrade to a premium version.

Proceed with the rest of the removal steps if you are comfortable manually removing malicious objects associated with the threat.

Step 1 : Quit Mac Adware Cleaner Process

Before proceeding with the steps below, please close Mac Adware Cleaner window if in case it is open.

1. Go to Launchpad, Utilities folder, open Activity Monitor.

2. Choose All Processes from the upper right corner of the window.

3. Under Process Name column, look for Mac Adware Cleaner. Click the name to select the malicious process.

4. Next, click the Quit Process button located in the upper left corner of the window.

Force Quit Apps

5. When prompted, click on Force Quit.

6. You may now delete or remove files that belongs to Mac Adware Cleaner. Proceed to the next steps.

Step 2 : Delete Mac Adware Cleaner Login Items

Some malware also installs login item into compromised account under System Preferences. This object automatically runs Mac Adware Cleaner during user log in.

1. Go to Apple menu and choose System Preferences.

2. Select Users & Groups from the preferences window.

3. You may need to Unlock this area in order to make changes. Click on the Lock icon on lower left corner of the window.

4. Next, select user account that runs Mac Adware Cleaner.

5. Click on Login Items tab.

6. Select Mac Adware Cleaner from listed entries and click on the minus [-] button and confirm your actions. Please see image below for reference.

Screenshot of Login Items

As stated, the creation of Login Items or profile is case-to-case basis. Some unwanted application may add their entry on this section but others are not concern on making one. So, if Mac Adware Cleaner Login item is not present, please continue with the succeeding steps.

Step 3 : Delete Mac Adware Cleaner Application

1. Go to Finder.

2. On the menu, click Go and then, select Applications from the list to open Applications Folder.

3. Find Mac Adware Cleaner or any unwanted program.

Delete Unwanted App

4. Drag the Mac Adware Cleaner to Trash Bin to delete the application from Mac.

5. Right-click on Trash icon and click on Empty Trash.

Step 4 : Delete Malicious Files that have installed Mac Adware Cleaner

1. Select and copy the string below to your Clipboard by pressing Command + C on your keyboard.

~/Library/LaunchAgents

2. Go to your Finder. From the menu bar please select Go > Go to Folder...

3. Press Command + V on your keyboard to paste the copied string. Press Return to go to the said folder.

Command + V

4. You will now see a folder named LaunchAgents. Take note of the following files inside the folder:

    If you cannot find the specified file, please look for any unfamiliar or suspicious entries. It may be the one causing Mac Adware Cleaner to be present on your Mac. Arranging all items to see the most latest ones may also help you identify recently installed unfamiliar files. Please press Option + Command + 4 on your keyboard to arrange the application list in chronological order.

    Option+Command+4

    5. Drag all suspicious files that you may find to Trash.

    6. Repeat Step 2, numbers 1-5 procedures on the following folder (without ~):

    /Library/LaunchAgents

    7. Please restart the computer.

    8. Open another folder using the same method as above. Copy and Paste the following string to easily locate the folder.

    ~/Library/Application Support

    9. Look for suspicious objects or folders with the following names and drag them to the Trash.

      10. Repeat procedures 8 and 9 on the following folders if necessary.

      ~/Library/Caches

      11. Go to your Finder and open the Applications Folder. Look for subfolders with names similar above and drag them to Trash.

      12. Lastly, please Empty your Mac's Trash bin.

      Step 5 : Run another Scan using MBAM Tool for Mac

      1. Download Malwarebytes Anti-malware for Mac from the link below.

      2. Run Malwarebytes Anti-malware for Mac. It will check for updates and download if most recent version is available. This is necessary in finding recent malware threats including Mac Adware Cleaner.

      3. If it prompts to close all running web browser, please do so. Thus, we advise you to PRINT this guide for your reference before going offline.

      4. Once it opens the user interface, please click on Scan button to start scanning your Mac computer.

      MBAM for Mac

      5. After the scan, Malwarebytes Anti-malware for Mac will display a list of identified threats, Mac Adware Cleaner is surely part of it. Be sure to select all items in the list. Then, click Remove button to clean the computer.

      6. You may now restart the computer.

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