OptimalPromo is a PUP (potentially unwanted program) that belongs to the Adware family. Adware is a type of invasive applications — which can affect MAC systems — randomly redirect your web-browser to certain websites so the owners of those sites can make revenue by displaying advertisements to visitors. It is not a good idea to have installed adware. The reason for this is simple, it doing things you do not know about. And of course you completely don’t know what will happen when you click on any the adverts.
Unwanted ads
Another reason why you need to get rid of the OptimalPromo adware is its online data-tracking activity. Adware can install a component which enables its creator to track which web-sites you visit, which products you look at upon those pages. They are then able to choose the type of advertisements they display you. So, if you had adware on your machine, there is a good chance you have another that is collecting and sharing your data with third parties, without your knowledge.
Threat Summary
| Name | OptimalPromo, Optimal Promo 1.0 app |
| Type | adware software, PUP (potentially unwanted program), pop-ups, pop up virus, popup advertisements |
| Symptoms |
|
| Removal | OptimalPromo removal guide |
How does OptimalPromo get on your MAC
Adware usually is bundled with free software that downloaded from the Internet. Which means that you need to be proactive and carefully read the Terms of use and the License agreement properly. For the most part, adware and PUPs will be clearly described, so take the time to carefully read all the information about the software that you downloaded and want to install on your machine.
By following step-by-step instructions below it’s easy to detect and get rid of adware from Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Safari and your MAC OS. Learn how to remove OptimalPromo and malicious applications, as well as how to run a full MAC virus scan.
How to Remove OptimalPromo adware (removal tutorial)
If you have consistent popups or unwanted advertisements, slow Apple Mac, freezing computer problems, you are in need of adware removal assistance. The few simple steps below will guide you forward to get OptimalPromo adware removed and will assist you get your MAC OS operating at peak capacity again.
To remove OptimalPromo, perform the steps below:
- Manual OptimalPromo adware software removal
- Automatic Removal of OptimalPromo
- How to stay safe online
- To sum up
Manual OptimalPromo adware software removal
Most adware software can be deleted manually, without the use of anti-virus or other removal utilities. The manual steps below will show you how to remove OptimalPromo step by step. Although each of the steps is very simple and does not require special knowledge, but you doubt that you can finish them, then use the free utilities, a list of which is given below.
Deleting the OptimalPromo, check the list of installed programs first
In order to get rid of PUPs like this adware, open the Finder and click on “Applications”. Check the list of installed programs. For the ones you do not know, run an Internet search to see if they are adware software, browser hijacker or PUPs. If yes, delete them off. Even if they are just a programs that you do not use, then deleting them off will increase your MAC start up time and speed dramatically.
Open Finder and click “Applications”.
Very carefully look around the entire list of programs installed on your machine. Most likely, one of them is the OptimalPromo adware. If you have many programs installed, you can help simplify the search of malicious software by sort the list by date of installation.
Once you have found a dubious, unwanted or unused program, right click to it and choose “Move to Trash”. Another solution is drag the program from the Applications folder to the Trash.
Don’t forget, select Finder -> “Empty Trash”.
Get rid of OptimalPromo from Mozilla Firefox by resetting browser settings
Resetting Firefox web-browser will reset all the settings to their default state and will remove OptimalPromo ads, malicious add-ons and extensions. However, your saved passwords and bookmarks will not be changed, deleted or cleared.
Click the Menu button (looks like three horizontal lines), and click the blue Help icon located at the bottom of the drop down menu as displayed on the screen below.
A small menu will appear, click the “Troubleshooting Information”. On this page, click “Refresh Firefox” button as on the image below.
Follow the onscreen procedure to restore your Firefox internet browser settings to their default values.
Remove OptimalPromo adware software from Safari
By resetting Safari web-browser you restore your web-browser settings to its default state. This is first when troubleshooting problems that might have been caused by the OptimalPromo adware.
Click Safari menu and choose “Preferences”.
It will open the Safari Preferences window. Next, click the “Extensions” tab. Look for unknown and suspicious add-ons on left panel, select it, then click the “Uninstall” button. Most important to delete all unknown plugins from Safari.
Once complete, click “General” tab. Change the “Default Search Engine” to Google.
Find the “Homepage” and type into textfield “https://www.google.com”.
Remove OptimalPromo adware from Google Chrome
This step will show you how to reset Google Chrome browser settings to original state. This can delete OptimalPromo ads and fix some browsing problems, especially after adware infection. However, your saved bookmarks and passwords will not be lost. This will not affect your history, passwords, bookmarks, and other saved data.
First launch the Chrome. Next, press the button in the form of three horizontal dots (
).
It will display the Chrome menu. Choose More Tools, then click Extensions. Carefully browse through the list of installed extensions. If the list has the extension signed with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following instructions: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
Open the Google Chrome menu once again. Further, click the option called “Settings”.
The web browser will display the settings screen. Another solution to show the Chrome’s settings – type chrome://settings in the web browser adress bar and press Enter
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and press the “Advanced” link. Now scroll down until the “Reset” section is visible, as on the image below and click the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
The Google Chrome will display the confirmation prompt as on the image below.
You need to confirm your action, click the “Reset” button. The web browser will run the process of cleaning. Once it is complete, the web browser’s settings including newtab page, default search provider and startpage back to the values that have been when the Chrome was first installed on your MAC system.
Automatic Removal of OptimalPromo
If you are not expert at MAC OS technology, then we recommend to use free removal utilities listed below to remove OptimalPromo adware for good. The automatic method is highly recommended. It has less steps and easier to implement than the manual method. Moreover, it lower risk of system damage. So, the automatic OptimalPromo removal is a better option.
Automatically remove OptimalPromo with MalwareBytes Anti-Malware
We recommend using the MalwareBytes AntiMalware which are completely clean your MAC system of the adware. This free tool is an advanced malware removal program developed by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This program uses the world’s most popular anti-malware technology. It is able to help you remove OptimalPromo ads from your web-browsers, PUPs, malicious software, browser hijacker infection, toolbars, ransomware and other security threats from your machine for free.
- Click the link below to download the latest version of MalwareBytes Free for Mac.
Malwarebytes Anti-malware (Mac)
20983 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: September 10, 2020
- After the download is done, close all programs and windows on your computer. Open a file location. Run the downloaded file and follow the prompts.
- Click the “Scan” button . MalwareBytes program will scan through the whole MAC OS for the OptimalPromo adware. This process can take some time, so please be patient. While the MalwareBytes Free application is checking, you can see number of objects it has identified as threat.
- As the scanning ends, a list of all items found is produced. In order to delete all items, simply click “Remove Selected Items”.
How to stay safe online
By installing an ad blocking program such as AdGuard, you’re able to stop autoplaying video ads and remove a large count of distracting and undesired ads on websites.
AdGuard can be downloaded from the following link.
3771 downloads
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: January 17, 2018
When the downloading process is complete, run the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen. Follow the prompts.
Each time, when you launch your MAC OS, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop unwanted popup advertisements, block malicious and misleading websites.
To sum up
Once you’ve done the step-by-step instructions outlined above, your MAC should be clean from the OptimalPromo adware and other PUPs. The Safari, Chrome and Firefox will no longer display the OptimalPromo ads. Unfortunately, if the steps does not help you, then you have caught a new adware, and then the best way – ask for help here.
