According to security researchers, CentralLot is an adware program. Adware is considered by many to be synonymous with ‘malware’. It is a malicious program which shows undesired advertisements to computer users. Some examples include pop up ads, various offers and deals or unclosable windows. Adware can be installed onto your Apple Mac via infected web-pages, when you open email attachments, anytime you download and install free software.
Unwanted ads
Does adware steal your confidential data? The CentralLot adware can be used to collect lots of sensitive info which can be later transferred third party companies. You do not know if your home address, account names and passwords are safe.
How does CentralLot get on your machine
Adware gets onto MAC OS by being attached to certain free software. So always read carefully the installation screens, disclaimers, ‘Terms of Use’ and ‘Software license’ appearing during the install process. Additionally pay attention for bundled apps that are being installed along with the main application. Ensure that you unchecked all of them! Also, run an ad-blocker program that will allow to stop suspicious and illegitimate web pages.
Threat Summary
| Name | CentralLot, Central Lot 1.0 app |
| Type | adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), pop up advertisements, popup virus, pop ups |
| Symptoms |
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| Removal | CentralLot removal guide |
How to remove CentralLot adware
We can help you remove CentralLot ads from your browsers, without the need to take your MAC OS to a professional. Simply follow the removal steps below if you currently have the unwanted adware on your Apple Mac and want to get rid of it. If you’ve any difficulty while trying to remove the CentralLot adware, feel free to ask for our help in the comment section below. Read it once, after doing so, please bookmark this page (or open it on your smartphone) as you may need to exit your web-browser or restart your MAC system.
To remove CentralLot, use the following steps:
- How to delete CentralLot adware without any software
- Automatic Removal of CentralLot
- How to stay safe online
- Finish words
How to delete CentralLot adware without any software
In most cases, it is possible to manually remove CentralLot adware software. This way does not involve the use of any tricks or removal tools. You just need to recover the normal settings of the MAC OS and web-browser. This can be done by following a few simple steps below. If you want to quickly delete CentralLot , as well as perform a full scan of your MAC, we recommend that you run adware removal utilities, which are listed below.
Uninstall CentralLot associated software by using the Finder
We recommend that you start the computer cleaning procedure by checking the list of installed applications and uninstall all unknown or questionable apps. This is a very important step, as mentioned above, very often the malicious applications such as adware and hijackers may be bundled with freeware. Remove the unwanted apps can get rid of the intrusive advertisements or internet browser redirect.
Make sure you have closed all web-browsers and other applications. Next, uninstall any undesired and suspicious software from machine using the Finder.
Open Finder and click “Applications”.
Look around the entire list of programs installed on your MAC OS. Most likely, one of them is the CentralLot adware. Choose the questionable program or the application that name is not familiar to you and remove it.
Drag the suspicious application from the Applications folder to the Trash.
Most important, don’t forget, choose Finder -> Empty Trash.
Remove CentralLot adware from Google Chrome
Another solution to delete CentralLot ads from Google Chrome is Reset Google Chrome settings. This will disable malicious extensions and reset Google Chrome settings to default values. However, your saved bookmarks and passwords will not be lost. This will not affect your history, passwords, bookmarks, and other saved data.
- First, start the Google Chrome and click the Menu icon (icon in the form of three dots).
- It will show the Google Chrome main menu. Select More Tools, then click Extensions.
- You’ll see the list of installed extensions. If the list has the plugin labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following tutorial: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
- Now open the Google Chrome menu once again, click the “Settings” menu.
- Next, press “Advanced” link, which located at the bottom of the Settings page.
- On the bottom of the “Advanced settings” page, press the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
- The Chrome will show the reset settings dialog box as on the image above.
- Confirm the browser’s reset by clicking on the “Reset” button.
- To learn more, read the article How to reset Google Chrome settings to default.
Remove CentralLot adware from Firefox
The Firefox reset will remove the CentralLot ads, modified preferences, extensions and security settings. When using the reset feature, your personal information like passwords, bookmarks, browsing history and web form auto-fill data will be saved.
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 shown below.
A small menu will appear, click the “Troubleshooting Information”. On this page, press “Refresh Firefox” button as displayed in the figure below.
Follow the onscreen procedure to restore your Mozilla Firefox web browser settings to their original state.
Remove CentralLot adware from Safari
The Safari reset is great if your web-browser is hijacked by CentralLot or you have unwanted add-ons or toolbars on your internet browser, which installed by an malware.
Run Safari browser. Next, choose Preferences from the Safari menu.
First, click the “Security” icon. Here, select “Block pop-up windows”. It will stop some types of pop ups.
Now, click the “Extensions” tab. Look for suspicious addons on left panel, choose it, then click the “Uninstall” button. Most important to delete all dubious addons from Safari.
Once complete, check your start page and search provider settings. Click “General” icon. Make sure that the “Homepage” field contains the website you want or is empty.
Make sure that the “Search engine” setting shows your preferred search engine. In some versions of Safari, this setting is in the “Search” tab.
Automatic Removal of CentralLot
Security researchers have built efficient adware software removal tools to aid users in removing unexpected pop-ups and undesired advertisements. Below we will share with you the best malicious software removal utilities with the ability to scan for and remove the CentralLot adware.
Automatically remove CentralLot with MalwareBytes Free
We advise using the MalwareBytes which are completely clean your MAC system of the adware. This free utility is an advanced malware removal program created by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This program uses the world’s most popular anti-malware technology. It’s able to help you remove the CentralLot ads from your browsers, PUPs, malware, browser hijacker, toolbars, ransomware and other security threats from your MAC OS for free.
Installing the MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) is simple. First you’ll need to download MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) from the link below. Save it to your Desktop.
21018 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: September 10, 2020
After the downloading process is complete, close all windows on your MAC system. Further, open the saved file. Follow the prompts.
The MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) will automatically start and you can see its main window as displayed in the following example.
Next, click the “Scan Now” button for checking your Apple Mac for the CentralLot adware. Depending on your Apple Mac, the scan may take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. While the MalwareBytes is scanning, you may see how many objects it has identified either as being malicious software.
After the system scan is done, you will be shown the list of all found items on your MAC OS. Once you have selected what you want to delete from your Apple Mac click “Remove Selected Items” button.
The MalwareBytes will remove the CentralLot adware and move the selected threats to the Quarantine.
How to stay safe online
It is also critical to protect your internet browsers from malicious web pages and advertisements by using an adblocker program like AdGuard. Security experts says that it will greatly reduce the risk of malware, and potentially save lots of money. Additionally, the AdGuard can also protect your privacy by blocking almost all trackers.
Download AdGuard by clicking on the following link.
3779 downloads
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: January 17, 2018
When the download is finished, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen. Follow the prompts.
Each time, when you run your Apple Mac, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop undesired pop-up advertisements, block malicious and misleading web-pages.
Finish words
Now your computer should be free of the CentralLot adware. We suggest that you keep MalwareBytes Free (to periodically scan your MAC OS for new adware softwares and other malicious software) and AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted pop-up ads and malicious websites). Moreover, to prevent any adware, please stay clear of unknown and third party programs.
If you need more help with CentralLot related issues, go to here.
