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ExecutiveOperation is yet another variant of Adload adware that is also categorized as a browser hijacker and data collector. Once inside your system, it pushes intrusive ads and ruins your browsing experience by promoting two fake search engines. It changes your browser settings and has another potentially harmful capability – it is designed to gather and transmit your personal information.
Typically, applications like ExecutiveOperation tend to bring various intrusive ads into ordinary user‘s browsing experience. If the user clicks on those ads there is a high chance he will open a questionable website or execute some sort of script that might trigger the download process of other PUAs or even more malicious viruses.
As mentioned previously, ExecutiveOperation works as a browser hijacker as well. It promotes two fake search engines by making their addresses default browser‘s homepage, search engine, and new tab. These addresses are z6airr.com and search.basicgeneration.com. Usually, since these fake search engines do not have the ability to provide decent search results themselves, they often use other legitimate sites (for example, search.yahoo.com).
For this reason, sites like z6airr.com search.basicgeneration.com are called ‘fake’ – not only do they not provide any unique search results, they use other, more established, and widely known websites to trick users into thinking that it does a good job and is beneficial.
Moreover, ExecutiveOperation possesses even more dangerous capability that might have more extensive consequences than irritating browsing experience. It is able to collect your personal data – it means that this adware poses a serious threat to your privacy as well. Emails, internet usage patterns, IP addresses – all of this could be collected, and a person identified. These types of PUAs tend to gather the information in the hopes of selling it to third parties afterward. One can only guess how that information is going to be used.
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Name | ExecutiveOperation |
Type | Adware |
Activity | Displays advertisements on daily basis, collects browsing-related information, slows down computer’s performance |
Origins | Related to Adload malware family |
Detection names | MacOS:AdAgent-L [Adw] (Avast), MacOS:AdAgent-L [Adw] (AVG), AdLoad (PUA) (SophosAV), see full list on VirusTotal |
Distribution | Software bundles, pop-up ads |
Removal | Remove Mac adware and other malware using INTEGO |
If you are wondering how did ExecutiveOperation manage to infect your system, there are a couple of options. Firstly, this adware is known to be proliferated through a fake Adobe Flash Player installation. It is worth mentioning, that fake installer could also be used to integrate more dangerous malware to your system, for example, Trojans or ransomware viruses.
Secondly, ExecutiveOperation adware might intrude into your system through so-called ‘software bundling’. This is a simple practice especially aimed at people, who tend to install software from the internet inattentively. PUAs’ developers attach their software to other programs that the user wants to install initially. Usually, the options to install certain PUA are found in Advanced/Custom installation options.
In order to avoid ExecutiveOperation installation as well as other adware, you should keep in mind a few things. Firstly, you should never download anything from untrustworthy file-sharing platforms and websites. For example, downloading a crack or Adobe Photoshop activation software from the likes of eMule or ThePirateBay might expose you not only to adware infiltration but to more harmful viruses as well. It is recommended to use only trustworthy sites and links inside of them. Secondly, always check the Advanced/Custom section when installing software from the Internet, no matter how you trust its provider.
Likewise, never press on suspicious-looking or intrusive ads when you are surfing the internet. Especially, do not let various untrustworthy notification pop-ups, plug-ins, or add-ons to make changes to your browser. Be attentive when surfing the internet, you there are a lot of different schemes that are designed to trick the user into doing something he actually does not want.
Most importantly – create regular backups, so that even if any third-party software makes changes to your system, technically your files will be safe. It is best to store backups in a separate physical device, that is disconnected from the internet and other PCs.
Once you start seeing signs of being infected with adware, you should take immediate action to remove ExecutiveOperation virus from your system. This is due to the fact, that some types of adware could trigger chain infections – download additional malware.
For this reason, initiate ExecutiveOperation removal as soon as possible before it does more extensive damage than making your browsing experience frustrating. Luckily enough, this further down we have compiled instructions on how to remove it easily. Be sure to use INTEGO to check whether there is any additional damage that might be dealt to your computer.
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ExecutiveOperation adware Removal Tutorial
To remove the unwanted program from your Mac, use these instructions below to uninstall associated applications from your Mac computer. Then scroll down for instructions how to clean each affected web browser individually.
Remove ExecutiveOperation adware from Mac
Remove using INTEGO ANTIVIRUS for Mac (includes scanning for iOS devices). The one-of-a-kind security suite provides VirusBarrier X9 real-time protection against Mac and Windows-based malware, removes existing threats and scans for malware in popular e-mail clients. Includes NetBarrier X9, an intelligent firewall for home, work and public connections.
Remove ExecutiveOperation adware from Safari
Uninstall suspicious Safari extensions
Change Safari Homepage and default search engine
Remove push notifications on Safari
Some suspicious websites can try to corrupt your Safari by asking to enable push notifications. If you have accidentally agreed, your browser will be flooded with various intrusive advertisements and pop-ups. You can get rid of them by following this quick guide:
Reset Safari
Remove ExecutiveOperation adware from Google Chrome
Remove suspicious Chrome extensions
Change Start Page settings
Change default search settings
Remove push notifications from Chrome
If you want to get rid of the annoying ads and so-called push-notifications viruses, you must identify their components and clean your browser. You can easily remove ads from Chrome by following these steps:
Reset Google Chrome browser
Remove ExecutiveOperation adware from Mozilla Firefox
Remove unwanted add-ons from Firefox
Change Firefox Homepage
Alter preferences in Firefox
Remove annoying push notifications from Firefox
Suspicious sites that ask to enable push notifications gain access to Mozilla's settings and can deliver intrusive advertisements when browsing the Internet. Therefore, you should remove access to your browser by following these simple steps:
Reset Mozilla Firefox
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Norbert Webb is the head of Geek’s Advice team. He is the chief editor of the website who controls the quality of content published. The man also loves reading cybersecurity news, testing new software and sharing his insights on them. Norbert says that following his passion for information technology was one of the best decisions he has ever made. “I don’t feel like working while I’m doing something I love.” However, the geek has other interests, such as snowboarding and traveling.
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