How to remove ExploreParameter

ExploreParameter is a potentially unwanted program with plenty of malicious features

ExploreParameter is a type of computer infection that targets Mac computers exclusively and is spread via illegal software installers or fake Flash Player updates. Upon infiltration, the app installs a browser extension on Google Chrome, Safari, or Mozilla Firefox browser, and changes the homepage address to 0yrvtrh.com, search.adjustablesample.com, or another one. After that, the PUP begins intrusive advertisement campaigns: pop-ups, offers, deals, coupons, banners, and other forms of ads are a common sight on the infected users' web browsers. 

However, intrusive ads are just a surface of what the ExploreParameter virus is capable of. In the background, the application drops several items on the macOS (such as Login Items and malicious Profiles) for persistence, so the infected users are not able to remove ExploreParameter in a regular way. This also applies to the extension that changes web browser settings – users are unable to uninstall it and are forced to browse via the hijacked search engine instead.

Adware has become a huge problem for Apple, as more and more Mac users are getting infected every day. According to a research publication back in January 2020, the rate at which malware is produced for macOS outpaced Windows machines and jumped up by 400% on a year-over-year basis.^[1] Threats like Bundlore, Slayer Trojan, CrescentCore, and many others, are now often encountered on users' machines.

The presence of ExploreParameter might, unfortunately, mean that other malicious programs are installed on the machine. Developers of this deceptive programs use deceptive methods for their propagation, some of which include:

• Fake Flash Player installers and fake updates
• Software bundles
• Pirated software installers downloaded from torrent sites
• Fake virus infection notifications.

ExploreParameter belongs to a broad adware family known as Adload – it exploits the built-in AppleScript in order to establish persistence mechanisms and install the extension with elevated privileges. This campaign is quite prevalent, and new versions emerge on a regular basis – ArchimedesLookup, BufferKey, AccessibleBoost, and PracticalProcesser are just a few examples spreading in the wild.

All of these apps, including the ExploreParameter, use a distinctive icon that incorporates a magnifying glass and a teal or green circle round it. Nonetheless, distribution and operation principles remain the same – intrusive ads, unexpected browser changes, unknown extensions, and ExploreParameter removal problems.

The adware campaign is so intrusive and extensive that the potentially unwanted application is flagged as a virus by many security applications. According to Virus Total, the installer is detected under the following names:

• Adware.MAC.AdLoad.XF
• OSX.Trojan.Gen
• A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Synataeb.C
• Adware/Adload!OSX
• ADWARE/OSX.Synataeb.ejnsf
• PUA:MacOS/Bitrepeyp.B, etc.

Another reason why the ExploreParameter malware is dangerous is that the attached extension can often be installed with elevated privileges, thanks to the AppleScript abuse. If you open the web browser and find the add-on installed, you could see the following notification:

Permissions for “ExploreParameter”

Webpage contents
Can read sensitive information from webpages, including passwords, phone numbers, and credit cards on: all webpages

Browsing History
Can see when you visit: all webpages

It goes without saying that a browser extension of this type should never have such permissions enabled, as it would allow sensitive data (credit card details, login credentials, etc.) transfer to unknown parties. Such activity should never be tolerated, as it can cause victims to suffer monetary losses or even face identity theft.

The malicious activity of ExploreParameter does not end there, however. According to security experts' research, Adload variants are capable of intercepting traffic and redirecting it to attackers' remote servers.^[2] This is another way to monetize on advertisements, and is performed illegally.

You should remove ExploreParameter malware as soon as possible, as ramifications of keeping the parasite on the system might be disastrous. The only problem is that it might be difficult to do manually, as the virus inserts a variety of persistence mechanisms on the Mac system. Thus, the best way to do that is by employing powerful anti-malware software – experts^[3] recommend using SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes for the purpose. Additionally, fixing performance issues is easiest with FortectIntego or similar advanced software.

Fake Flash Player installers are one of the main reasons Mac users get infected with adware and malware 

For years, users believed that Macs are completely immune to malware thanks to built-in defenses such as XProtect and Gatekeeper. However, defenses are quite useless when users themselves are convinced to allow malicious software to be installed on the system. For that, cybercriminals typically employ social engineering to make users install malicious applications on their devices. The technique typically involves using a well-established name and using it for malicious purposes.

Possibly one of the most abused names in the cybercriminal world is Adobe Flash Player – a plugin that was for years used to play multimedia on various websites. Notifications that were used to inform users about a missing Flash were relatively common until new technologies, such as HTML5, were released. Nonetheless, users are still unaware that most modern browsers, such as Google Chrome, have built-in technology for multimedia playback, and Flash is no longer needed.

Threat actors quickly adapted Flash Player update prompts to spread malware, as users are unaware of the deception. As soon as they see the familiar logo, they download and install software, thinking that it a required plugin for their browsing activities. In the meantime, they install malware on their Macs.

Adobe Flash Player is due to be shut down by the end of 2020, so there is no need to ever install this outdated and flawed plugin, even if it is a legitimate version.

ExploreParameter removal options

It is evident that you should remove ExploreParameter from your system as soon as possible to maintain your identity private and browsing safe. Unfortunately, the process of uninstallation might be very much complicated for most users, as moving the app to Trash will not suffice.

If you would like to attempt manual ExploreParameter removal, you could check the following locations on your Mac:

System Preferences > Accounts> Login Items
System Preferences > Users&Groups > Profiles
Users/aUser/Library/LaunchAgents/
~/Library/LaunchAgents
~/Library/Application Support
~/Library/LaunchDaemons

However, you might not be able to find all the malicious files yourself, and the infection might immediately come back. Instead, we suggest you download and install powerful anti-malware software and delete the ExploreParameter virus for good. Security tools are designed to look for all malicious components on the device and eliminate them automatically.