Adicea.app

Threat Overview

Field	Details
Threat type	Adware (Pirrit family)
Associated domain	—
Detection names	Avast (MacOS:Agent‑SD [Trj]), Combo Cleaner (Gen:Variant.Adware.MAC.Pirrit.4), ESET‑NOD32 (OSX/Adware.Pirrit.CF), Kaspersky (Not‑a‑virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Pirrit.ac)
Symptoms of infection	Sluggish system performance, excessive pop-ups, redirects to dubious sites
Damage, distribution methods	Browser tracking, unwanted ads, potential identity theft; spreads via deceptive pop-ups, bundled freeware, torrent downloads
Danger level	Medium – privacy risk, possible credential theft
Removal tool	SpyHunter – Download SpyHunter here

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Threat Evaluation

How I got infected

Adicea.app typically sneaks into macOS via deceptive pop-ups urging users to “download an update” or through bundled software installers from untrustworthy websites. Torrenting pirated content is another common infection vector.

What does it do

Once installed, Adicea.app displays unwanted ads and pop-ups, may hijack browser settings, and quietly harvests browsing history, cookies, and possibly financial data. It then sells or uses this information for affiliate profits or identity theft.

Should you be worried

While not as destructive as ransomware, Adicea.app is more than just a nuisance. It undermines user privacy, slows down system performance, and increases exposure to scams and more dangerous malware. Prompt removal is strongly recommended.

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How this adware operates

Adicea.app is part of the Pirrit adware family. The application binary often hides itself through obfuscated code, anti-analysis mechanisms, and persistent components like LaunchAgents or LaunchDaemons (.plist files). These automatically start at login and allow the adware to inject unwanted ads or redirect user traffic silently.

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Removal Tool Action

Use SpyHunter to scan, detect, and remove Adicea.app from your macOS system. SpyHunter is capable of locating hidden adware files, removing malicious launch agents, and restoring default system and browser configurations.
Download SpyHunter here

Method 1: Manually Removing Adware from Your Mac

Step 1: Uninstall Suspicious Applications

1. Open Finder and navigate to Applications.
2. Carefully review the list and look for applications you don’t recognize or didn’t install.
3. Drag any suspicious applications to the Trash.
4. Empty the Trash to ensure they’re permanently removed.
5. Open System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items.
6. Remove any unknown startup programs by selecting them and clicking the - button.

Step 2: Remove Unwanted Browser Extensions

Safari

1. Open Safari and click Safari > Preferences > Extensions.
2. Look for any extensions you don’t recognize and uninstall them.
3. Go to History > “Clear History” to remove traces of adware-related activity.

Google Chrome

1. Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner and select Extensions.
2. Find any unfamiliar extensions and remove them.
3. Reset Chrome by going to Settings > Reset settings > “Restore settings to their original defaults.”

Mozilla Firefox

1. Click the three-line menu and go to Add-ons and themes.
2. Remove any unknown extensions.
3. Reset Firefox via Help > More troubleshooting information > “Refresh Firefox.”

Step 3: Delete Malicious Files and Folders

1. Open Finder, press Shift + Command + G, and enter the following locations:
   • ~/Library/Application Support/
   • ~/Library/LaunchAgents/
   • ~/Library/LaunchDaemons/
   • ~/Library/Preferences/
2. Look for suspicious files and remove them.

Step 4: Clear Your DNS Cache

1. Open Terminal.
2. Type the following command and hit Enter:
3. Enter your administrator password if prompted.

Step 5: Restart Your Mac

Restart your Mac to finalize the removal process.

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Method 2: Automatically Remove Adware with SpyHunter for Mac

If you prefer a hassle-free solution, SpyHunter for Mac can detect and eliminate adware efficiently.

Step 1: Download SpyHunter

Click the link below to download SpyHunter for Mac: Download SpyHunter Here.

Step 2: Install and Set Up SpyHunter

1. Open the downloaded .dmg file.
2. Drag SpyHunter into the Applications folder.
3. Launch SpyHunter and allow it to update its malware definitions.

Step 3: Run a Full System Scan

1. Open SpyHunter.
2. Click Start Scan.
3. Wait for the scan to complete and review the detected threats.
4. Click Fix Threats to remove any adware found on your system.

Step 4: Restart Your Mac

Once SpyHunter has completed the removal, restart your Mac to ensure all traces of adware are gone.

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Conclusion

Adicea.app is a stealthy macOS adware threat from the Pirrit family. It compromises your system’s performance and privacy while exposing you to potentially dangerous websites and other forms of malware. Although not inherently destructive, its persistence and data tracking functions make it a significant threat. Using a reliable tool like SpyHunter ensures complete and safe removal.