The Install-plug-s3.com pop-ups are a browser-based scam that displays fake error messages to trick you into installing malicious programs on your computer.
What is Install-plug-s3.com?
Install-plug-s3.com is a malicious site that shows fake error messages to trick you into thinking that you need to install an update for Flash Player or another program. It does this to scare you into downloading and installing a malicious browser extension or potentially unwanted program on your computer.
The Install-plug-s3.com fake error messages will display this alert:
“Flash Player” may be out-of-date
The version of ” Flash Player” on your system may not include the latest flash update and may be blocked. If you use the updated version of “ Flash Player”, it might be needed to complete this action.
As you can imagine, this fake error message and anything it states is just a scam to try and scare you into downloading and installing potentially unwanted programs on your computer.
Why am I seeing the Install-plug-s3.com pop-up ads?
You are seeing the Install-plug-s3.com pop-up ads because you are either infected with adware or another web site is redirecting you to them.
This guide was written to help Mac users remove malware from their devices, so if you’re just looking for a way to block the Install-plug-s3.com redirect on a specific site, you can use a free browser extension like AdGuard.
When it comes to adware, these malicious programs are bundled with other free software that you download off of the Internet. Unfortunately, some free downloads do not adequately disclose that other software will also be installed and you may find that you have installed adware without your knowledge.
Here are a few typical signs that you have adware on your system:
- Advertisements appear in places they shouldn’t be.
- Your web browser’s homepage has mysteriously changed without your permission.
- Web pages that you typically visit are not displaying properly.
- Website links redirect to sites different from what you expected.
- Browser popups appear which recommend fake updates or other software.
- Other unwanted programs might get installed without your knowledge.
You should always pay attention when installing software because often, a software installer includes optional installs. Be very careful what you agree to install.
Always opt for the custom installation and deselect anything that is not familiar, especially optional software that you never wanted to download and install in the first place. It goes without saying that you should not install software that you don’t trust.
To check your computer for adware and remove it for free, please use the guide below.
How to remove Install-plug-s3.com redirect (Virus Removal Guide)
Please perform all the steps in the correct order. If you have any questions or doubt at any point, STOP and ask for our assistance.
- STEP 1: Remove the malicious apps from Mac
- STEP 2: Uninstall the malicious extensions from Safari, Chrome, or Firefox
- STEP 3: Use Malwarebytes for Mac to remove Install-plug-s3.com redirect
STEP 1: Remove the malicious apps from Mac
In this first step, we will try to identify and remove any malicious app that might be installed on your device.
Some malicious programs may create a new group policy for your device, so before we proceed with the other steps we need to check and remove these unwanted changes.
- Go to System Preferences.
- Click Profiles.
- If there is any suspicious profile, select it and click the remove “–” button in the lower-left corner. If there isn’t a Profiles icon, you don’t have any profiles installed, which is normal.
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Open “Finder”
Click the Finder application on your dock.
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Click on “Applications”
In the Finder left pane, click on “Applications“.
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Find and remove the malicious app.
The “Applications” screen will be displayed with a list of all the apps installed on your device. Scroll through the list until you find the malicious app, right-click it, and then click “Move to Trash”.
Look out for any suspicious program that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine program. Here are some known malicious programs: TakeFresh, TopResults, FeedBack, ApplicationEvents, GeneralOpen, PowerLog, MessengerNow, ImagePrime, GeneralNetSearch, Reading Cursors, GlobalTechSearch, PDFOnline-express, See Scenic Elf, MatchKnowledge, Easy Speedtest, or WebDiscover.
The malicious program may have a different name on your computer. If you cannot find any malicious programs on your computer, you can continue with STEP 2.
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Click “Empty Trash”
On the dock, right-click on the trash icon and select “Empty Trash”. Doing so deletes the Trash’s contents, including the program that you just sent to the Trash.
Next, click the desktop to make sure you’re in the Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder, then go to the below folders and delete any suspicious files or folders.
/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/Application Support
~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
/Users/Shared/
STEP 2: Uninstall the malicious extensions from Safari, Chrome, or Firefox
- Safari
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
Safari
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Go to Safari’s “Preferences”.
On the menu bar, click the “Safari” menu and select “Preferences”.
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Check Homepage.
This will open a new window with your Safari preferences, opened to the “General” tab. Some browser hijackers may change your default homepage, so in the Homepage field make sure it’s a web page you want to use as your start-up page.
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Click “Extensions”
Next, click on the “Extensions” tab.
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Find and uninstall the malicious extension.
The “Extensions” screen will be displayed with a list of all the extensions installed on Safari. Scroll through the list until you find the malicious extension, and then click on “Uninstall” to remove it. By default, there are no extensions installed on Safari.
Look out for any suspicious extension that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember installing or that doesn’t sound like a genuine browser extension. Here are some known malicious extensions: TakeFresh, TopResults, FeedBack, ApplicationEvents, GeneralOpen, PowerLog, MessengerNow, ImagePrime, GeneralNetSearch, Reading Cursors, GlobalTechSearch, PDFOnline-express, See Scenic Elf, MatchKnowledge, Easy Speedtest, or WebDiscover.
The malicious extensions may have a different name on your computer. If you cannot find any malicious programs on your browser, you can continue with STEP 3.
Google Chrome
Mozilla Firefox
STEP 3: Use Malwarebytes for Mac to remove Install-plug-s3.com redirect
Malwarebytes Free is one of the most popular and most used anti-malware software for Windows, and for good reasons. It is able to destroy many types of malware that other software tends to miss, without costing you absolutely nothing. When it comes to cleaning up an infected device, Malwarebytes has always been free and we recommend it as an essential tool in the fight against malware.
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Download Malwarebytes Free.
You can download Malwarebytes for Mac by clicking the link below.
MALWAREBYTES FOR MAC DOWNLOAD LINK
(The above link will open a new page from where you can download Malwarebytes for Mac) -
Double-click on the Malwarebytes setup file.
When Malwarebytes has finished downloading, double-click on the setup file to install Malwarebytes on your computer. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
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Follow the on-screen prompts to install Malwarebytes.
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, you will see the Malwarebytes for Mac Installer which will guide you through the installation process. Click “Continue“, then keep following the prompts in order to continue with the installation process.
When your Malwarebytes installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen. Click the “Get started” button.
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Select “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer”.
The Malwarebytes Welcome screen will first ask you on what type of computer are you installing this program, click either Personal Computer or Work Computer.
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Select “Use Malwarebytes Free”.
You’ll be then prompted to select between the Malwarebytes Free and the Premium version. The Malwarebytes Premium edition includes preventative tools like real-time scanning and ransomware protection, however, we will use the Free version to clean up the computer.
Click on “Use Malwarebytes Free“.
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Click on “Scan”.
To scan your computer with Malwarebytes, click on the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes will automatically update the antivirus database and start scanning your computer for malware.
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Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will scan your computer for adware and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
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Click on “Quarantine”.
When the scan has completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes has detected. To remove the malicious programs that Malwarebytes has found, click on the “Quarantine” button.
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Restart computer.
Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your computer.
Your computer should now be free of the Install-plug-s3.com redirect. If your current antivirus allowed this malicious program on your computer, you may want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future.
If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove the Install-plug-s3.com redirect from your Mac computer, please ask for help in our Malware Removal Assistance for Mac forum.
