PromoteQueue Adware - How to remove

PromoteQueue is adware that causes browser redirects, excessive ads, and possibly even allows more apps like itself to be installed. Also, it can collect the browsing history of each infected user. Overall, it’s quite dangerous.

In addition, PromoteQueue is annoyingly persistent. You might delete it only to have it show up again a few days later. You might see warnings about PromoteQueue damaging your computer and still be unable to delete it. It is doable, however, it’s more complicated than removing a normal app.

About PromoteQueue:

Threat type	Adware, trojan.
Infection symptoms	Unexpected ads and redirects, taken browsing history and other sensitive information.
How PromoteQueue infects computers	Embedded into the installers of other apps, dishonestly promoted online.
How to remove PromoteQueue	Delete the PromoteQueue app and other malicious apps and files with antivirus tools like Combo Cleaner, remove the traces of PromoteQueue from your System Preferences and browser settings.

Problems with PromoteQueue

Browser hijacker

PromoteQueue is an app that uses the icon of a blue-green circle and a white magnifying glass. It often comes with a few other apps that use a very similar icon and similar names – DivisionIndexer, DivisionInitiator, etc.

The goal of PromoteQueue and the other apps is to hijack the internet traffic of the users (victims). This includes:

• Redirecting users to certain websites – Any Search Manager, Search Marquis, Yahoo, etc.
• Injecting ads into people’s web browsers.
• Logging people’s browsing history without having to deal with encryption and using that history for advertising purposes.

As a result, PromoteQueue can cause random unexpected sites to open in your browser. It can also inject ads into webpages. Most dangerously, it may be able to read and log usernames and passwords.

Dishonestly installed Trojan

PromoteQueue doesn’t advertise itself or promise any useful features. It just appears unexpectedly.

It comes embedded in other installers. If you’ve recently installed anything on your Mac, consider where you downloaded it from. Was it a safe and reliable site?

Scammers create webpages that trick people into downloading malware. For instance, Flash Player is often abused by scammers to spread malware. It’s difficult to recognize such scams.

Because PromoteQueue uses such dishonest tactics to get installed, it can be called a trojan.

Trojans like Shlayer attack Macs and, once installed, they can download and install more malware. Maybe you’ve noticed PromoteQueue seemingly multiply? Or maybe more apps with the same icon as PromoteQueue appeared on your computer? All of them need to be removed.

How to remove PromoteQueue

PromoteQueue is quite persistent. To completely remove it, you need to wipe it from your settings and to delete the files associated with it. This can take a little bit of time, but it’s worth it to be rid of PromoteQueue for good.

Start by entering safe mode by holding the Shift key on your keyboard immediately as you turn on your computer. This will prevent PromoteQueue from interfering with its own removal.

Fix System Preferences

Open System Preferences:

• Profiles. If this icon is there, that means that configuration profiles have been added to your Mac. Open Profiles, select all the entries that you have not added yourself and remove them by clicking the minus button.
• Extensions. If you find anything suspicious in your Extensions, remove those items. But be careful – when you don’t recognize something, look it up before deleting it.
• Users & Groups -> Login Items. Look for files and apps that you did not add and that you don’t want to open when you start your Mac. remove them.
• Network -> Advanced -> Proxies. There might be a proxy configured. If you weren’t the one who did that, then feel free to deselect it and save the Proxy settings.

Open your web browsers and check what add-ons are installed and what your search engine settings are. There may be an add-on related to PromoteQueue installed. Or an unfamiliar extension. Feel free to remove them.

Remove malware

Some of those System Preferences referred to files that belong to PromoteQueue. Those files need to be deleted.

Open Finder -> Applications. Grab PromoteQueue, other apps with the same icon (if there are any), and drag them to the Trash.

Use an anti-malware tool, like Combo Cleaner, to look for suspicious files on your computer and to delete the malware that is found. In addition, open Finder and click the Go menu option. Then, select Computer. In the new window, type “PromoteQueue” in the search box and delete the files that come up.

Then, restart your computer.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Restore browser settings

How to remove PromoteQueue Adware from Safari:Top

Remove malicious extensions

• Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences.
  
• Select Extensions and uninstall PromoteQueue Adware and other suspicious extensions.
  
• If your homepage was changed, click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences and choose General tab. Enter preferable URL to the homepage field.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings(older versions) If you are still experiencing any issues related to PromoteQueue Adware, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Reset Safari…
  
• Select which options you want to reset (usually all of them come preselected) and click on the Reset button.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

TopHow to remove PromoteQueue Adware from Google Chrome on Mac:

• Open Chrome browser.
• Enter in the url field “chrome://extensions” address and hit Enter.
• Find PromoteQueue Adware on the extensions list and click on the recycle bin icon next to it.
• Click on 'Chrome' button at the top left corner. Select 'Preferences' on a drop-down menu box.
• Find 'Search' options on Settings tab. If your search engine is changed, click 'Manage Search Engines' and set your preferred search engine.
• On the same page find 'Show home button' checkbox and change your homepage.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to PromoteQueue Adware, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• On the 'Preferences' menu window, scroll down to the bottom and find 'Reset settings' button. Click it.
• Confirm your selection and click 'Reset' on the following window.

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program. Top

How To remove PromoteQueue Adware from Firefox on Mac OS:

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla window and select the “Add-ons” icon (Or press cmd+Shift+A on your keyboard).
• Go through Extensions list, remove everything PromoteQueue Adware related and items you do not recognise. If you do not know the extension and it is not made by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft, Oracle or Adobe then you probably do not need it.
• Enter “about:preferences” in URL bar and hit enter.
• Open Search settings tab.
• If your search engine is changed, click 'Default Search Engines' and set your preferred search engine.
• If your homepage was changed, click on the Firefox menu in the top right corner, select Preferences-> General. Enter a preferable URL to the home page field.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to PromoteQueue Adware, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla Firefox window. Click on the Help button.
• Choose Troubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
• Click on the Refresh Firefox button.
• Click on the Refresh Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.

If the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program to identify malicious entries.