Your Mac becomes slower than normal, you see unwanted pop-up ads, you are redirected to dubious websites.ĭeceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake Flash Player installers, torrent file downloads. This application belongs to Adload malware family.
Threat Summary: NameĪvast (MacOS:Adload-AG ), Combo Cleaner (Gen.13), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:), Full List ( VirusTotal) These are the main two reasons why AssessmentBranded cannot be trusted. In addition to generating ads, AssessmentBranded is capable of reading credit card details, passwords, browsing history, and other information.ĭata accessed by AssessmentBranded may be used to hijack online accounts, steal identities, make fraudulent purchases (and transactions), and be misused in other ways.
Thus, it is not safe to click ads shown by apps like AssessmentBranded. Moreover, those ads can be designed to run certain scripts to cause unwanted downloads or even installations. For example, they promote phishing websites, technical support scam pages, websites that distribute shady software, etc. Ads displayed by adware often promote questionable and untrustworthy websites.
It is strongly recommended not to install it on computers.ĪssessmentBranded in an advertising-supported application that can show pop-up ads, banners, coupons, surveys, and other advertising material. Also, this app can read sensitive information. Therefore, we classified AssessmentBranded as adware. To keep an icon in the Dock, right-click (or Ctrl click) on the icon in the Dock and go to Options Keep in Dock.What kind of application is AssessmentBranded?Īfter analyzing the AssessmentBranded application (which we downloaded from a deceptive website), our team learned that it shows intrusive advertisements. Managing AdBlock in the Dock If an app is open on your Mac it will appear on the Dock.
OR Click the AdBlock icon in the Dock or Applications folder to open the AdBlock app window, then select the Filter Lists tab and click on Update Filter Lists. Select Settings to open the AdBlock app window, select the Filter Lists tab and click on Update Filter Lists.
How to update filter lists in the AdBlock app via the app window: Click the AdBlock icon on the Safari toolbar. This will open the app window and automatically check for any updates. How to update filter lists in the AdBlock app via the Mac menu bar icon: Click the AdBlock icon in the MacOS menu bar and select Update Filter Lists.
If you start seeing ads that should be blocked, a good first step is to manually update, especially if you see that the last update was more than a day ago. Websites change their ads often, however, and it can be a day or so before the filter lists catch up. Manually updating AdBlocks filter lists AdBlocks filter lists update themselves automatically when the app is open.
There are three options for filter lists in the Mac app: Advanced ad blocking (i.e.Īnti-circumvention filter list) - available with the Gold upgrade Block annoying ads, pop-ups (i.e.Īcceptable Ads filter list) To learn more about each filter list and how to subscribe to each, please see this article: Introduction to Filter Lists. Moreover, content blockers dont work well with each other, particularly when allowlisting rules are also being used. We could add more content blockers to the app, each with its own 50,000-rule limit but that adds significantly more complexity. While 50,000 sounds like a large number, in reality, its easy to run up against that limit with just a few filter lists. This is because Apple imposes a 50,000 rule limit on the number of filter rules a content blocker can use at one time. You may find that AdBlock for Safari blocks fewer ads than AdBlock on Chrome, Firefox or Edge. The AdBlock app icon - located in the Applications folder andor on the Dock - this opens the AdBlock Settings window where AdBlock can be upgraded, filter lists can be managed and allowlisted sites (sites where ads are allowed to appear) can be added or removed.įilter lists in the AdBlock for Safari Mac app The Mac app uses Apples Safari content blocking to block ads.Īpples content blocking mechanism doesnt understand the standard syntax that is used in standard filter lists.īefore a filter list can be used with the AdBlock app, it needs to be converted to the content blocking format.ĮasyList, Acceptable Ads, and Anti-Circumvention have all been converted. AdBlock browser icon - located on the Safari toolbar - where AdBlock can be paused, sites or pages can be allowlisted (i.e.Īllow ads), quick access to the AdBlock Settings window and a link to AdBlock Help.