According to security researchers, StockCommon is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) that belongs to the Adware category. Adware is something that you should be aware of even if you use Google Chrome or other modern internet browser. This is the name given to applications that have been developed to display intrusive advertisements and pop-up deals onto your internet browser screen. The reason for adware’s existence is to earn revenue for its creator.
Unwanted ads
Another reason why you need to remove the StockCommon adware is its online data-tracking activity. Adware software be able to collect lots of marketing-type data about you to get profit. Adware software can analyze your browsing, and gain access to your privacy data and, later, can use it for marketing purposes. Thus, there are more than enough reasons to remove adware from your MAC OS.
Threat Summary
| Name | StockCommon, Stock Common 1.0 app |
| Type | adware software, PUP (potentially unwanted program), popup virus, popup advertisements, pop ups |
| Symptoms |
|
| Removal | StockCommon removal guide |
How does StockCommon get on your MAC OS
Adware usually gets on your MAC together with free applications which downloaded from the Net. Which means that you need to be proactive and carefully read the Terms of use and the License agreement properly. For the most part, adware software and potentially unwanted apps will be clearly described, so take the time to carefully read all the information about the software that you downloaded and want to install on your computer.
In the step-by-step guidance below, we will explain effective ways on how to free your machine of adware and remove StockCommon ads from your internet browser.
How to Remove StockCommon adware software
There are several steps to removing the StockCommon adware, because it installs itself so deeply into Windows. You need to remove all suspicious and unknown programs, then get rid of harmful add-ons from the Mozilla Firefox, Safari and Chrome and other browsers you have installed. Finally, you need to reset your web browser settings to remove any changes the adware software has made, and then scan your computer with MalwareBytes to ensure the adware software is fully removed. It will take a while.
To remove StockCommon, complete the steps below:
- How to manually get rid of StockCommon
- Automatic Removal of StockCommon adware software
- How to stay safe online
- To sum up
How to manually get rid of StockCommon
In this section of the blog post, we have posted the steps that will help to remove StockCommon manually. Although compared to removal utilities, this way loses in time, but you don’t need to install anything on the machine. It will be enough for you to follow the detailed guide with pictures. We tried to describe each step in detail, but if you realized that you might not be able to figure it out, or simply do not want to change the Windows and internet browser settings, then it’s better for you to use tools from trusted developers, which are listed below.
Remove PUPs through the Finder
First of all, check the list of installed programs on your machine and remove all unknown and recently installed software. If you see an unknown program with incorrect spelling or varying capital letters, it have most likely been installed by malware and you should clean it off first with malware removal utility such as MalwareBytes AntiMalware.
- Open the Finder.
- Click “Applications”.
- It will show a list of all applications installed on the MAC.
- Scroll through the all list, and uninstall suspicious and unknown software. Pay maximum attention to the application you installed last.
- Drag the questionable program from the Applications folder to the Trash.
- Empty Trash.
Remove StockCommon from Google Chrome
Unwanted StockCommon ads or other symptom of having adware in your browser is a good reason to reset Google Chrome. This is an easy method to restore the Google Chrome settings and not lose any important information.
First run the Google Chrome. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal dots (
).
It will display the Chrome menu. Select More Tools, then press Extensions. Carefully browse through the list of installed plugins. If the list has the plugin signed with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following guide: Remove Google Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
Open the Google Chrome menu once again. Further, press the option named “Settings”.
The internet browser will display the settings screen. Another solution to show the Google Chrome’s settings – type chrome://settings in the web-browser adress bar and press Enter
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the “Advanced” link. Now scroll down until the “Reset” section is visible, as shown in the following example and click the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
The Google Chrome will show the confirmation prompt as on the image below.
You need to confirm your action, click the “Reset” button. The internet browser will run the process of cleaning. Once it is finished, the web-browser’s settings including newtab page, start page and default search engine back to the values which have been when the Google Chrome was first installed on your MAC system.
Remove StockCommon adware from Safari
The Safari reset is great if your internet browser is hijacked by StockCommon or you have unwanted extensions or toolbars on your web browser, that installed by an malware.
Click Safari menu and select “Preferences”.
It will open the Safari Preferences window. Next, click the “Extensions” tab. Look for unknown and suspicious extensions on left panel, choose it, then click the “Uninstall” button. Most important to remove all unknown extensions from Safari.
Once complete, click “General” tab. Change the “Default Search Engine” to Google.
Find the “Homepage” and type into textfield “https://www.google.com”.
Remove StockCommon from Mozilla Firefox by resetting web browser settings
If the Firefox settings such as search engine, newtab and home page have been modified by the adware, then resetting it to the default state can help. It will save your personal information like saved passwords, bookmarks, auto-fill data and open tabs.
Click the Menu button (looks like three horizontal lines), and click the blue Help icon located at the bottom of the drop down menu as on the image below.
A small menu will appear, click the “Troubleshooting Information”. On this page, click “Refresh Firefox” button as on the image below.
Follow the onscreen procedure to revert back your Mozilla Firefox web browser settings to their original state.
Automatic Removal of StockCommon adware software
Manual removal is not always as effective as you might think. Often, even the most experienced users can not completely remove StockCommon adware software. So, we recommend to scan your MAC OS for any remaining malicious components with free adware removal apps below.
Delete StockCommon with MalwareBytes Anti-Malware
We recommend using the MalwareBytes that are fully clean your machine of the adware. This free tool is an advanced malware removal program designed by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This program uses the world’s most popular anti-malware technology. It’s able to help you remove the StockCommon ads from your browser, PUPs, malicious software, browser hijacker infection, toolbars, ransomware and other security threats from your computer for free.
Download MalwareBytes Free on your machine by clicking on the following link.
20841 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: September 10, 2020
Once the downloading process is done, close all software and windows on your machine. Open a directory in which you saved it. Run the saved file and follow the prompts.
Once install is done, you’ll see window as displayed on the screen below.
Now click the “Scan” button to begin checking your computer for the StockCommon . A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your MAC OS and the speed of your computer. During the scan MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) will scan for threats present on your MAC OS.
Once the scanning is finished, MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) will show a list of found items. When you’re ready, click “Remove Selected Items” button.
The Malwarebytes will now get rid of StockCommon adware.
How to stay safe online
By installing an ad-blocker program such as AdGuard, you’re able to stop autoplaying video ads and remove tons of distracting and intrusive ads on webpages.
- Download AdGuard from the following link.
AdGuard for Mac download
3677 downloads
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: January 17, 2018
- Once the download is complete, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
- Once the install is done, press “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial which will help you get to know AdGuard better.
- In most cases, the default settings are enough and you don’t need to change anything. Each time, when you run your machine, AdGuard will start automatically and stop intrusive advertisements, block harmful and misleading webpages.
To sum up
Now your MAC should be clean of the StockCommon adware. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted ads and undesired malicious web-sites) and MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) (to periodically scan your Apple Mac for new malicious software, hijacker infections and adware software). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Mac OS. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new browser hijackers, harmful programs and adware are released.
If you are still having problems while trying to get rid of StockCommon ads from your web browser, then ask for help here.
