Mac OS X is vulnerable to potentially unwanted programs or Adware, browser hijackers. These types of programs or toolbars generate web traffic and collect sales leads for other dubious sites. They may also display advertisements and sponsored links within your web browser.
Such toolbars are usually bundled with certain free programs that you normally download and install. These bundles include a licensing agreement that you must accept to download and install the software. The agreement applies to all the software in the bundle including the unwanted toolbars. Because a licensing agreement was agreed to, Norton does not detect them as malicious even though the toolbar behaves suspiciously.
If your Mac is infected with malware, you may experience any of the following symptoms:
- Advertising banners appear on webpages that you are visiting.
- When you go to a website, you are randomly redirected to another website that you do not intend to visit.
- Browser popups appear and recommend fake updates or other software.
- Other unwanted adware programs may be installed without your knowledge.
Few of the known unwanted programs or toolbars are VSearch, Conduit, Genieo, GoPhoto, Jollywallet, Savekeep, MacShop, Yontoo, Shopper Helper Pro, Slick Savings, PallMall, Awesome Screenshot.
Remove the malicious apps from your Mac
- On the Apple menu bar, click and then select .
- In the top-right corner of the Finder window, in the search box, type the name of the unwanted program and press .
- To modify the search attributes and look for unwanted programs in system files, click the Add (+) icon.
- From the toolbar that appears under Search: This Mac, click and then from the drop-down menu, select .
- In the Select a search attribute dialog box, scroll-down and check the box next to , and then click .
- When the search criteria is set to System files, from the drop-down menu, select .
Search results are modified and system files with the keyword being searched is displayed.
- Select all files from the search results, and then move them to Trash.
To remove all the malicious files from your Mac, right-click the Trash icon and click .
Adware generally installs a new toolbar in the Internet browser and changes the default search engine setting to a third-party search engine. You need to remove the extensions and reset the browser settings to completely remove the unwanted toolbars and search engines.
Depending on your browser, select one of the following.
Reset Safari
- Start the Safari browser.
- On the Apple menu bar, select > > > .
When you clear the browsing history in Safari, it also clears the website data (such as saved passwords and other entries).
- On the Apple menu bar, select > > > .
Reset Google Chrome
- Start the Chrome browser.
- On the Apple menu bar, click and then select .
- In the left-pane of the page, do the following:
- Select . If you find any suspicious extension in the list, click the Trash icon to remove it.
- Select . Scroll down and click Show advanced settings. From the list of advanced settings, to restore the default settings of Chrome, click .
In the dialog box that appears, click .
Reset Firefox
- Start the Firefox browser.
- On the Apple menu bar, do one of the following:
- Click and then select . In the Add-ons Manager page, in the left-pane, click . If you find any suspicious extension in the list, click the Remove button next to it.
- Click and then select . In the Troubleshooting Information page, under Reset Firefox to its default state, click .
Click .
When you reset Firefox to its default settings, it also removes all the installed Add-ons or Extensions.
Need more help?
- Message: “Warning: Update Now!” or “Free update to Mojave Support” or “Update to stay protected”
- Message: “An unknown service (port xxxx) is starting on your Mac” when an application connects to the Internet
- Set up firewall rules for an application on Mac
- Remove unwanted pop-ups or site redirects on Windows
- Remove VSearch or OSX/Vsearch threat on Mac
- Remove Genieo virus or trojan on Mac
Source : Official Norton Brand
Editor by : BEST Antivirus KBS Team