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Mac Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.4)
This program should do the job. It is a free trial version.
https://www.malwarebytes.org/trial/?gclid=CLHYkebsm8cCFfMZtAodxH4PRw
This program should do the job. It is a free trial version.
https://www.malwarebytes.org/trial/?gclid=CLHYkebsm8cCFfMZtAodxH4PRw
Don't use any kind of "anti-virus" or "anti-malware" product on a Mac. There is never a need for it, and relying on it for protection makes you more vulnerable to attack, not less.
You installed one or more variants of the "InstallMac" trojan. Take the steps below to disable it.
The criminal behind this attack tries to make the malware hard to remove by varying the names of the files it installs. This procedure works as of now, as far as I know. It may not work in the future. Anyone finding this comment a few days or more after it was posted should look for a more recent discussion, or start a new one.
Back up all data before continuing.
1. Triple-click the line below on this page to select it, then copy the text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C:
~/Library/LaunchAgents
In the Finder, select
Go ▹ Go to Folder...
from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. You won't see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return. A folder named "LaunchAgents" will open.
2. Inside the folder you just opened, there may files with a name of the form
something.download.plist
something.ltvbit.plist
something.update.plist
where something is usually a meaningless string, such as any of the following:
InKeepr
InstallMac
Javeview
Leperdvil
Manroling
Otwexplain
These are examples, not a complete list. The string could be anything. The point is that the same string will appear in the name of three files.
You could have more than one copy of the malware, with different values of something.
Move all such items to the Trash. There may not be any other files in the LaunchAgents folder; in that case, you can delete the folder, but otherwise don't delete it. Other files in the folder are not necessarily malicious (though they could be, if you also installed some other kind of malware.)
Log out or restart the computer. The trojan will now be inactive, but there are a few more components of it that should be cleaned up.
3. Open this folder in the same way as above:
~/Library/Application Support
and move to the Trash any subfolders named with the same something you found in Step 2.
Don't move the Application Support folder or anything else inside it.
4. Open the Applications folder. If there is an item with the same name as in Step 3, or any of the other names listed in Step 2, drag it to the Trash.
If in doubt, press the key combination option-command-4 to arrange the apps by date added. Look at the apps that have been added since you first noticed the problem. If there is one you don't recognize, drag it to the Trash.
Empty the Trash.
If you get an alert that the application is in use, force it to quit.
5. From the Safari menu bar, select
Safari ▹ Preferences... ▹ Extensions
Uninstall all extensions you don't know you need. If in doubt, remove all of them. None is required for normal operation. Do the equivalent in the Chrome and Firefox browsers, if you use either of those.
6. Reset the home page in each of your browsers, if it was changed. In Safari, first load the home page you want, then select
Safari ▹ Preferences... ▹ General
and click
Set to Current Page
I cannot find the "Extensions" part on step 5. After I click on "Firefox>Preferences" I just see "General , Search, Content, Applications, Privacy, Security, Sync, Advanced" . I clicked on each one of the options I just mentioned and I did not find the "extensions" part.
Where could I find it?
Thank you so much, I've been trying to get rid the ads and stuff for so long and this finally worked.
I have followed all of the steps and this hasn't worked. Pop-Up ads still show in safari and google chrome. Please help.
You may have installed ad-injection malware ("adware").
Don't use any kind of "anti-virus" or "anti-malware" product on a Mac. There is never a need for it, and relying on it for protection makes you more vulnerable to attack, not less.
Some of the most common types of adware can be removed by following Apple's instructions. If those instructions don't work for you, or if you have trouble following them, see below.
This easy procedure will detect any kind of adware that I know of. Deactivating it is a separate, and even easier, procedure that doesn't involve downloading anything.
Some legitimate software is ad-supported and may display ads in its own windows or in a web browser while it's running. That's not malware and it may not show up. Also, some websites carry intrusive popup ads that may be mistaken for adware.
If none of your web browsers is working well enough to carry out these instructions, restart the computer in safe mode. That will disable the malware temporarily.
Step 1
Please triple-click the line below on this page to select it, then copy the text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C:
~/Library/LaunchAgents
In the Finder, select
Go ▹ Go to Folder...
from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. Press return. Either a folder named "LaunchAgents" will open, or you'll get a notice that the folder can't be found. If the folder isn't found, go to the next step.
If the folder does open, press the key combination command-2 to select list view, if it's not already selected. Please don't skip this step.
There should be a column in the Finder window headed Date Modified. Click that heading twice to sort the contents by date with the newest at the top. If necessary, enlarge the window so that all of the contents are showing.
Follow the instructions in this support article under the heading "Take a screenshot of a window." An image file with a name beginning in "Screen Shot" should be saved to the Desktop. Open the screenshot and make sure it's readable. If not, capture a smaller part of the screen showing only what needs to be shown.
Start a reply to this message. Drag the image file into the editing window to upload it. You can also include text in the reply.
Leave the folder open for now.
Step 2
Do as in Step 1 with this line:
/Library/LaunchAgents
The folder that may open will have the same name, but is not the same, as the one in Step 1. As in that step, the folder may not exist.
Step 3
Repeat with this line:
/Library/LaunchDaemons
This time the folder will be named "LaunchDaemons."
Step 4
Open the Safari preferences window and select the Extensions tab. If any extensions are listed, post a screenshot. If there are no extensions, or if you can't launch Safari, skip this step.
Step 5
If you use the Firefox or Chrome browser, open its extension list and do as in Step 4.
A
You installed the "Flashmall" trojan. Take the steps below to disable it.
Malware is always changing to get around the defenses against it. This procedure works as of now, as far as I know. It may not work in the future. Anyone finding this comment a few days or more after it was posted should look for a more recent discussion, or start a new one.
Back up all data before continuing.
1. Triple-click the line below on this page to select it, then copy the text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C:
~/Library/LaunchAgents
In the Finder, select
Go ▹ Go to Folder...
from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. You won't see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return. A folder named "LaunchAgents" will open.
2. Inside the folder you just opened, there may be files with a name beginning in any of the following ways:
com.crossrider
com.extensions
com.flashmall
com.Installer.completer
com.webhelper
com.webtools
flashmall
UpdateDownloader
WebSocketServerApp
Move any such files to the Trash and close the Finder window. Log out or restart the computer. The trojan will now be inactive, but there are a few more components of it that should be cleaned up.
3. Do as in Step 1 with this line:
~/Library/Application Support
A folder named "Application Support" will open. Inside it there may be subfolders with any of these names:
IM.Installer
webHelperApp
WebTools
If so, move those subfolders—not the "Application Support" folder—to the Trash.
4. Open this folder in the same way as above:
~/Library/ScriptingAdditions
and remove an item named
BrowserHelper.osax
if present.
5. Open this folder:
~/Library
Look for subfolders with either of these names:
flashmall
WebTools
and move them to the Trash, if present. Don't remove the subfolder named "WebKit".
6. Open the Applications folder. If it contains an item named "Flashmall" or "WebTools", move that to the Trash.
Important: You can't delete applications by trying to drag them from the Dock or the LaunchPad. Open the Applications folder in the Finder.
7. Open this folder in the same way as above:
~/Applications
This is not the usual Applications folder, but a different one inside your home folder. Look for an application with a name like this:
flashmall
and move it to the Trash, if present.
Empty the Trash.
8. From the Safari menu bar, select
Safari ▹ Preferences... ▹ Extensions
Uninstall all extensions you don't know you need, including one called "GoldenBoy," if it's present. If in doubt, remove all of them. None is required for normal operation. Do the equivalent in the Chrome and Firefox browsers, if you use either of those.
B
"MacKeeper" is a scam with only one useful feature: it deletes itself.
First, back up all data.
Note: These instructions apply to the version of the product that I downloaded and tested in early 2012. I can't be sure that they apply to other versions.
If you have incompletely removed MacKeeper—for example, by dragging the application to the Trash and immediately emptying—then you'll have to reinstall it and start over.
IMPORTANT: "MacKeeper" has what the developer calls an “encryption” feature. In my tests, I didn't try to verify what this feature really does. If you used it to “encrypt” any of your files, “decrypt” them before you uninstall, or (preferably) restore the files from backups made before they were “encrypted.” As the developer is not trustworthy, you should assume that the "decrypted" files are corrupt unless proven otherwise.
In the Finder, select
Go ▹ Applications
from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-A. The "MacKeeper" application is in the folder that opens. Quit it if it's running, then drag it to the Trash. You'll be prompted for your login password. Click the Uninstall MacKeeper button in the dialog that appears. All the other functional components of the software will be deleted. Restart the computer and empty the Trash.
☞ Quit MacKeeper before dragging it to the Trash.
☞ Let MacKeeper delete its other components before you empty the Trash.
☞ Don't try to drag MacKeeper from the Dock or the Launchpad to the Trash.
☞ Don't try to remove MacKeeper while running in safe mode.
C
If there is an item named "MegaBackup" in the Applications folder, drag it to the Trash.
Mr. Davis, In general and with respect to your response to latinnnn specifically, do I understand you correctly? 1.) clamXav is unnecessary and/or 2.) the removal procedures you have outlined work to detect and remove any malware/adware in Firefox, as well?
Thank you. I believe I killed it following your steps.
1.) clamXav is unnecessary and/or 2.) the removal procedures you have outlined work to detect and remove any malware/adware in Firefox, as well?
Yes to both. The only kind of malware that would affect Firefox exclusively is a malicious Firefox extension, which you can remove either from within the application or by following the instructions below (if that fails.)
Back up all data before proceeding.
Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:
~/Library/Application Support/Mozilla
Copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. In the Finder, select
Go ▹ Go to Folder...
from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. You won't see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.
A folder should open with an item named "Mozilla" selected. Quit Firefox if it's running. Move the selected item to the Trash. Relaunch the browser and test.
If the extension is still present, repeat with this line:
/Library/Application Support/Mozilla
If this folder exists, you may be prompted for your administrator login password when making changes to it.
Some kinds of malware may insert code into the Firefox application itself. If the above steps don't solve the problem, quit Firefox, delete it from the Applications folder, and download a fresh copy directly from mozilla.org.
Thank you. Risking rebuke, but taking a moment to fangirl anyway, I really appreciate your straightforward, as-simple-as-possible and accurate responses whenever I find them on the forums. You are an invaluable resource to me, and obviously others, as well. I have become concerned with the presence of adware/malware on my home network because of some unusual activity on my PowerMac G5. I've been using SourceForge to keep Firefox updated. I also downloaded a dvd burner from them on my MBP once, since deleted. I thought I read in another post of yours a warning against downloading anything from SourceForge. Is that a correct understanding of your opinion of SourceForge?
SourceForge had become a rogue site that was distributing malware, yes. I haven't checked recently to see whether they're still doing it. Unfortunately it's the only source for some open-source software. If you must download from the site, don't trust anything that's packaged as an installer.
A PowerMac G5 is at essentially zero risk for malware infection. Hardly any software from the last decade will run on it.
Ah, silver linings! Thanks very much, again
How can I remove a Malware called Leperdvil from my MacBook Pro?
