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How do I remove "MegaBackup" malware?

I was installing updates and accidentally installed some Malware. I've removed everything except I cannot delete this "MegaBackup." When I try to send it to the trash it says "cannot be deleted because MegaBackup is running", however I have closed it. Can anyone help?

MacBook Air (13-inch Mid 2013)

Posted on Aug 16, 2015 6:46 AM

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101 replies

Aug 16, 2015 8:28 AM in response to lralou26

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.

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.

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 â–¹ 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.

Sep 17, 2015 8:05 AM in response to mckngbrd

On OSX 7.5 this is what I did. Used the "uninstall" function to remove the software. It was still there afterwards so I dragged it to the trash, but couldn't empty it. Because it was still open. Then I searched around & found this board & tried the partial solution listed, which was of no use. Continued looking and found a solution on another discussion board, and it worked. Open Activity Monior in System Preferences and look for the MegaBackup running in the background, which it is still doing. Then select it and choose the option to stop activity. This eliminates the software. The whole thing was so annoying & time consuming I researched it further & found out that this software is NOT malware, its some defective app that behaves like malware.

Sep 17, 2015 8:31 AM in response to mckngbrd

You need to get rid of CleanMyMac2 and MacKeeper. Neither program is necessary to run a Mac efficiently, and no matter what those programs say they will do, they don't actually do it. The only program required to keep your computer in good running order is the gray matter between your ears. There is nothing you can download that will "clean", "optimize", "refresh", or otherwise enhance your hard drive.

How do I remove "MegaBackup" malware?

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