Q: How do I remove "MegaBackup" malware?
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Aug 16, 2015 8:28 AMby Linc Davis,HelpfulYou 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 ▹ 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.
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Sep 17, 2015 8:05 AMby sadiebryde,HelpfulOn 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.
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Sep 17, 2015 8:31 AMby pinkstones,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.
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Sep 17, 2015 10:47 AMby Eric Root,After un-installing, use this program to make sure you got all the pieces.
EasyFind – Spotlight Replacement
See SDW2001’s post
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Sep 23, 2015 1:47 PMby Linc Davis,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 may not 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. Move to the Trash items with any of these names:
Flashmall
mediaDownloader
WebTools
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. Also remove anything else in that folder that you don't recognize.
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.
