Gamezooks adware

Please specify where do you see "Gamezooks"?

Follow the instructions on this web page in order to manually remove adware from your mac: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203987

You may also find adware removal guide on this page http://www.thesafemac.com/arg-identification/

If you do not want to remove adware manually use this anti malware tool in order to scan and remove it: https://www.malwarebytes.org/antimalware/mac/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=social

Download, open dmg file , and run it by clicking “Scan for Adware” button to remove adware.

Once done, quit the application and restart your mac.

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.

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.

Since this advice is appearing here in the context of suggestions to run Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac, a program designed to remove adware, and which also includes signatures for some OS X Trojans, you need to explain exactly how this program will make you more vulnerable to adware, the specific threat being discussed in this thread. And if you are going to suggest that, by virtue of its also scanning for some malware, it will increase the attack surface to privilege escalation, this program does not run as root. In addition, if you are basing this claim re. attack surface and privilege escalation on that report issued over a year ago, most major A-V have by now taken steps to eliminate that vulnerability, and it doesn't, and never did, apply to Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac.

Otherwise, anyone reading this thread should ignore what you say and use this program, which is well known to be safe and effective for its intended purpose, the removal, not the prevention, of adware.

<Edited By Host>

Yes, MalWare bytes for Mac is safe and I have used it

I am understanding correctly it is safe to use the program as listed in the first reply to my question?

No, it is not safe. Nothing, in fact, is more dangerous than the false sense of security that you get from "anti-malware" software, regardless of what it actually does to your computer—and you have no way of knowing what that is.

Since you directed your question to me, I'll respond. It is definitely safe. No harm of any kind will come to your computer by running it. The objection of Mr. Davis that it can create a false sense of security only applies if you think that this program will prevent adware, which it will not, and you allow unsafe browsing and downloading habits to open the door to a new adware infection, once it's removed what's there now. You can run it without allowing yourself to have a false sense of security, which it should not give you.

Other than that, the rest of what Mr. Davis has written is groundless fear mongering.

Linc Davis wrote:...regardless of what it actually does to your computer—and you have no way of knowing what that is.

You have a way knowing what it will do to your computer. You can install it, which you continue to refuse to do, even though you keep warning people against its use, and see for yourself. I am extremely security conscious, and I have installed it and seen what it does. It has had zero adverse effects of any kind on my system. It makes no system modifications whatsoever and does not phone home with my data, my location, or compromise my privacy at all.

Your question brings up the subject of removing adware. This is a general comment on that subject.

Under no circumstances should you ever allow anti-virus software to delete something for you.

The only tools that anyone needs to detect and remove adware are the Finder and a web browser, both of which you already have. Anyone who has enough computer skill to install adware can just as well remove it without using anything else.

Apple's general statements about malware protection are here and here, and here are its instructions for removing the most common types of ad-injection malware. Those statements don't mention any third-party "anti-virus" or "anti-malware" product.

You become infected with malware by downloading unknown software without doing research to determine whether it's safe. If you keep making that mistake, the same, and worse, will keep happening, and no anti-malware will rescue you. Your own intelligence and caution are the only reliable defense.

The Windows/Android anti-malware industry had more than $75 billion in sales in 2014 [source: Gartner, Inc.] Its marketing strategy is to convince people that they're helpless against malware attack unless they use its products. But with all that anti-malware, the Windows and Android platforms are still infested with malware—most of it far more harmful than mere adware. The same can be expected to happen to the Mac platform if its users trust the same industry to protect them, instead of protecting themselves.

You are not helpless, and you don't have to give full control of your computer—and your data—to strangers in order to be rid of adware.

These are generalities. Regarding the "malwarebytes" product in particular, you may be told that there are no reports that is has caused damage. In fact, I know of two such reports: one by ASC user Big Kev55 in this thread, and one by LizardMBP in this thread. Read those reports and draw your own conclusions. There are also many reports that the Windows version of the product has deleted essential Windows system files; see, for example, this thread on the developer's own support forum.

Whether the software damages the system or not, it takes full adminstrative control and connects to a server controlled by the developer. The developer's privacy policy, linked directly to the Mac product page, reads in part as follows:

"Without limiting the Privacy Policy, you agree that Malwarebytes may track certain data it obtains from your Computer including data about any malicious software or other threats flagged by the Software, data about your license, data about what version of the Software you are using and what operating conditions it runs under and data concerning your geographic location."

(Emphasis added.) So the developer admits to tracking your location, as well as other unspecified data, and gives itself the legal right to collect any data it chooses. How it uses that right, you don't know. By running the software, you accept these terms.

It's sometimes said that the Malwarebytes product only removes adware rather than malware as such (if there's a difference), and that it therefore shouldn't be stigmatized as anti-malware. The developer's own description does distinguish between adware and malware, and specifically mentions removing malware as a selling point six times. A self-described employee of the developer wrote in an ASC discussion, "Actually, it's also a malware removal app..." (emphasis added.)

The question then is: as a security-conscious computer user, do you want to take such risks when there is no offsetting benefit?

<Edited by Host>

Re. Mr. Davis' last post beginning with "your question brings up...." please go to safari has ads popping up, where what he says has been fully responded to.

in response to bird person

Please note that the so called damage caused by AdWare Medic in the thread by LizardMBP was nothing more than a fabricated web of lies. When questioned by the author of AdWare Medic regarding test results and times of emails, etc, the OP (LizardMBP) was caught in this web of lies and requested the thread be deleted. The hosts granted that wish. YOU can draw your conclusions from that action.

AS to why Mr. Davis continues these blatant attempts to discredit other users here, only he would know.

Also, a high ranking helper here at ASC is quoted as saying:

"The site is hosted by Apple, which does not allow it to be used to distribute harmful software"

Linc Davis wrote:

Regarding the "malwarebytes" product in particular, you may be told that there are no reports that is has caused damage. In fact, I know of two such reports: one by ASC user Big Kev55 in this thread, and one by LizardMBP in this thread. Read those reports and draw your own conclusions. There are also many reports that the Windows version of the product has deleted essential Windows system files; see, for example, this thread on the developer's own support forum.

Whether the software damages the system or not, it takes full adminstrative control and connects to a server controlled by the developer.

These statements are outright libel. There is no actual evidence that Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac has caused any damage to any systems. Linc knows that the two reports he's using to attack this software present only two users opinions without any evidence to back them up, and in one case the report was filled with numerous false statements that were caught and resulted in the post getting removed.

I don't deny the possibility of bugs in any piece of software. However, I also know that many people without a lot of tech experience frequently mis-attribute problems. Case in point, there were numerous complaints here not long ago about how upgrading to Yosemite "caused" adware problems. This was not at all true, but because for some people, adware problems coincided in time with the upgrade, they blamed the update. This is not their fault, but neither would it be appropriate for an expert who knows better to start running around waving his hands and yelling "Yosemite installs adware!"

For the record, I, as the original developer of AdwareMedic (which is now Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac), have never seen a single confirmed case of a system or browser damaged by either AdwareMedic or Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac. If it were to happen at some point in the future, I would address it immediately, but as far as I can tell, it still hasn't happened yet.

As for the implication that Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac "takes full control and connects to a server controlled by the developer" - first, the statement that the software "takes full control" is blatantly false. The Malwarebytes app takes full control of your computer no more than any other third-party app, such as OmniDiskSweeper or GrandPerspective, both of which Linc has been known to recommend running with root privileges.

As for the implications that something fishy is going on with the communication to the server, one has only to use tcpdump to monitor the data being sent and received by Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac. Linc surely knows how this is done, and could verify that the communications are to check for and download updates. Since he has not done so and chooses to make up stories about the network activity instead is deceitful.

The developer's own description does distinguish between adware and malware, and specifically mentions removing malware as a selling point six times. A self-described employee of the developer wrote in an ASC discussion, "Actually, it's also a malware removal app..." (emphasis added.)

Guilty as charged. The description of the product is indeed accurate. It is capable of removing both adware and malware. Also, I did say that it's also a malware removal app. Yup. Not sure where you're going with that, unless it's to accuse Malwarebytes and me of being horribly truthful. 😕

gardeningjoy wrote:

How do I uninstall gamezooks adware?

Gamezooks installs as a browser extension of the same name. In what web browser are you seeing this? If it's Safari, go to Safari's preferences and click the Extensions icon, then remove Gamezooks from the list of extensions.

Note that Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac does not currently remove Gamezooks. I've only ever gotten one rather vague report about Gamezooks, and have never been able to confirm it. Can you provide a screenshot showing the ads that Gamezooks is displaying? If so that would be extremely helpful. In addition, if you have any idea where you downloaded this from, I'd love to hear about it.

In that case, what have you tried so far? Did you try Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac already? If so, and if it didn't find a problem, please open Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and choose Take System Snapshot from the Scanner menu. Post the contents of that snapshot here.

Alternately, if you don't want to post that in a public forum like this one for whatever reason, you could choose Contact Support from the help menu, which will submit that snapshot to our support department. If you mention that this was a follow-up for me (Thomas Reed) in the description of the problem on the contact form, I'll see it.

If you haven't downloaded Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac and would prefer not to, we can work through some manual means for gathering the same information.