What Is 123movies?
123movies also known as 123movies.domains is a suspicious streaming service that can expose you to various scamming and phishing risks. The website is ad-supported which means that various intrusive ads will be displayed. Clicking the ads may cause a series of redirects, eventually landing you on a scam. It is highly recommended not to interact with the website and its ads. If you have clicked on an ad, be aware that you may have downloaded a potentially unwanted program without noticing.
123movies Summary
| Name | 123movies |
| Type | Browser Hijacker on Mac |
| Short Description | Aims to modify the settings on your web browser in order to get it to cause browser redirects and display different advertisements. |
| Symptoms | Your web browser begins to display various types of online advertisements, which results in slowing down of your machine. |
| Distribution Method | Bundled downloads. Web pages which may advertise it. |
| Detection Tool |
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123movies – How Does It Spread?
123movies is a potentially unwanted program that can show up on your Mac without you remember installing it. Among those slick techniques that might be utilized to replicate this software is bundling of the installers of various other cost-free apps for Mac downloaded and installed from the internet. Such programs frequently end up being typical helper applications, like file converters, photo editors, and various other free software. Most users tend to download and install such free apps and commonly select the Express install on their setup wizards. This is likely how it gets in computers, considering that it is usually advertised in one of the installation steps of the Advanced/Custom install, which is typically missed or skipped.
Whatever the case through which the 123movies application could be spread, it might start to drop its files on your computer and demand permissions from your web browser. As soon as this is finished the application may begin to heavily pirate and customize what you do while on your internet browser, like change your default internet search engine, new tab page, web page or include web browser extensions that may reveal ads.
What Does It Do?
One of the activities which may be performed by 123movies is related to the numerous trackers it might utilize on your computer system.
Such trackers might end up being:
- Cookies.
- Geo-locators.
- LSOs (Flash Cookies).
- Tags.
- Pixels.
These trackers can typically get details from your computer, that may be connected to what you do while online, such as:
- Your bookmarked and most visited sites.
- Your online clicks.
- The searches you make online.
- The websites you check out.
Such details can be utilized by this unpleasant application in order to display targeted ads to increase the possibility of you clicking on those promotions. The ads that may be revealed by this scam search might show up in the listed below forms:
- Ad-supported search result web pages.
- Banner adverts.
- Pop-ups.
- Push notification ads.
- Highlighted text ads.
- Web browser reroutes to unidentified sites opened on new tabs.
Due to the fact that the ads that might be displayed by this unpleasant software could ultimately result in websites that are high-risk, like malicious, phishing, or rip-offs, it is categorized as an indirect risk to your computer making its removal highly recommended.
How to Remove 123movies from Your Computer
If you are gearing up to get rid of 123movies from your device, we strongly advise that you pay attention to the removal steps underneath this article. These steps are made to remove all of the related files that belong to this hijacker. For maximum effectiveness, we strongly recommend that you download and install an anti-malware software. Such a program will immediately check for and eliminate all unwanted apps, and protect you in the future as well.
Ventsislav Krastev
Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.
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Steps to Prepare Before Removal:
Before starting to follow the steps below, be advised that you should first do the following preparations:
- Backup your files in case the worst happens.
- Make sure to have a device with these instructions on standy.
- Arm yourself with patience.
- 1. Scan for Mac Malware
- 2. Uninstall Risky Apps
- 3. Clean Your Browsers
Step 1: Scan for and remove 123movies files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as 123movies, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Quick and Easy Mac Malware Video Removal Guide
Bonus Step: How to Make Your Mac Run Faster?
Mac machines maintain probably the fastest operating system out there. Still, Macs do become slow and sluggish sometimes. The video guide below examines all of the possible problems that may lead to your Mac being slower than usual as well as all of the steps that can help you to speed up your Mac.
Step 2: Uninstall 123movies and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
2. Find Activity Monitor and double-click it:
3. In the Activity Monitor look for any suspicious processes, belonging or related to 123movies:
4. Click on the "Go" button again, but this time select Applications. Another way is with the ⇧+⌘+A buttons.
5. In the Applications menu, look for any suspicious app or an app with a name, similar or identical to 123movies. If you find it, right-click on the app and select “Move to Trash”.
6. Select Accounts, after which click on the Login Items preference. Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to 123movies. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
7. Remove any leftover files that might be related to this threat manually by following the sub-steps below:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove 123movies via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
1. Click on "Go" and Then "Go to Folder" as shown underneath:
2. Type in "/Library/LauchAgents/" and click Ok:
3. Delete all of the virus files that have similar or the same name as 123movies. If you believe there is no such file, do not delete anything.
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 3: Remove 123movies – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
123movies-FAQ
What is 123movies on your Mac?
The 123movies threat is probably a potentially unwanted app. There is also a chance it could be related to Mac malware. If so, such apps tend to slow your Mac down significantly and display advertisements. They could also use cookies and other trackers to obtain browsing information from the installed web browsers on your Mac.
Can Macs Get Viruses?
Yes. As much as any other device, Apple computers do get malware. Apple devices may not be a frequent target by malware authors, but rest assured that almost all of the Apple devices can become infected with a threat.
What Types of Mac Threats Are There?
According to most malware researchers and cyber-security experts, the types of threats that can currently infect your Mac can be rogue antivirus programs, adware or hijackers (PUPs), Trojan horses, ransomware and crypto-miner malware.
What To Do If I Have a Mac Virus, Like 123movies?
Do not panic! You can easily get rid of most Mac threats by firstly isolating them and then removing them. One recommended way to do that is by using a reputable malware removal software that can take care of the removal automatically for you.
There are many Mac anti-malware apps out there that you can choose from. SpyHunter for Mac is one of the reccomended Mac anti-malware apps, that can scan for free and detect any viruses. This saves time for manual removal that you would otherwise have to do.
How to Secure My Data from 123movies?
With few simple actions. First and foremost, it is imperative that you follow these steps:
Step 1: Find a safe computer and connect it to another network, not the one that your Mac was infected in.
Step 2: Change all of your passwords, starting from your e-mail passwords.
Step 3: Enable two-factor authentication for protection of your important accounts.
Step 4: Call your bank to change your credit card details (secret code, etc.) if you have saved your credit card for online shopping or have done online activiites with your card.
Step 5: Make sure to call your ISP (Internet provider or carrier) and ask them to change your IP address.
Step 6: Change your Wi-Fi password.
Step 7: (Optional): Make sure to scan all of the devices connected to your network for viruses and repeat these steps for them if they are affected.
Step 8: Install anti-malware software with real-time protection on every device you have.
Step 9: Try not to download software from sites you know nothing about and stay away from low-reputation websites in general.
If you follow these reccomendations, your network and Apple devices will become significantly more safe against any threats or information invasive software and be virus free and protected in the future too.
More tips you can find on our MacOS Virus section, where you can also ask any questions and comment about your Mac problems.
About the 123movies Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this 123movies how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific macOS issue.
How did we conduct the research on 123movies?
Please note that our research is based on an independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware definitions, including the various types of Mac threats, especially adware and potentially unwanted apps (PUAs).
Furthermore, the research behind the 123movies threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.