What Is LauncherRecord on Mac?
LauncherRecord is a program compatible with macOS. Reputable anti-malware tools detect it as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) or also adware. As an ad-supported software, it aims to affect Mac devices and then begin to generate different types of advertisements. To complete this purpose, it heavily modifies web browsers settings and changes some important Mac settings. The ads it shows are mainly monetized via pay-per-click which is a standard scheme for ad monetization but when applied by adware could be risky and dangerous. In fact, those ads could lead to corrupted websites that host online scams, malicious scripts and rogue applications.
Read this article to learn more information about this risky software and see how you can remove it from your web browser and your Mac.
LauncherRecord Mac – Details
| Name | LauncherRecord |
| Type | Adware / PUP / Redirect for Mac |
| Short Description | Aims to modify the settings on your computer in order to get it to cause browser redirects and display different advertisements. |
| Symptoms | Your device 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 |
See If Your Mac Has Been Affected by LauncherRecord
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss LauncherRecord. |
LauncherRecord Virus Ads – How Did I Get Infected?
LauncherRecord is a program released by the operators of one of the most vivid threat families for macOS called AdLoad. Other variants include apps like DynamicGrid, MajorSection, and CoinCycling.
How all these apps tend to be spread is via fake downloads of Adobe Flash Player updates. Prompts for such updates may be noticed on various bogus sites designed to look like similar versions of the official website of the Adobe service provider.
The outcome of installing fake software is the unnoticed activation of adware on your Mac. But don’t be harsh on yourself as scammers are clever enough to trick you that this is a legitimate webpage. Here is an example of a corrupted page:
Another commonly used method for the distribution of PUPs is free third-party applications that feature additional installation files in their setups. Such apps are available on various untrustworthy portals for free apps downloads as well as on various torrent networks. Being included in the installation steps of freeware, unwanted apps may appear as follows in the example below:
LauncherRecord – What Does It Do?
One of the primary goals of LauncherRecord adware is to display advertisements on your Mac. Here is why it could try to obtain access to installed web browsers by changing altering some of their main settings. The unnoticed activation of this adware may be the reason why you see all of the following types of ads:
- Highlighted text on the pages you visit.
- Pop-ups with video and/or sound.
- Changed search results to show ads instead of relevant sites.
- Intrusive push notifications.
- Redirects.
- Interruptive banner ads.
Another function of this program is to utilize a number of tracking objects such as cookies that will help it to obtain certain details from the infected system/browsers and provide them to fraudsters. Check out how undesired cookies are attached to an affected web browser:
These types of tracking objects may be responsible for collecting different data. Without your consent details like the following may be harvested from your Mac and your web browsers:
- IP and Mac addresses.
- The browsing history from your browser.
- What searches you have made.
- Your mouse movements.
- What you have visited.
- Your mouse clicks.
- Your bookmarked websites.
Is LauncherRecord a Mac Virus?
If you have any concerns about whether LauncherRecord has corrupted your macOS or not, we want to assure you that this app is not malicious. Still, it somehow belongs to the Mac viruses category of apps because its presence on a macOS significantly lowers the overall security. This application could be just as dangerous as a virus because it could bring some very risky websites to your browser without your authorization. Examples include:
- Phishing pages.
- Rogue software sites.
- Web pages that contain scams.
- Redirects to dangerous sites via multiple pay-per-click redirects.
- Survey sites that are fraud.
- Tech support fraud pages.
- URLs, containing a virus infection file or script.
This is the main reason why this program is outlined as indirectly unsafe and you should remove it from your computer system immediately.
How to Remove LauncherRecord from Mac?
In order to remove LauncherRecord from your Mac and the web browsers affected by it, we suggest that you follow the removal instructions that we set up beneath this article. The steps are made with the main idea to assist you in cleaning up your web browsers and your operating system from this nasty software. For the most effective removal, security experts often advise users to run a scan of the macOS using a reliable anti-malware program. Such professional software can effectively scan your Mac and automatically take care of any malware running on it.
Gergana Ivanova
Highly motivated writer with 5+ years of experience writing for ransomware, malware, adware, PUPs, and other cybersecurity-related issues. As a writer, I strive to create content that is based on thorough technical research. I find joy in the process of creating articles that are easy to understand, informative, and useful. Follow me on Twitter (@IRGergana) for the latest in the field of computer, mobile, and online 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 LauncherRecord files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as LauncherRecord, 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 LauncherRecord 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 LauncherRecord:
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 LauncherRecord. 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 LauncherRecord. 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 LauncherRecord 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 LauncherRecord. 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 LauncherRecord – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
LauncherRecord-FAQ
What is LauncherRecord on your Mac?
The LauncherRecord 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 LauncherRecord?
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 LauncherRecord?
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 LauncherRecord Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this LauncherRecord 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 LauncherRecord?
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 LauncherRecord threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.