What Is GuideService Mac
GuideService is an application that has been regarded as a potentially unwanted for Mac. The main objective of programs, like this one is to get inside your device, while pretending to be a legitimate and helpful application, but in reality show tons of different paid advertisements. The objective of these ads is to get you to third-party websites, some of which may be dangerous for your Mac. The main dangers that may be related to this program is that it shows these ads for profit and this may bring some very risky websites on your device as a result.
Read this article if you want to learn more information about this potentially unwanted program and how we can remove it from your Mac thoroughly.
GuideService Mac – Details
| Name | PartnerPixel |
| 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 |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss GuideService. |
GuideService Virus – How Did I Get Infected
GuideService is another variant of the Adload family of PUPs. This family includes hundreds if not thousands of variants already and some of its most recent ones are the following:
One of the main methods through which this application may have ended up on your device is likely via a fake Adobe Flash Player update that may have occured as a result of a browser redirect:
Another well-known method of replication used by apps, like GuideService is to also get bundled together with some other applications that you may have downloaded for free online. If this is the case, then this software may pretend to be one of those free extras that are added as an optional offer to the installation and exist in one of the install steps:
GuideService Mac – What Does It Do?
GuideService is the kind of program that may initially perform series of modifications to your web browser settings. These modifications include changing your homepage, your new tab page, your default search engine, add browser extensions and plug-ins. All of these activities result in the following kinds of ads to begin showing up:
- Highlighted text on the pages you visit.
- Redirects.
- Changed search results to show ads instead of relevant sites.
- Pop-ups with video and/or sound.
- Interruptive banner ads.
- Intrusive push notifications.
GuideService app may also use a lot of various tracking technologies, like cookies for instance:
GuideService can use those tracking technologies to get different information from your device, like the following details:
- IP and Mac addresses.
- Your bookmarked websites.
- What you have visited.
- Your mouse movements.
- The browsing history from your browser.
- What searches you have made.
- Your mouse clicks.
Is GuideService a Virus?
GuideService is not a virus, but the ads it could be showing on your machine may lead in some cases to some very risky sites, like:
- Rogue software download sites.
- Tech support fraud pages.
- URLs, containing a virus infection file or script.
- Web pages that contain scams.
- Redirects to dangerous sites via multiple pay-per-click redirects.
- Survey sites that are fraud.
- Phishing pages.
This is why we would strongly recommend removing this application from your device completely.
How to Remove GuideService from Mac?
To uninstall GuideService from your Mac effectively, our main suggestion is following the guide below. It has been made to contain the necessary information to get you through the removal for this app either manually or automatically. For the most effective removal, we would advise you the same as any expert will tell you and that is to download on and scan your Mac using a professional anti-malware program. Such a tool has been designed with the main idea to best assist you by automatically scanning your Mac and getting it rid of any malicious software.
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 GuideService files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as GuideService, 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 GuideService 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 GuideService:
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 GuideService. 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 GuideService. 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 GuideService 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 GuideService. 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 GuideService – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
GuideService-FAQ
What is GuideService on your Mac?
The GuideService 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 GuideService?
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 GuideService?
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 GuideService Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this GuideService 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 GuideService?
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 GuideService threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.