What Is MajorLauncher on Mac?
MajorLauncher is a program flagged as potentially unwanted by some of the most reputable anti-malware tools. The program targets Mac devices. Its purpose is to show different types of advertisements. The main idea is to generate profit for its developers. The advertisements that are displayed may expose you to risky sites that promote fraud or malware. This can be problematic for your online security.
Read this article in order to learn more information about how you can quickly remove MajorLauncher adware from your Mac and keep it protected in the future.
MajorLauncher Mac – Details
| Name | MajorLauncher |
| 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 MajorLauncher
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss MajorLauncher. |
MajorLauncher Mac – How Did I Get Infected
The adware app MajorLauncher belongs to a larger family of threats called AdLoad. Apps that are part of this family have similar names of two or three words. Some other recently detected apps of the same family are ActiveHandler, InitiatorActivity and DataSearchSystem.
MajorLauncher is the kind of application that could end up on your Mac without making you aware of its installation. One of the distribution methods is software bundles. When the app is bundled together with another app it runs by default the moment you install the primary application. The installation files of MajorLauncher can be added to the installer of other apps. The image below shows how this method works:
Furthermore, fake Adobe Flash Player updates may try to install apps part of this family. Sudden redirect can load in the browser in an attempt to trick you to download a fake update. But you can get MajorLauncher adware instead:
MajorLauncher – What Does It Do?
The main that MajorLauncher adware does is to display multiple types of advertisements. This happens after heavy modifications are applied to system and browser settings. The undesired app can also change the default search, homepage and new tab page. The advertisements it may bring to you could be of the following types:
- Interruptive banner ads.
- Changed search results to show ads instead of relevant sites.
- Highlighted text on the pages you visit.
- Intrusive push notifications.
- Pop-ups with video and/or sound.
- Redirects.
Also, the ads may have a lot of tracking objects, that are used to obtain different information from your web browsing process. Cookies are the most vivid example:
This information may contain the following type of details:
- Your mouse clicks.
- IP and Mac addresses.
- What you have visited.
- Your mouse movements.
- The browsing history from your browser.
- What searches you have made.
- Your bookmarked websites.
Is MajorLauncher a Virus?
MajorLauncher is not classified as a virus for Mac. However, it could be just as dangerous as a virus. Oftentimes, the ads it displays could lead to dangerous domains like:
- Redirects to dangerous sites via multiple pay-per-click redirects.
- Rogue software sites.
- Survey sites that are fraud.
- Phishing pages.
- Web pages that contain scams.
- URLs, containing a virus infection file or script.
- Tech support fraud pages.
This is why this software is classified as an indirect threat to your Mac and should be got rid of as soon as you possibly can do it.
How to Remove MajorLauncher from Mac
In order to remove MajorLauncher from your Mac and the web browsers that it may have affected, we suggest that you follow the removal instructions we have set up. The steps below 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 recommend the use of an anti-malware program that can scan all macOS directories for harmful files and let you remove them with a few easy clicks.
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 MajorLauncher files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as MajorLauncher, 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 MajorLauncher 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 MajorLauncher:
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 MajorLauncher. 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 MajorLauncher. 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 MajorLauncher 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 MajorLauncher. 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 MajorLauncher – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
MajorLauncher-FAQ
What is MajorLauncher on your Mac?
The MajorLauncher 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 MajorLauncher?
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 MajorLauncher?
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 MajorLauncher Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this MajorLauncher 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 MajorLauncher?
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 MajorLauncher threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.