What Is VoltageTask Mac
VoltageTask is it potentially unwanted application that good of beer on your Mac without you even realizing it. This particular application aims to profit at your expense by flooding your Mac with all sorts of ads. This may be problematic for your Mac in the security of it, because some of these advertisements made it to malicious or scam sites. This is why the software is classified as indirectly unsafe and should be removed from your Mac as soon as possible.
Read this article if you want to understand more about this program, how it got in your Mac in the first place and what you can do to delete it.
VoltageTask Mac – Details
| Name | VoltageTask |
| Type | Malware / PUP / Auto-Downlaod / Redirect for Mac |
| Short Description | Aims to modify the settings on your computer in order to get it to cause third-party software downloads and display different ads and unsafe contents. |
| Symptoms | Your Mac begins to display various types of content, which may even be malicious, which results in slowing down of your machine. Auto download of other unwanted software may start. |
| Distribution Method | Via mail software. Fake Updates. Bundled downloads. Web pages which may advertise it. |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your Mac Has Been Affected by VoltageTask
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Malware Removal Tool
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss VoltageTask. |
VoltageTask Virus – How Did I Get Infected
VoltageTask is a PUP, that is reported to be an AdLoad variant, just like the following recently detected adwares:
SelectorComponent
ProcessorProgression
LaunchHistoryResults
VoltageTask may be installed on your Mac by being included in one of the installation steps of a free software that you may have recently added to it. Such programs often include free media players, file conversion apps and others of these kinds. This is commonly known as software bundling and looks like the example installation step below shows:
Another very often used strategy that has been reported to be associated with these apps being on your device is by posing as a fake flash player update, such as the one on the example webpage shown below:
VoltageTask Mac – What Does It Do?
Once VoltageTask has compromise your Mac and the security of it, it may assume rides over reading and writing permissions of your web browser. This may result in the following ads to begin showing up:
- Highlighted text on the pages you visit.
- Pop-ups with video and/or sound.
- Interruptive banner ads.
- Redirects.
- Changed search results to show ads instead of relevant sites.
- Intrusive push notifications.
Many of these advertisements often tend to lead to websites that may contain cookies and other forms of tracking technologies:
This is not good news for you, because these trackers may be utilised to contain components in them that get different kinds of details about what it is that you do online, such as:
- What you have visited.
- Your mouse movements.
- IP and Mac addresses.
- Your bookmarked websites.
- The browsing history from your browser.
- What searches you have made.
- Your mouse clicks.
- Different personally identifiable information you may type.
Is VoltageTask a Virus?
VoltageTask is known to be an adware application. It could have different kinds of dangerous advertisements, that makes it just as dangerous as a virus, even though it is not one:
- Survey sites that are fraud.
- Phishing pages.
- 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.
These are the main reasons why this program is categorized as indirectly and safe and uninstalling it from your Mac is a recommended choice.
How to Remove VoltageTask from Mac?
VoltageTask can be deleted effectively from your macOS and the web browsers that it could’ve compromised by following the guidance below. It has been created may need to help you by providing you with the necessary steps to clean up the impacted areas of the Mac that is compromised. I want the best possible removal process, our main suggestion is doing so automatically by scanning your Mac using a professional anti-malware program. This is a professional security tool that will thoroughly scan your device and remove any malicious software, trackers and other unwanted objects.
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 VoltageTask files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as VoltageTask, 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 VoltageTask 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 VoltageTask:
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 VoltageTask. 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 VoltageTask. 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 VoltageTask 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 VoltageTask. 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 VoltageTask – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
VoltageTask-FAQ
What is VoltageTask on your Mac?
The VoltageTask 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 VoltageTask?
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 VoltageTask?
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 VoltageTask Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this VoltageTask 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 VoltageTask?
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 VoltageTask threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.