What Is DesignationDrive?
DesignationDrive Mac adware belongs to the AdLoad family of threats. These malicious programs can significantly slow down your Mac, inundate it with unwanted ads, redirect you to malicious websites, and even introduce additional spyware or adware. To safeguard against such infections, it is crucial to download software only from trusted sources and avoid clicking on suspicious pop-up windows, particularly those posing as fake Adobe Flash player updates. These are the primary distribution methods for various AdLoad variants.
What Is AdLoad?
AdLoad is a type of Trojan that stealthily infiltrates a computer and installs adware and potentially harmful applications without the user’s knowledge. It constitutes a large family of threats specifically targeted at Mac devices, with new versions like DesignationDrive being frequently introduced.
DesignationDrive Details
| Name | DesignationDrive a.k.a. Trojan.Adload |
| Type | Adware / Potentially Unwanted Application |
| Short Description | A program that delivers lots of annoying advertisements in browsers it affects. |
| Symptoms | Browser slowdowns could occur due to increased number of ads generated by the adware. Sensitive detials could be obtained by unknown actors. |
| Distribution Method | Software bundles; Corrupted installers; Deceptive web pages |
| Detection Tool |
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How Did I Get DesignationDrive Installed on My Mac?
The distribution mechanisms employed often intend to deceive users into installing the program without considering the potential side effects. These methods include the utilization of bundled software installers and fake software updates delivered through compromised web pages. One prevalent example of a fake update scheme adopted by AdLoad variants is the Adobe Flash Player is out of date browser scam.
What Does DesignationDrive Do?
DesignationDrive has been created with the purpose of displaying as many online advertisements as possible. Once this adware is activated on your Mac, it can alter the settings of popular web browsers such as Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Safari, in order to generate more advertisements. This could have a negative influence on the performance of your Mac, making it less efficient. Moreover, the ads could lead to malicious web pages that could be managed by hackers.
Another issue that may occur while DesignationDrive is running on your device is data harvesting. With the help of various tracking technologies, the program could attempt to obtain sensitive data from your affected browsers and then send it to its servers. If you want to prevent this adware program from displaying annoying ads and collecting sensitive data of yours, you need to remove all associated files from affected browsers and system as soon as possible.
Is DesignationDrive a Computer Virus?
It is imperative to uninstall DesignationDrive from your Mac to guarantee your online security. Despite not being a conventional computer virus, it can still be menacing as it has traits of adware and potentially undesirable program activities, as well as backdoor capabilities.
Is DesignationDrive Dangerous?
DesignationDrive is a hazard to Macs due to its persistent nature and the problems it can bring about. A LaunchAgents folder in the Library is a frequent target, where the persistence agent is set up, thus creating an obstacle to its full removal. As a consequence, a specific technical approach must be implemented for the successful eradication of the adware from the computer.
How to Protect My Mac from DesignationDrive?
As annoying a PUP or adware can be, its installation can be avoided easily by building user vigilance. Here are a few easy steps you can take to avoid installing PUPs and becoming a victim of unwanted programs such as DesignationDrive:
- Don’t download programs from Internet ads, pop-ups, torrent trackers, file sharing sites and other unreliable sources.
- Opt-out of the setting hidden in the “Custom” or “Advanced” sections when you’re installing a program. You can deselect most PUPs from there.
- Avoid installing programs you don’t need.
- Keep an eye out for any excessive or unusual Internet advertising. These ads can be brought on by PUPs and adware attached to your browser.
- Read the terms and conditions of use when you install any programs.
- Check your installed software regularly and uninstall any applications you do not want or need.
- Install an anti-malware program that also has the ability to detect and remove potentially unwanted programs.
Remove DesignationDrive from Your Mac
To remove the DesignationDrive Mac “virus” and all associated files from your Mac, carefully follow the step-by-step removal guide provided below. This comprehensive guide offers both manual and automatic removal instructions, which, when combined, can effectively secure your device and protect it from future attacks. If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below the article. We are dedicated to promptly addressing your inquiries and providing the necessary support to help you resolve the issue.
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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 DesignationDrive files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as DesignationDrive, 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 DesignationDrive 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 DesignationDrive:
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 DesignationDrive. 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 DesignationDrive. 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 DesignationDrive 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 DesignationDrive. 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 DesignationDrive – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
DesignationDrive-FAQ
What is DesignationDrive on your Mac?
The DesignationDrive 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 DesignationDrive?
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 DesignationDrive?
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 DesignationDrive Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this DesignationDrive 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 DesignationDrive?
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 DesignationDrive threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.