What Is Adware.MAC.Generic?
This article has been created in order to help explain to you what exactly is the Adware.Mac Generic and how you can remove it from your Mac effectively.
Adware.MAC.Generic is the detection name of an adware that has successfully affected a Mac computer. If you see this detection, it is very likely that you may have an adware program added on your Mac. Such programs aim to display different types of advertisements, and could also compromise the overall privacy of the system. Adware is known to use intrusive tracking technologies. In other cases, such as AdLoad variants, the adware program could also open a backdoor on the system to aid the installation of additional malicious programs.
Threat Summary
| Name | Adware.Mac.Generic |
| Type | Adware for Mac OS |
| Short Description | Aims to slither a lot of different types of advertisements on your computer. The ads may slow down your Mac and may also cause malware infection as a result of a malicious ad or a redirect. |
| Symptoms | A lot of different advertisements may start appearing. Fake antiviruses may be added to your Mac. New browser extensions may appear and your home page could be changed. |
| Distribution Method | Via software bundling, other adware or downloading/adding the app by yourself. |
| Detection Tool |
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Adware.Mac.Generic – How Did I Get It
There is more than one way via which the Adware.Mac.Generic may have landed on your computer. One strategy is for the ones behind the adware in question to push it via software bundling. This basically means that when you are trying to install a third-party application, like your favorite media player, file converter or any other useful app, it may have the Adware.Mac.Generic added in one of the installation steps of the “Advanced” or “Custom” install mode. There the Adware for Mac may be advertised as a useful extra that is added as a bonus for free to your current installation, in order to get you to add it.
Another way via which the questionable Adware.Mac.Generic may be added to your Mac is if you have manually added it to your web browser as a browser extension or have downloaded it, thinking it is a legitimate program to help you with something, like the Mac Auto Fixer fake optimiser software, for example.
Adware.Mac.Generic – More Information
As soon as it has been installed on your computer, the Adware.Mac.Generic may begin to perform multiple different types of activities on your Mac. The program may create custom profiles with settings on most Mac browsers, like Safari, Opera, Chrome, Firefox and others. The settings may include the automatic installation of third-party browser extensions and the changing of your default home page. The outcome of this may be that your browser may begin to behave erratically with changed search results page and home page. In addition to this, it may have custom browser add-ons added to it, that may begin to show the following advertisements:
- Pop-ups.
- Banners.
- Highlighted text ads with third-party links.
- Ad-supported search results.
- Browser redirects.
Not only this, but the program may also use tracking technologies to obtain important information from you. Such technologies can often turn out to be:
- Cookies.
- Pixels.
- Tags.
- Geo-locators.
- LSOs.
These technologies allow the Adware.MAC.Generic to obtain details, such as browsing history, clicks, bookmarked sites, etc.
Furthermore, the Adware.MAC.Generic may also introduce redirects and ads that may lead to dangerous sites for your Mac that cause various infections. Such websites could be deployed for phishing purposes, or could infect your Mac with malware, e.g. trojans and PUPs.
To summarise, Adware.Mac.Generic is a heuristic detection for different generic types of adware for Mac and all of them can be indirectly dangerous for your Mac in different ways. This is why, the removal of Adware.Mac.Generic is strongly recommended.
Adware.MAC.Generic – Is It a Virus?
By definition, Adware.MAC.Generic does not belong to the category of computer viruses. A computer virus is the type of program that replicates itself upon execution by modifying other programs and inserting its own code. Once the replication happens, the affected areas become “infected” with the computer virus. Adware.MAC.Generic does not have these properties. However, the program’s behavior fits the description of adware and potentially unwanted programs. despite not being a real computer virus, the program is threatening to your online security and should be removed from your Mac.
Remove Adware.Mac.Generic from Your Mac
If you want to make sure that this Mac adware is gone completely, we would suggest that you follow the removal instructions that are posted underneath this article. They have been created with the main idea to help you delete the files of this adware either manually or automatically.
If you have tried deleting the Adware.Mac.Generic in any way possible and it still does not work, security experts strongly recommend to install and run a scan of your Mac, with a specific advanced anti-malware program. Such tool is created in order to automatically identify and delete the all the objects and files of Adware.Mac.Generic permanently. In addition to this, having such software will also ensure that your Mac remains protected against apps with intrusive and adware behaviour in the future.
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 Adware.Mac.Generic files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Adware.Mac.Generic, 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 Adware.Mac.Generic 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 Adware.Mac.Generic:
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 Adware.Mac.Generic. 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 Adware.Mac.Generic. 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 Adware.Mac.Generic 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 Adware.Mac.Generic. 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 Adware.Mac.Generic – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
Adware.Mac.Generic-FAQ
What is Adware.Mac.Generic on your Mac?
The Adware.Mac.Generic 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 Adware.Mac.Generic?
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 Adware.Mac.Generic?
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 Adware.Mac.Generic Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Adware.Mac.Generic 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 Adware.Mac.Generic?
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 Adware.Mac.Generic threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.