What is OSX.Trojan.Gen detection? What does it mean to see OSX.Trojan.Gen? How to remove OSX.Trojan.Gen completely from your Mac?
OSX.Trojan.Gen is the detection name for most Trojan horses that infect Mac computers. The detection’s origin is traced back to multiple antivirus programs. The bad news is that some Trojans are very advanced and simple detection and quarantine is not enough to remove them fully. Their main goal is to enter your Mac undetected and steal information, install other viruses or spy on you. If you see the OSX.Trojan.Gen detection on your Mac, then we recommend that you read this article.
Threat Summary
| Name | OSX.Trojan.Gen |
| Type | Trojan Horse for Mac OS |
| Short Description | Aims to slither on your Mac undetected and perform series of malcious activities. |
| Symptoms | One of the symptoms could be a fake app posing as a legitimate one. The virus aims to be completely undetected, so other symptoms could include odd behaviour of your Mac. |
| Distribution Method | Via malspam or via compromised websites. |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss OSX.Trojan.Gen. |
OSX.Trojan.Gen – How Did I Get It and What Does It Do?
OSX.Trojan.Gen is a Trojan horse type of threat. Typically it enters your computer by posing as a legitimate app that may be downloaded from a third-party site with low-reputation. The OSX.Trojan.Gen can also be sent to you via e-mail and there, it may infect via a malicous URL in the e-mail itself or could wind up on your computer as a result of being attached to those e-mails as a fake document that appears important.
Once on your computer, the OSX.Trojan.Gen can be capable of doing a lot of bad stuff. Some of them are listed underneath:
- Activate your camera or microphone.
- Log your keystrokes.
- Track you location via FindMyMac.
- Read your IP and MAC addresses.
- Copy files from your Mac.
- Delete files from your Mac.
- Steal AppleID passwords and IDs.
- Steal saved passwords on your browser.
- Download other viruses on your Mac without your knowledge.
- Update itself.
The “gen” in the detection OSX.Trojan.Gen stands for the word generic and it means that this Trojan is in fact malware, but it’s not known. This means that it may even have other new activities that may be performed on your computer.
The main idea behind this Trojan is to take over control of your Mac for the benefit of the hackers behind it. This is the main reason why it’s removal is highly recommended.
How to Effectively Remove OSX.Trojan.Gen
To make sure that this malware is fully erased from your Mac, we recommend that you see step 1 and 2 in the removal instructions below. If they do not help you, then we suggest that you use an advanced malware removal software. Such tool will detect the virus files and objects, related to OSX.Trojan.Gen and make sure that they are fully erased and your Mac is safe, so you can change all your passwords afterwards.
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 OSX.Trojan.Gen files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as OSX.Trojan.Gen, 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 OSX.Trojan.Gen 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 OSX.Trojan.Gen:
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 OSX.Trojan.Gen. 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 OSX.Trojan.Gen. 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 OSX.Trojan.Gen 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 OSX.Trojan.Gen. 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 OSX.Trojan.Gen – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
OSX.Trojan.Gen-FAQ
What is OSX.Trojan.Gen on your Mac?
The OSX.Trojan.Gen 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 OSX.Trojan.Gen?
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 OSX.Trojan.Gen?
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 OSX.Trojan.Gen Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this OSX.Trojan.Gen 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 OSX.Trojan.Gen?
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 OSX.Trojan.Gen threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.