What Is StandardBoost Mac?
StandardBoost is an adware and potentially unwanted program that designed to target Mac users. The program belongs to the AdLoad family of Mac threats. These apps are known to generate the following message:
“StandardBoostd will damage your computer.”
Make sure to read this article in order to learn more information on how you can remove StandardBoost from your Mac effectively.
StandardBoost Details
| Name | StandardBoost a.k.a. Trojan.Adload |
| Type | Adware / Potentially Unwanted Application / Mac Virus |
| Removal Time | Less than 15 minutes |
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StandardBoost – More Information
As soon as StandardBoost is added to your Mac, it may begin to ask you for permissions. Your Mac may even present pop-ups, like:
“StandardBoostd will damage your computer.”
We have seen this behavior in other potentially unwanted apps for Mac. Such apps are FlexibleProtocol, tBrains Mac and FireSearch.
These applications are categorized as potentially unwanted and having them means that your Mac may be at risk. But how did they end up on your Mac, you may ask yourself. Well, the answer to this is simple, since all of these apps use similar strategy to be spread. They may be silently pushed onto your computer by being included in the installation setup for another free app you may have recently downloaded. What usually happens is people download freeware apps outside the official app store. These apps usually include programs, like StandardBoost that are advertised in one of the Advanced or Custom install steps. There, they are promoted as “free extra” and this is an usual way how these apps get added to your computer.
What Does It Do?
As soon as StandardBoost is added to your Mac, it may start to use different technologies to track what you do on your web browser. Such trackers often end up being:
- Cookies.
- Pixels.
- Tags.
- Geo-locators.
- LSOs.
These trackers may be used for one purpose only and that is to see what you do online. The bad news is that they may remain for years of time after you have removed this nasty software. They may see the following information:
- Sites visited.
- Clicks made.
- Bookmarks.
- Browsing history.
And this is not where StandardBoost stops. It may attack your important web browsers, like Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Chrome and others to change their home and new tab pages. It may also cause Yahoo redirects every time you search for something.
The ads that may be shown by StandardBoost can be different types, such as:
- Pop-ups.
- Redirects.
- Search result ads.
- Highlighted texts.
- Banner ads.
- Push notification ads.
The main purpose of those ads is to make the people behind StandardBoost rich, no matter the cost. This is the primary reason why StandardBoost should be removed, because the people behind it do not care what it is they advertise. This means that your Mac may be exposed to the following sites as long as they are concerned:
- Virus links.
- Phishing.
- Scams.
- Fraud Tech Support.
- Fake surveys.
Remove StandardBoost from Your Mac
There are several ways to remove StandardBoost, but be advised that this app may be tricky to delete. This is why we recommend that you follow the removal guide that is posted underneath this article. It has been created with the main purpose to help you to detect and remove all of the files related to this software from macOS and your browsers. For best removal results, we advise what experts do – to download and scan your Mac with an advanced anti-malware software. It will make sure to take care of these programs automatically and delete them effectively from your Mac.
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 StandardBoost files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as StandardBoost, 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 StandardBoost 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 StandardBoost:
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 StandardBoost. 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 StandardBoost. 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 StandardBoost 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 StandardBoost. 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 StandardBoost – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
StandardBoost-FAQ
What is StandardBoost on your Mac?
The StandardBoost 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 StandardBoost?
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 StandardBoost?
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 StandardBoost Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this StandardBoost 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 StandardBoost?
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 StandardBoost threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.