What Is AdBlockMax Mac
AdBlockMax is it potentially unsafe software for Mac, which may present to be a legitimate ad blocking application. In reality, these programs are known as potentially unwanted, also detected as PUP by security software. Their main objective is not stopping advertisements, but pushing their own instead. This may cause a lot of different redirects that may end up taking you to unsafe websites, which is why these applications pose an indirect risk.
Read this article to learn more about AdBlockMax and what you can do to uninstall it from your device in your web browser.
AdBlockMax Mac – Details
Name | AdBlockMax |
Type | Rogue App / 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 the displaying of different unwanted contents and ads. |
Symptoms | Your Mac begins to display various types of content, which may even be malicious, which results in slowing down in terms of performance. Auto download of other PUPs 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 AdBlockMax
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Malware Removal Tool
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss AdBlockMax. |
AdBlockMax Virus – How Did I Get Infected
AdBlockMax is an app, familiar as a PUP to most security experts. There are many such apps, like it out there that pretend to be helpful, for example SelectorComponent, ProcessorProgression and LaunchHistoryResults.
AdBlockMax could’ve been included in the installation of another program, where it is advertised as a free extra – a technique, commonly known as bundling:
AdBlockMax Mac – What Does It Do?
Once AdBlockMax it’s installed on your Mac, it may begin to change different kinds of options of your web browsers in order for it to read and change the data on the sites you visit. It may misuse these permissions to bombard your Mac with the following ads :
- Highlighted text on the pages you visit.
- Interruptive banner ads.
- Redirects.
- Pop-ups with video and/or sound.
- Changed search results to show ads instead of relevant sites.
- Intrusive push notifications.
AdBlockMax may take part in collecting details from your Mac using many forms of tracking objects:
These trackers often include pixels, tags, cookies and others and they may be utilised to collect data from your browser, such as:
- IP and Mac addresses.
- Your mouse movements.
- The browsing history from your browser.
- What searches you have made.
- Your bookmarked websites.
- What you have visited.
- Your mouse clicks.
- Different personally identifiable information you may type.
Is AdBlockMax a Virus?
AdBlockMax is an adware for Mac. It may not be a dangerous virus, but is poses indirect risk for your Mac and the data in it, since many of the ads it shows can lead to websites you do not want seeing, such as:
- 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.
This is why it is strongly recommended to immediately delete this threat from Mac.
How to Remove AdBlockMax from Mac?
AdBlockMax is a program, which can be effectively understood from your Mac by following the guidelines. It has been made primarily to assist you into cleaning up your web browsers and your macOS altogether. If you don’t have the time to do a manual uninstall of the software, then we suggest that you remove it automatically using a professional anti-malware program for Mac. Many experts recommend using this security software, because it has the power to thoroughly check your device and make sure that any trackers, adware and other unsafe software are fully erased from it.
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 AdBlockMax files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as AdBlockMax, 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 AdBlockMax 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 AdBlockMax:
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 AdBlockMax. 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 AdBlockMax. 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 AdBlockMax 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 AdBlockMax. 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 AdBlockMax – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
AdBlockMax-FAQ
What is AdBlockMax on your Mac?
The AdBlockMax 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 AdBlockMax?
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 AdBlockMax?
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 AdBlockMax Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this AdBlockMax 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 AdBlockMax?
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 AdBlockMax threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.