What Is Automator Mac Virus?
This article explains what Automator malware is and how you could remove it from your computer system.
What is Automator on Mac? It can be a Trojan horse that is named just like the Automator Mac system component. The Automator virus could spread via several approaches. It might use a zero-day (unpatched) bug to get inside a compromised computer silently.
Automator could bring down your computer’s defenses and remain unnoticed while doing so. For the program to be able to accomplish all these things, a skilled programmer has to have written the code with utmost detail. To infect systems the malware, might use the following tools:
- Obfuscators to hide the harmful code from antivirus software.
- Zero-Day kits to effectively infect computer systems using known MacOS vulnerabilities.
- Malware modules that aid the virus do various spyware and also various other destructive tasks.
Having a Trojan horse component, which opens up a backdoor and presumably downloads malicious files on your Mac, is considered highly dangerous.
If you want to know more and get rid of the Automator infection, we strongly suggest that you read the whole article.
Automator Mac Virus Details
| Name | Automator Mac |
| Type | Mac Virus / Trojan |
| Short Description | May steal sensitive information from your Mac and may use it to infect other computers. |
| Symptoms | Your Mac may begin to exhibit strange behavior and it may slow down and stutter at times. Files can be edited. |
| Distribution Method | Bundled downloads. Web pages which may advertise it. |
| Detection Tool |
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Automator App on Mac – What Should I Know?
In fact, this is a macOS component that implements drag and drop creation of workflows for automating repetitive tasks into batches for quicker alteration. The official Automator app, developed by Apple inc. enables the repetition of tasks across a wide variety of programs, including Finder, Safari, Calendar, Contacts and others. Here is how its icon looks like:
Unfortunately, knowing that this convenient tool is legitimate, hackers developed malicious software that hides its activities by masking itself as the Mac Automator. As a result, when a user attempts to remove the threat, he may receive the following pop-up message:
“Automator” can’t be modified or deleted because it’s required by macOS.
If you have related issues, you need to scan your system for any present harmful files and eventually remove them. Be careful during a manual removal process, as deleting legitimate files may lead to your system crashing.
What Does Automator Do?
Having this infection may perform the adhering to tasks on the computer systems:
- Download and install unwanted software applications without you even noticing.
- Update itself as well as create duplicates of itself to stay clear of detection even if you believe you have actually removed its major malicious documents.
- Remove itself.
The Automator Mac virus is created with the main concept to inject various other infections, like:
- Spyware components.
- Adware.
- Ransomware.
- Cryptocurrency miners.
- Financial malware.
- Rootkits.
- Lockscreen / Screenlockers.
- Infostealer elements.
Other malicious activities that the threat could perform include:
- Taking screenshots of your desktop computer.
- Logging the keystrokes you have typed.
- Duplicating your passwords and usernames.
- Reading and editing files and other data.
- Managing your web video camera.
Each of these tasks makes the Automator Mac virus an extremely harmful threat that should be completely removed as soon as possible.
Is Automator a Virus?
The Automator app on Mac could be sometimes hidden as a virus in the form of a malicious file. This file may be spread across compromised computer systems via a variety of various techniques, such as e-mail spam projects. Such emails commonly bring destructive e-mail attachments concealed as:
- Invoices.
- Receipts.
- Acquisition confirmation records.
- Banking files.
- Dubious activity reports on the victim’s account in Amazon.com, E-Bay, PayPal and even savings account.
Another approach that may be used by hackers to spread harmful files includes using download sites where any of these could be downloaded in the form of a legitimate program:
- Configuration of a program.
- Crack.
- Portable variation of software program.
- Key generator.
- Permit activation software.
How to Remove Automator from Mac
How to delete Automator on Mac? Should I remove Automator from my Mac? Considering that the Automator app on your Mac may be a malicious Trojan horse, you have to remove it as soon as possible from the infected Mac.
To identify whether the program is malicious or not, we recommend that you follow the removal guide steps listed below. The steps will help you eliminate all malicious files by using the details listed in the article, combined with the removal steps.
Considering that the Automator Trojan horse component may download other malicious files, consider the following recommendation. Download an anti-malware program and run a scan of your Mac. Anti-malware is developed to eliminate all invasive and malicious items from your Mac, with a bonus guarantee that your system will be safeguarded against future infections.
Automator Mac Virus – Removal Guide Video
For your convenience, we have also created a video with removal instructions for this particular threat. It contains almost the same instructions as the ones below, but in a more simple and shorter laid out way. Watch this video if you want to understand more about how to remove this threat manually or automatically.
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 Automator Mac Virus files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Automator Mac Virus, 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 Automator Mac Virus 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 Automator Mac Virus:
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 Automator Mac Virus. 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 Automator Mac Virus. 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 Automator Mac Virus 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 Automator Mac Virus. 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 Automator Mac Virus – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
Automator Mac Virus-FAQ
What is Automator Mac Virus on your Mac?
The Automator Mac Virus 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 Automator Mac Virus?
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 Automator Mac Virus?
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 Automator Mac Virus Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Automator Mac Virus 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 Automator Mac Virus?
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 Automator Mac Virus threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.
Hello. I have the Automator app but I don’t know how it got installed on my Mac. Is it really a virus? Should I be worried? I found your article and I wonder if I should install your program to check if everything is ok?