What is BenefitSites Mac App? Is BenefitSites Mac App legitimate or a virus? How to remove BenefitSites?
BenefitSites “Virus” App on Mac
The BenefitSites app on Mac has been classified as an adware or a potentially unwanted program (PUP). Users tend to execute it on their Mac systems without noticing the installation process. Once started on the system, BenefitSites might turn on tracking technologies that collect sensitive data and then transfer it to remote servers. The details may be misused for aggressive advertising and financial gains. In this guide, you can find more information about the nasty application BenefitSites as well as an in-depth removal guide with removal steps for all Mac operating system versions.
Threat Summary
| Name | BenefitSites |
| Type | PUP for Mac OS |
| Short Description | A potentially unwanted program that can compromise the system in various ways. |
| Symptoms | Aims to display various different types of advertisements on infected Macs. May begin to create various different files and objects that are hidden. |
| Distribution Method | Via software bundling or online advertisements. |
| Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss BenefitSites. |
BenefitSites Mac App – How Did I Get It and What Does It Do?
BenefitSites can land on your Mac with the help of various different types of methods. The most common method is believed to be software bundling. This method enables developers of free programs to add potentially undesired programs as extras in their installers. When you download such an app and install it on your Mac you trigger the undesired program as well. Such free programs aim to keep the details about BenefitSites virus hidden. So you are not likely to see any details about the installation of the undesired app. The BenefitSites can also get installed on a Mac after its intentional download from some sort of a web page that is advertising it as a legitimate type of software.
BenefitSites is also known as BenefitSites virus mainly due to its shady spread methods. They all aim to trick users into installing the unwanted app on their Macs. Examples of other adware spread via the descried mechanisms are WindowMix, TechSignalSearch, and EngageSearch.
When the BenefitSites virus is installed on your Mac, it could appear as if it is some sort of an online search application. However, this app is designed to take over your web browser and change its settings. It can change your new tab page, home page and even search results. The end goal of BenefitSites virus app is to start delivering the following types of ads on your Mac:
- Pop-ups.
- Browser Redirect ads.
- Online ad-supported search resutls.
- Banners.
- Push Notifications ads.
- Highlighted text ads.
Furthermore, the activation of BenefitSites on your Mac leads to unsolicited data collection. Adware programs like this one activate different tracking technologies to spy on your online behavior and send data to their operators. Collected details may be either personally or non-personally identifiable. The developers of adware tend to sell collected data to third parties (sometimes cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue in various other ways.
Since adware apps do not operate as promoted and cause only problems your best course of action is to focus on removing them from your Mac and ensure that it is protected against such type of apps.
Remove BenefitSites Virus App from Your Mac
In order to remove BenefitSites along with all its entries from your infected Mac operating system, you should complete several removal steps in a precise order. The guide below presents manual and automatic removal steps. In order to fully get rid of files installed by undesired programs and strengthen macOS security, we recommend that you follow all steps. Some of the files associated with BenefitSites cannot be removed manually except you are an experienced computer user. So the manual BenefitSites removal might be quite a complicated process that requires advanced computer skills. If you don’t feel comfortable with the manual steps, navigate to the automatic part of the guide.
In case you have further questions or need additional help with the removal process, don’t hesitate to leave us a comment.
Gergana Ivanova
Highly motivated writer with 5+ years of experience writing for ransomware, malware, adware, PUPs, and other cybersecurity-related issues. As a writer, I strive to create content that is based on thorough technical research. I find joy in the process of creating articles that are easy to understand, informative, and useful. Follow me on Twitter (@IRGergana) for the latest in the field of computer, mobile, and online 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 BenefitSites files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as BenefitSites, 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 BenefitSites 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 BenefitSites:
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 BenefitSites. 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 BenefitSites. 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 BenefitSites 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 BenefitSites. 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 BenefitSites – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
BenefitSites-FAQ
What is BenefitSites on your Mac?
The BenefitSites 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 BenefitSites?
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 BenefitSites?
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 BenefitSites Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this BenefitSites 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 BenefitSites?
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 BenefitSites threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.