What Is ExpandedSkill Adware?
This article has been made with the primary goal of assisting you in comprehending what is the so-called ExpandedSkill adware and how to stop ads by it and remove it thoroughly from your Mac.
Yet another unwanted application that is noticed by affected users on Mac has been detected by victims. ExpandedSkill adware aims to get you to see different types of advertisements on your computer. The software may show various forms of ads on the victim Macs and may also use different types of tracking technologies. In addition to these displayed advertisements, this “malware” which is a PUP (potentially unwanted program) may also lead you to various third-party websites. The primary purpose of those sites could be to cause redirects to scam websites or even infect users with malware.
ExpandedSkill Adware Mac
ExpandedSkill adware may be classified as potentially unwanted and could be an indirect risk to unsuspecting Mac users. The primary idea behind it is to show different ads that may be risky. Read this article so that you can learn how you can remove ExpandedSkill adware from your Mac completely.
Threat Summary
| Name | ExpandedSkill |
| Type | Browser Hijacker for Mac OS |
| Short Description | Aims to change the settings of Safari and other web browsers installed on Macs and display a lot of third-party advertisements, some of which may be dangerous to users. |
| Symptoms | Slow and sluggish performance of the Mac. Changed browser settings. Different types of ads show uninvited. |
| Distribution Method | Via bundling or websites. |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
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Combo Cleaner
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss ExpandedSkill. |
ExpandedSkill Mac Adware – Description
The main way via which the ExpandedSkill Mac adware may be spread on your computer is typical for most adware type of apps of this type and is known as bundling. This is a method that is characterized by adding the program files of apps, like ExpandedSkill to the installers of other free apps, which you may have downloaded and installed from third-party sites. The primary goal behind this is for those free applications to be distributed via using various types of software, the main one of which is often media players, torrent downloaders, photo editors, video converters, and other seemingly useful apps of these types.
Furthermore, the ExpandedSkill adware on Mac could be typically added as being a browser extension The main way via which this could happen is likely via a JavaScript or other type of code that may slither it when you tend to visit some sites that you know nothing about. It could also pose as being a free add-on for your browsers, like a toolbar or something of this type.
As soon as the ExpandedSkill adware is added to your Mac and your web browsers, you may immediately begin to see it to be set as your default home page. The main activity of this hijacker could be to change your home page and new tab page of your web browser. The outcome of this could be that you may start seeing another web page instead of your default search engine.
The ads that may be shown by ExpandedSkill could eventually lead to various third-party websites and they may also be the reason of various types of tracking technologies and cookies to be added. These cookies and other trackers may obtain different types of information about your online activity:
- Online clicks information.
- Data on the websites you have bookmarked.
- The ads you have clicked on.
- Browsing history.
- Search history.
This information may be used to attack you with various ad types. The ads may not only result in your Mac significantly slowing down in terms of performance but also may represent different risks to it. Such can be that it may lead you to scam sites or sites that may be malicious and infect your Mac with viruses. The ads could be of various types:
- Online search results.
- Banners.
- Highlighted text ads.
- Browser redirects.
- Pop-ups.
Besides the ads shown, the ExpandedSkill adware may also display push-notifications that may further increase the amount of ads that may appear on your Mac
Remove ExpandedSkill Adware from Your Mac
ExpandedSkill can be removed from your Mac if you make sure to track the removal steps underneath. They are created with the main idea to make it significantly easier for you to find and remove any types of applications that may be associated with ExpandedSkill from your Mac. If the manual removal of this software does not seem to work, then we highly recommend removing it automatically as by downloading an advanced Mac Malware removal software. Such an anti-malware app may ensure that most of the virus files of apps like ExpandedSkill adware are fully erased from your Mac and it stays protected in the future as well.
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 ExpandedSkill files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as ExpandedSkill, 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 ExpandedSkill 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 ExpandedSkill:
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 ExpandedSkill. 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 ExpandedSkill. 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 ExpandedSkill 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 ExpandedSkill. 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 ExpandedSkill – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
ExpandedSkill-FAQ
What is ExpandedSkill on your Mac?
The ExpandedSkill 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 ExpandedSkill?
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 ExpandedSkill?
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 ExpandedSkill Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this ExpandedSkill 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 ExpandedSkill?
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 ExpandedSkill threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.