This article has been made with the main idea to help explain what is the Flvto Downloader and how you can safely remove this adware from your Mac.
A new adware for Mac devices, called Flvto Downloader has been detected to pose as a YouTube downloader application, but in reality the app comes embedded with adware components that show multiple different types of advertisements. Since those ads that are shown by this app may eventually lead to dangerous sites that may be of a scamming or malicious origin, users are advised to remove Flvto Downloader from their Mac in the even they see it added. If you have Flvto Downloader and you want to remove it from your Mac, we recommend that you read this article thoroughly.
Threat Summary
| Name | Flvto Downloader |
| Type | Adware for Mac OS |
| Short Description | Poses as a youtube downloader and converter, but also comes embedded with adware. |
| Symptoms | Intrusive advertisements may start to appear on your Mac. |
| Distribution Method | Via software bundling or websites, advertising it. |
| Detection Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware Download Combo Cleaner | User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Flvto Downloader. |
Flvto “Virus” – How Does It Spread
The main way via which the Flvto Downloader may land on your Mac is if the software is downloaded as a result of being advertised on websites with low reputation or FLVTO’s own website:
When first visited, the website itself asks you to allow push notifications and other types of ads to appear when you visit as you can see from the image below. This is believed to be one of the methods that may be used to spread FLVTO Downloader on computers, since some misleading push notifications may also add Flvto converter automatically to your Mac’s web browsers.
Another mean of possible replication of Flvto is often believed to be software bundling. This method which is used to spread the Flvto downloader adware may basically include its installation prompt in the installer of another app you may have downloaded for your Mac. And it is not eeasy to spot the Flvto app either, since it may exist in an install step that is well concealed in the “Advanced” or “Custom” installation modes. Either way, once visited, the install step may advertise Flvto Downloader as an app that is useful and is a “free extra” or an “optional offer” to your current installation to get you to accept it.
Flvto – Purpose and Activity
In general, the Flvto “virus” is advertised as a program that is a free YouTube converter. They aim to provide the following service according to their own site:
How can I download video and audio from YouTube?
Our FREE YouTube converter makes converting streaming videos to MP3 online easier and faster than ever! Get the ultimate listening experience with our music downloader.
Use Our Converter mp3 from YouTube On Any OS
Feel free to use our YouTube MP3 converter on any operating system. Whether you have Linux, MacOS, or Windows, you can easily convert your favorite videos from YouTube into the most popular formats with our MP3 converter. Simply paste the URL of your favorite videos into our music downloader and download high-quality tracks delivered straight to your desktop.
But this is not all, since Flvto “virus” may also be added to web browsers as an extension. And this extension may not be the actual Flvto software, but a mere copy of it that is cramped up with adware components and may change your web browser settings.
The outcome of this is that you Mac may start lagging and becoming very slow and your browser’s settings may be changed to accept ads. More to it, the creators of Flvto Downloader also admit to using third-party advertising companies to serve ads and they also claim that they cannot guarantee your security when you see those ads:
The advertisements that may be shown as a result of having the Flvto Downloader on your Mac may be several types, among which could be the following:
- Pop-ups.
- Banners.
- Online search results that are ad-supported.
- Browser redirects.
The advertisements are shown by third-party sites and this means that they may lead you to some dangerous pages, that could turn out to be:
- Malicious pages, that may infect your Mac with viruses.
- Scamming pages that may show tech support type of scams.
- Web pages that may pretend to be the login pages of Facebook. Gmail and other big services, but are in fact Phishing.
Remove Flvto “Virus” from Your Mac
To remove this unwanted app from your Mac, it is strongly recommended that you follow the removal instructions underneath this article. They have been created with the main idea to help you delete this unwanted app either manually or automatically. Be advised that if you want maximum effectiveness and the best results for removal, experts always recommend using an advanced malware scanner and removal tool. Such software aims to thoroughly remove all components of adware that may or may not be related to Flvto Downloader and also makes sure that you Mac stays safe 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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Preparation Phase:
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.
Step 1: Uninstall Flvto Downloader 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:
- 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 Flvto Downloader 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:
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 2: Remove Flvto Downloader – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
Remove an extension from Safari and reset it.
Remove a toolbar from Google Chrome
Remove a toolbar from Mozilla Firefox
Step 3: Scan for and remove Flvto Downloader files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Flvto Downloader, 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.
