What Is GuideUnit?
It is essential to be mindful when downloading free software and browsing unfamiliar websites in order to guard your Mac from GuideUnit. Should GuideUnit be present, it can cause the display of unwanted ads, redirect the user to malicious sites, add additional adware or spyware, and even hinder the computer’s speed or cause it to crash.
What is Adload?
The AdLoad family of Mac threats is an ever-changing set of malicious software that can clandestinely infiltrate Macs and install intrusive adware and potentially malicious programs without the user’s permission. The most recent variant of this software is GuideUnit.
![GuideUnit Mac Virus Removal Guide [Fix]](https://cdn.sensorstechforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/GuideUnit-mac-virus-300x188.jpg)
GuideUnit – Details
| Name | GuideUnit |
| 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 |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss GuideUnit. |
Are There Viruses for Mac?
Absolutely. There are various types of malware and viruses that can target Mac computers. To keep your Mac safe, it is essential to use an antivirus and anti-malware program.
GuideUnit Virus – How Did I Get Infected
GuideUnit is known to spread to Macs using deceptive techniques. It often appears to be part of a legitimate software download, or is installed through malicious websites or links that take you to a dangerous site. Additionally, it is frequently sent through emails, attachments, and other online sources.
These deceptive methods are designed to convince you to install the program without considering the potential risks. To do this, software bundling and malvertising are used on compromised webpages. An example of a common fake update ploy employed by AdLoad variants is the Adobe Flash Player is out of date scareware website.
GuideUnit Mac – What Does It Do?
GuideUnit is an adware program designed to generate a large quantity of intrusive online advertisements. When installed on your Mac, the adware modifies the settings of web browsers including Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Safari, resulting in the display of numerous suspicious ads. It may alter settings such as the home page, new tab and default search engine.
This app may show the following ads on your device:
- 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.
The software may also employ tracking objects such as cookies, pixels, tags and others to monitor your data and even acquire sensitive and personally identifiable information, 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 GuideUnit a Mac Virus?
Correct – GuideUnit is a type of adware that is not classified as a virus. It is usually installed without the user’s awareness and displays advertisements to make money for its developers. Furthermore, it collects a lot of user information, which can be utilized to aim advertisements more accurately.
Can It Be Dangerous?
Yes, PhasePure adware can be dangerous for Mac. It can be used to display intrusive ads, track user activities, and even collect personal information. It can also slow down your Mac and cause other issues related to your system performance.
- 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.
How to Protect Your Mac from GuideUnit?
Here are some easy measures you can take to safeguard yourself from GuideUnit and other potential risks:
- Make sure GuideUnit is fully removed using professional software.
- Change all your passwords from a safe device.
- Enable two-factor logins.
- Call your bank to change all credit card information if you use your Mac for online payments.
- Change your Wi-Fi password.
- Install a reputable anti-malware protection app on all your devices.
- Do not download apps from unknown sources.
How to Remove GuideUnit from Mac?
To remove the GuideUnit Mac “virus” from your Mac, follow the instructions in the provided guide for eliminating it. Both manual and automated techniques can be used to safeguard your Mac from potential risks. If you require more assistance, please post a comment below.
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 GuideUnit files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as GuideUnit, 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 GuideUnit 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 GuideUnit:
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 GuideUnit. 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 GuideUnit. 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 GuideUnit 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 GuideUnit. 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 GuideUnit – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
GuideUnit-FAQ
What is GuideUnit on your Mac?
The GuideUnit 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 GuideUnit?
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 GuideUnit?
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 GuideUnit Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this GuideUnit 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 GuideUnit?
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 GuideUnit threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.