What Is HistoryGrabber Mac
HistoryGrabber is the name of a nasty adware application that may appear on your Mac. This app aims to perform multiple unwanted activities, the main ones of which are to track information from your browser and use this information against your interest. The HistoryGrabber adware may also show tons of ads that may not always lead to safe sites. These ads could end up bringing very dangerous URLs to your Mac that may even be scams and malware in some cases, since they are only shown on your browser to make the people behind HistoryGrabber money.
Read this article if you want to learn how you can remove HistoryGrabber from your computer and try to get your files to work once again.
HistoryGrabber Summary
| Name | HistoryGrabber |
| Type | Browser Hijacker / PUP for Mac |
| Short Description | Aims to modify the settings on your web browser in order to get it to cause browser redirects and display different advertisements. |
| Symptoms | Your web browser begins to display various types of online advertisements, which results in slowing down of your computer. |
| Distribution Method | Bundled downloads. Web pages which may advertise it. |
| Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss HistoryGrabber. |
HistoryGrabber Mac – More Information
HistoryGrabber is the name of a nasty Mac software, whose main goal is to cause ads once its added on your Mac. Other adware for Mac that may have the same purpose as HistoryGrabber includes ConfigType, ActivityConfig, and PracticalConfig.
The main way apps, like this get added to your Mac is if they are optionally added in one of the install steps of another app, where they seem like a legitimate app that is helpful. If you encounter them, which is unlikely, because they are not displayed in the “Express” install steps, you may see they are often advertised “as a free extra”.
The main activity of HistoryGrabber once it is added on your Mac is to change settings of your web browser that may alter your home page, new-tab page and even change your default search engine from Google or Bing to another one. The main idea is for HistoryGrabber to get you to see as many ads as possible:
- Browser pop-ups.
- Text-embedded advertisements.
- Banner adverts.
- Push notifications promotions.
- Redirects and transfers to third-party sites.
- Ads appearing instead of search results.
Like it’s name suggests, this software may only be on your computer to collect browser history. But it may do more than that – it may collect a lot more than that as it may use the following tracker technologies on your device:
- Geo-location trackers.
- Cookies.
- Tags.
- Pixels.
- LSOs (Locally Shared Objects, also known as flash cookies).
HistoryGrabber is also the type of software, that may use these trackers to obtain all kinds of information about what you do while browsing:
- Bookmarked sites.
- Your clicks made online.
- Browser history.
- Pages visited.
But this is not the primary problem with this adware. Since it shows ads purely for profit, the sites it may advertise may not always be checked and verified. This is often how such adware programs bring the following dangerous sites to your computer:
- Phishing or “Fake” sites.
- Rogue software download frauds.
- Scamming sites.
- Virus domains.
- Tech support scams.
- Endless redirect loop schemes.
- Scam surveys.
This is why this software is classified as potentially unwanted and its removal is strongly recommended from your computer.
Remove HistoryGrabber from Your Mac
In order to remove HistoryGrabber from your device, we would strongly recommend that you follow the removal guide that has been posted beneath. It has been created with the main idea to help delete applications, like HistoryGrabber from your device and make it possible to clean it from your browser and Mac. For the best removal, experts often advise to skip straight to the automatic removal option and download an anti-malware software. Such a program has been created to scan your Mac in depth and delete any viruses and adware from it.
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 HistoryGrabber files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as HistoryGrabber, 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 HistoryGrabber 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 HistoryGrabber:
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 HistoryGrabber. 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 HistoryGrabber. 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 HistoryGrabber 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 HistoryGrabber. 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 HistoryGrabber – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
HistoryGrabber-FAQ
What is HistoryGrabber on your Mac?
The HistoryGrabber 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 HistoryGrabber?
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 HistoryGrabber?
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 HistoryGrabber Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this HistoryGrabber 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 HistoryGrabber?
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 HistoryGrabber threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.