What Is IndexerService Mac
IndexerService is the name of an application for Mac, that is reported to be a potentially unwanted program, also referred to as PUP. These programs aim to slither multiple kinds of advertisements in order to make money off their victims backs. The ads that may be shown by IndexerService on your computer are purely there for profit and they often may lead to dangerous websites, like scams or even malware. This is the main reason why this program is categorised as a low level threat and should be removed.
Read this article to learn how to remove the IndexerService application from your Mac and clean up it’s ads.
IndexerService Mac – Details
| Name | IndexerService |
| Type | Adware / PUP / Redirect for Mac |
| Short Description | Aims to modify the settings on your computer in order to get it to cause browser redirects and display different advertisements. |
| Symptoms | Your device begins to display various types of online advertisements, which results in slowing down of your machine. |
| Distribution Method | Bundled downloads. Web pages which may advertise it. |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your Mac Has Been Affected by IndexerService
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss IndexerService. |
IndexerService Virus – How Did I Get Infected
IndexerService has a specific activity that makes it very similar to the applications that are from the AdLoad family of ad-supported apps. This is a large adware family that contains hundreds of programs, designed to do the same thing – show a lot of ads on your computer without your consent. Other programs from this family include the recently found SelectorComponent, EdgeAdvanced and JumpSearch ones.
Several methods exist via which these applications end up on your Mac and one of them is called software bundling. This means that you could encounter this program somewhere in the installer of another free app you may have recently download it from a third-party website, like shown below:
Usually, it is difficult to spot these apps because they’re often hidden in the Advanced or Custom installation mode.
IndexerService may have also ended up on your computer by you downloading it from a fake Adobe Flash Player webpage that is designed the trick you into believing that this is an update, like shown below:
IndexerService – What Does It Do?
The main activity of IndexerService, once it ends up on your Mac, is to modify your web browser and change some of its settings, like the homepage, new tab page and default search. This is done so that this program can display as many different ads as possible:
- Pop-ups with video and/or sound.
- Changed search results to show ads instead of relevant sites.
- Highlighted text on the pages you visit.
- Redirects.
- Interruptive banner ads.
- Intrusive push notifications.
A part of the activity of this program could also be to use different types of cookies, pixels, tax and other trackers:
These trackers are small files that are dropped on your computer system so that they can get information about your browsing activity, like the following details:
- The browsing history from your browser.
- What searches you have made.
- What you have visited.
- Your mouse movements.
- Your mouse clicks.
- IP and Mac addresses.
- Your bookmarked websites.
Is IndexerService a Virus?
No, IndexerService is not a virus, but it could be used for purposes that could make it just as dangerous as one. Having IndexerService running on your Mac means that you could be receiving advertisements to websites that may be dangerous for it, like:
- Rogue software sites.
- Web pages that contain scams.
- Redirects to dangerous sites via multiple pay-per-click redirects.
- Survey sites that are fraud.
- Phishing pages.
- URLs, containing a virus infection file or script.
- Tech support fraud pages.
This is the main reason why this program has been classified as an indirect threat to your Mac and should be removed from it.
How to Remove IndexerService from Mac?
IndexerService is the type of application that can be deleted from your Mac if you follow the removal guide that has been posted beneath this article. It has been created to have the steps that it takes to get rid of the software from your Mac and the web browsers that are installed in it. For the most effective removal, security professionals strongly recommend that you use a reputable anti-malware tool for Mac to scan your device. Such a program is created to thoroughly detect any malicious software and clean up your Mac effectively.
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 IndexerService files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as IndexerService, 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 IndexerService 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 IndexerService:
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 IndexerService. 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 IndexerService. 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 IndexerService 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 IndexerService. 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 IndexerService – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
IndexerService-FAQ
What is IndexerService on your Mac?
The IndexerService 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 IndexerService?
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 IndexerService?
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 IndexerService Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this IndexerService 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 IndexerService?
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 IndexerService threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.