What Is Koiot Mac Trojan?
Koiot is the name of a dangerous Trojan that may appear on your Mac. This Trojan could be responsible for different types of activities on your Mac such as spying on your, taking screenshots, tampering with your web camera and microphone, stealing files, passwords and others. These trojans are known to be persistent threats and they often stay for years of time on your Mac if you do not check often for malware. This is why we strongly recommend that you read this article to learn how to detect and remove the Koiot Trojan completely.
Koiot Summary
| Name | Koiot, also known as Trojan.MacOS.Koiot.644 |
| Type | Trojan for Mac |
| Short Description | May enter your Mac silently and perform malicious spyware and desctructive activities without your knowledge or consent. |
| Symptoms | Koiot may run processes in the background of your Mac. |
| Distribution Method | Via spam e-mails and other means. |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your Device Has Been Affected by Koiot
Download
Malware Removal Tool
|
User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Koiot. |
Koiot Trojan – More Information
Koiot Trojan is one of the many malware threats of this type that have recently appeared on your Mac. Others that we have recently detected include the Jahlav, Careto and Corpef.
Koiot Trojan may end up on your Mac as a result of being sent to you via e-mail or other means. Such programs often get sent to computers via e-mail where they may seem like legitimate documents, usually .PDF or .docm files. Once you download and open these files, the Koiot Trojan may initiate its infection. The virus may usually pretend to be:
- Invoice.
- Receipt.
- Document from bank.
- Flight ticket.
Another way these viruses end up on your Mac could be if you have downloaded a program that may seem like it is a legitimate software, like a portable app, installer, file converter or something of this type. Many users get misled and download apps from low-reputation third-party websites, which ultimately results in allowing such Trojans to attack their computer.
Once the Koiot Trojan is installed on your Mac, It may begin to perform different suspicious activities on it. For starters it may assume privileges as administrator by being ran. Then it may run an active process on your Mac Activity Monitor that allows it to perform the following virus actions:
- Steal files.
- Delete files.
- Take screenshots.
- Record audio.
- Record video from your camera.
- Log the keystrokes you type.
- Download files on your Mac and run them without your permission.
- Shut down your Mac.
- Disable your internet connection, Bluetooth and other connectivity modules.
This is the primary reason to consider removing Koiot malware completely from your computer and make sure your files are safe.
Remove Koiot from Your Mac
To remove Koiot malware from your Mac, we strongly suggest that you follow the removal instructions that are posted underneath this article. They have been created with the main purpose to help you delete the virus files of this malware in a methodological order. For the best removal, it is recommended to download and run a scan with a professional anti-malware software on your computer. This tool will effectively make sure to detect and remove any files that are malicious and protect your Mac in the future, too.
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.
Follow Me:
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 Koiot files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Koiot, 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 Koiot 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 Koiot:
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 Koiot. 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 Koiot. 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 Koiot 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 Koiot. 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 Koiot – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
Koiot-FAQ
What is Koiot on your Mac?
The Koiot 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 Koiot?
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 Koiot?
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 Koiot Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Koiot 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 Koiot?
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 Koiot threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.