What is LeadingLibrary Adware?
LeadingLibrary is the name of adware that is added on Macs. The adware is basically a program that exposes various kinds of promotions after significantly modifying your internet browser. The objective of the LeadingLibrary PUP is not just to show promotions, but also to redirect you to sites directly. These advertisements have the main goal to transfer you to different dubious websites, some of which may even come to be infection web sites or scams. Read this blog post to find out how you can eliminate LeadingLibrary from your Mac.
The LeadingLibrary adware intends to slither into macOS systems using different misleading methods. It could be possibly marketed on application download sites, similar to Cnet or Softonic, yet it might also be packed to the installers of other free applications. If bundled, the LeadingLibrary adware may appear to be added as a complimentary extra somewhere in the installation process of another cost-free app downloaded from third-party sites.
LeadingLibrary Summary
| Name | LeadingLibrary |
| Type | Browser Hijacker |
| 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 machine. |
| Distribution Method | Bundled downloads. Web pages which may advertise it. |
| Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss LeadingLibrary. |
LeadingLibrary Adware on Mac – Description
When downloaded and ran, the initial activity of this software is to ask you to enable it on your macOS and by doing so you give LeadingLibrary authorizations over it. Those authorizations are later used with the main point to aid LeadingLibrary to significantly customize your internet browser.
When on your Mac, this software may change the default internet search engine on Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox and numerous other browsers you might have installed on your Mac. It may also add several web browser extensions or add-ons to it. Not just this, but LeadingLibrary adware might utilize tracking modern-day technologies to track your searching history. Such may end up being:
- Geo-locators.
- Tags.
- Pixels.
- LSOs or Flash Cookies.
- Cookies.
These might be utilized to acquire your online tasks in addition to see what you pay for online, where you click and what you type on your browser. It can furthermore permit this software to see your bookmarked sites so it can show you targeted advertisements to enhance the likelyhood of you clicking on them. These ads can be of the following types:
- Push Alerts.
- Web browser redirects.
- Banners.
- Pop-ups.
- Highlighted message advertisements.
- Ad-supported search results pages.
While some of the advertisements that are shown by this software could be harmless to your computer and slow it down, others could perform a lot of damage to your computer along with additionally rerouting you to virus sites that could infect your Mac with malware. This is why the removal of LeadingLibrary is strongly suggested.
Remove LeadingLibrary from Your Mac
To remove LeadingLibrary from your Mac, we strongly recommend that you make sure to comply with the removal actions beneath this short article. They have actually been created with the main objective to help you to remove it step by step from your Mac. If you wish to erase LeadingLibrary totally, we do advise that you use an innovative malware cleaning software for Mac. Such program has the advanced capability of automatically finding and eliminating LeadingLibrary from your Mac and making sure that all of its related leftover files are completely gone to ensure that you stop seeing ads in the future.
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 LeadingLibrary files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as LeadingLibrary, 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 LeadingLibrary 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 LeadingLibrary:
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 LeadingLibrary. 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 LeadingLibrary. 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 LeadingLibrary 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 LeadingLibrary. 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 LeadingLibrary – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
LeadingLibrary-FAQ
What is LeadingLibrary on your Mac?
The LeadingLibrary 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 LeadingLibrary?
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 LeadingLibrary?
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 LeadingLibrary Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this LeadingLibrary 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 LeadingLibrary?
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 LeadingLibrary threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.