What Is LocatorUpdate on Mac?
LocatorUpdate application is classified as adware for Mac. It is also a potentially unwanted program that has the main idea to pretend to be legitimate and helpful software that, in fact, adjusts some settings to shelter ads. The adware may cause a lot of additional problems on your Mac like system changes and data collection. Collected data is related to the advertisements it aims to display. Since each click on an ad, generates revenue for its operators, the adware aims to present you with ads that match your online interests. However, these ads may lead to absolutely all kinds of websites, including dangerous ones, which lowers macOS security significantly.
Read this article to learn more information about this software and how to get rid of it from your Mac and your browsers.
LocatorUpdate Mac – Details
| Name | LocatorUpdate |
| 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 LocatorUpdate
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Malware Removal Tool
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss LocatorUpdate. |
LocatorUpdate Adware – How Did I Get Infected?
LocatorUpdate adware belongs to the AdLoad adware applications. This is a large family of ad supported software strains of which may have affected hundreds, if not thousands of Mac devices. Some recent names of adware apps belonging to the same family of threats include SelectorComponent, EdgeAdvanced and JumpSearch.
How LocatorUpdate may have obtained access to your computer is as a fake Adobe Flash Player promotes by a bogus webpage that you have been redirected to. One such page may appear as the following:
Another way that LocatorUpdate could’ve used to enter your machine is via the installation package of some other freeware that you may have download outside of the official App Store. If this is the case, then the software may exist as a legitimate application that pretends to be helpful in one of the installation steps, as the example below shows:
LocatorUpdate – What Does It Do?
LocatorUpdate has the purpose to display a lot of different advertisements on your computer. Once added to the system, the adware could initiate certain modifications that affect how your installed web browsers work. Changes may allow it to show the following ads unobstructed:
- Redirects.
- Changed search results to show ads instead of relevant sites.
- Highlighted text on the pages you visit.
- Interruptive banner ads.
- Intrusive push notifications.
- Pop-ups with video and/or sound.
The usage of cookies, tags, pixels and other forms of trackers is also common with adware, such as LocatorUpdate adware:
These tracking technologies are small files that are left on your device presumably to improve the services of apps, like LocatorUpdate, but the real objective may be to get the following information from your browser:
- IP and Mac addresses.
- Your bookmarked websites.
- The browsing history from your browser.
- What searches you have made.
- What you have visited.
- Your mouse movements.
- Your mouse clicks.
Is LocatorUpdate a Virus?
LocatorUpdate isn’t a malicious app. But it may show advertisements that may lead you to scams and virus pages that expose the overall system security at risk. For example the following dangerous websites may load in your browser:
- Redirects to dangerous sites via multiple pay-per-click redirects.
- Rogue software sites.
- Web pages that contain scams.
- Survey sites that are fraud.
- Phishing pages.
- URLs, containing a virus infection file or script.
- Tech support fraud pages.
These are the primary risks that are associated with this software and this is the main reason why it should be removed from your device immediately.
How to Remove LocatorUpdate from Mac?
To successfully uninstall LocatorUpdate from your device, our main suggestion is to make sure to read carefully the instruction beneath this article. They have been made with the main idea to effectively assist you in cleaning up your web browser and your macOS operating system from any traces of this program either by yourself or automatically. If you want to get rid of this software with maximum effectiveness, our primary suggestion is to make sure and scan your device automatically using a professional anti-malware for Mac. Experts often recommend using such software, because it has the capability of thoroughly scanning your computer and detecting and deleting any software with malicious purposes and also cleaning it up from trackers as well.
Gergana Ivanova
Highly motivated writer with 5+ years of experience writing for ransomware, malware, adware, PUPs, and other cybersecurity-related issues. As a writer, I strive to create content that is based on thorough technical research. I find joy in the process of creating articles that are easy to understand, informative, and useful. Follow me on Twitter (@IRGergana) for the latest in the field of computer, mobile, and online 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 LocatorUpdate files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as LocatorUpdate, 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 LocatorUpdate 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 LocatorUpdate:
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 LocatorUpdate. 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 LocatorUpdate. 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 LocatorUpdate 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 LocatorUpdate. 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 LocatorUpdate – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
LocatorUpdate-FAQ
What is LocatorUpdate on your Mac?
The LocatorUpdate 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 LocatorUpdate?
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 LocatorUpdate?
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 LocatorUpdate Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this LocatorUpdate 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 LocatorUpdate?
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 LocatorUpdate threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.