This article has been created in order to explain what exactly is Mac Optimizer and how to remove this unwanted program from your MacBook.
Mac Optimizer is the type of software which you do not want on your computer. The program, which many believe is a virus, is actually a potentially unwanted program that is not malicious but may cause quite the headaches on your computer. Mac Optimizer aims to run various different types of scans to optimize your MacBook, but for the actual optimization process, the software may ask you to purchase it’s licensed version. Since you cannot know whether or not Mac Optimizer actually does what it claims to do, recommendations are to remove this program from your MacBook.
Threat Summary
| Name | Mac Optimizer Adware |
| Type | Adware,PUP |
| Short Description | The program aims to pose as a software optimizer, but instead may display different types of advertisements and run fake scans on the computers of victims. |
| Symptoms | Your MacBook may slow down and you may experience different types of advertisements on your computer.. |
| Distribution Method | From a web page on which there are download web links or redirects to it’s download link. |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
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Malware Removal Tool
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Mac Optimizer Adware. |
Mac Optimizer – How Did I Get It
The main method by which you could have gotten Mac Optimizer on your computer is via already having adware on your computer which displayed you the web page where the download button of the program is placed. In addition to this, a possible scenario is if you have gone to such web page by yourself, while trying to download software from various third-party websites that are unknown. Many suspicious sites or unwanted programs lead users to scamming pages, that claim their computers are slow or at risk(https://sensorstechforum.com/system-heavily-damaged-4-four-virus-how-to-remove-it/) and ask to download software to fix those issues.
Mac Optimizer Adware – More Information and Activity
Once Mac Optimizer is installed on your computer, the program may begin to perform various different activities on it, starting with dropping it’s files. The program files of Mac Optimizer are created in the following directories:
→ /Users/{Username}/Library/Application Support
/Users/{Username}/Library/Caches
/Users/{Username}/Library/Logs
/Users/{Username}/Library/Preferences
In addition to this, Mac Optimizer adds a task in the user login items, which is simply called “Mac”. After doing so, the program may begin to run various different weird processes on your MacBook, which are not well known, since it is relativey new.
In addition to this, many have reported that the Mac Optimizer creates may have update their software to place files in multiple different Windows folders, making the software more difficult to be deleted. The main process of the program, however, was reported(https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7522364) by one user to be called mohlp. This process may be difficult to find, but later it was established that it was located in %Library%.
In addition to this, the software may also add itself as a browser extension on the Safari web browser. From there, it may use the following tracking technologies:
- Cookies.
- Pixels.
- Tags.
- Geo-locators.
- Flash Cookies.
These tracking technologies may be used by the Mac Optimizer program to trace and collect different information about your online activity on Safari, such as:
- Your browsing history.
- Your online clicks.
- Your online searches.
- Your downloads..
- Online clicks you have made.
This information may be used by Mac Optimizer may be utilized in order to further display advertisements to you in different forms:
- Pop-ups.
- Browser redirections.
- Taken over banner spaces on the websites you have visited.
- Different types of ad-supported search results appearing after you search for something.
- Highlighted text advertisements.
Since this advertised content may lead you to various unsafe websites that may be scamming or even malicious, it is strongly recommended to remove Mac Optimizer from your computer.
Remove Mac Optimizer Adware Fully from Safariyou’re your PC
In order to make sure that Mac Optimizer is fully gone from your computer, we recommend that you follow the removal instructions underneath this article. They are specifically created to help you find and delete all of the files related to the program.
Furthermore, do not forget to remove the “Mac” item on your Login Items. It is located in:
→ System Preferences > User Accounts > Login Items
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:
- Guide 1: How to Remove Mac Optimizer Adware from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of Mac Optimizer Adware from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove Mac Optimizer Adware from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase Mac Optimizer Adware from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall Mac Optimizer Adware from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove Mac Optimizer Adware from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate Mac Optimizer Adware from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove Mac Optimizer Adware from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Mac Optimizer Adware
Step 2: Uninstall Mac Optimizer Adware and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by Mac Optimizer Adware on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by Mac Optimizer Adware there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Get rid of Mac Optimizer Adware from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Mac Optimizer Adware 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:
- 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 Mac Optimizer Adware 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:
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 2: Scan for and remove malware from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts, programs and malware, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. Combo Cleaner offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove Mac Optimizer Adware from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Erase Mac Optimizer Adware from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Uninstall Mac Optimizer Adware from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove Mac Optimizer Adware from Safari.
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the Mac Optimizer Adware will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate Mac Optimizer Adware from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
