What Is ModuleUpgrade Mac
ModuleUpgrade is the name of a dangerous software for Mac. It may cause a lot of different problems on your device once it gets hold of it. The main issues that this program may be responsible for are the multiple kinds of advertisements that it may push on your Mac for profit. Many of these ads advertise websites that may not always be safe and could sometimes prove a risk to your Mac.
Read this article to learn more information about this program, how it got inside your Mac and what steps you should take to fully get rid of
ModuleUpgrade Mac – Details
Name | ModuleUpgrade |
Type | Rogue App / PUP / Auto-Downlaod / Redirect for Mac |
Short Description | Aims to modify the settings on your computer in order to get it to cause third-party software downloads and the displaying of different unwanted contents and ads. |
Symptoms | Your Mac begins to display various types of content, which may even be malicious, which results in slowing down in terms of performance. Auto download of other PUPs may start. |
Distribution Method | Via mail software. Fake Updates. Bundled downloads. Web pages which may advertise it. |
Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss ModuleUpgrade. |
ModuleUpgrade Virus – How Did I Get Infected
ModuleUpgrade is regarded to be a PUP. Like others of its kind, it could also belong to the adware family, known as Adload. It includes apps, like ConnectedField, PrimaryRotator and PrimaryRotator.
ModuleUpgrade may use something that is known as bundling. This means that this program can have it installation files include it in another software downloaded from the web. This may look like the example image below shows:
ModuleUpgrade may also be downloaded as a result of pretending to be an Adobe Flash Player update of some type. This usually happens when it is pushed by a fake website, which resembles the following example:
ModuleUpgrade Mac – What Does It Do?
ModuleUpgrade may change a lot of the settings on your Mac and get permissions to read and change data on the websites you visit. This may allow it to push advertisements of different types, like the following:
- Highlighted text on the pages you visit.
- Interruptive banner ads.
- Redirects.
- Pop-ups with video and/or sound.
- Changed search results to show ads instead of relevant sites.
- Intrusive push notifications.
Many of the websites that are advertised by applications, like ModuleUpgrade contain tracking objects:
These are small objects, which include cookies and many other such types and maybe utilised to collect the following details:
- IP and Mac addresses.
- Your mouse movements.
- The browsing history from your browser.
- What searches you have made.
- Your bookmarked websites.
- What you have visited.
- Your mouse clicks.
- Different personally identifiable information you may type.
Is ModuleUpgrade a Virus?
ModuleUpgrade is believed to be an adware type of application running on Mac. It may be just as dangerous as any malware, due to the fact that it advertises a lot of different third-party websites, some of which may turn out to be:
- Survey sites that are fraud.
- Phishing pages.
- Rogue software download sites.
- Tech support fraud pages.
- URLs, containing a virus infection file or script.
- Web pages that contain scams.
- Redirects to dangerous sites via multiple pay-per-click redirects.
These dangerous advertisements alone are reason enough to consider uninstalling this application from your Mac immediately.
How to Remove ModuleUpgrade from Mac?
ModuleUpgrade can be fully removed from your Mac by following the instructions in the manual beneath. They are designed to help you install this application from both your web browsers and your macOS. For the best removal outcome we recommend the same as any expert would tell you, which is to run a scan of your machine using a professional anti-malware app for Mac. This is the type of software, which is designed to thoroughly check your Mac and remove any trackers, adware and malware.
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 ModuleUpgrade files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as ModuleUpgrade, 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 ModuleUpgrade 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 ModuleUpgrade:
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 ModuleUpgrade. 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 ModuleUpgrade. 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 ModuleUpgrade 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 ModuleUpgrade. 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 ModuleUpgrade – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
ModuleUpgrade-FAQ
What is ModuleUpgrade on your Mac?
The ModuleUpgrade 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 ModuleUpgrade?
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 ModuleUpgrade?
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 ModuleUpgrade Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this ModuleUpgrade 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 ModuleUpgrade?
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 ModuleUpgrade threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.