What Is NavigateSystem on Mac?
NavigateSystem – an app for Mac that acts like adware. Anti-malware tools consider the program as a potentially unwanted. Programs of this type act like browser hijackers, adware, rogue system optimizers, and other. In fact, NavigateSystem adware has one main purpose and it is to show lots of advertisements. By acting like this, it generates profit for its operators. The bad news is that showed promotions could endanger the overall macOS security. Some of these advertisements could turn out to be related to shady advertising networks that spread dangerous or even malicious websites.
Follow this article to learn more about what NavigateSystem Mac adware does on your Mac and how you can get rid of it safely.
NavigateSystem Mac – Details
| Name | NavigateSystem |
| Type | Adware, PUP |
| Short Description | Modifies the settings on your computer in order to force the load of browser redirects and different advertisements. |
| Symptoms | Affected devices begin to display various types of online advertisements. The process slows down of the affected machine and endangers its overall security. |
| Distribution Method | Software bundles. Questionable landing pages that advertise it as useful tool. |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your Mac Has Been Affected by NavigateSystem
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NavigateSystem Mac – How Did I Get Infected?
NavigateSystem PUP affects macOS computer systems to monetize its presence. It may show you different pop-ups and other types of ads showing misleading offers. Other similar adware applications for Mac are FinderTab, ProcessRate, and TradeValor.
These applications run on your Mac machines without the knowledge of impacted users. Sometimes they are bundled with some other free apps. You could have downloaded and installed such an app from a third-party website. It might be a media player, a file converter or another supposedly useful tool.
How does it all happen? The installation steps of such apps could include a clause that says you accept the automatic install of a third-party software which in your case could have been NavigateSystem. An example of such an installer:
You could’ve gotten this application is via a fake Adobe Flash Player update as well. You may have received this update after a sudden redirect in the browser. Such a bogus site could look like the example picture below shows:
NavigateSystem – What Does It Do?
NavigateSystem adware application on your Mac could be responsible for a number of different online advertisements. During every online browsing session you may notice some of the following advert types:
- Intrusive push notifications.
- Pop-ups with video and sound.
- Redirects.
- Changed search results that show ads instead of relevant sites.
- Highlighted text on the pages you visit.
- Interruptive banner ads.
Sites related to all bogus ads pushed by adware often drop tracking objects, like cookies to obtain ceratin details from your browser.
Unlike legitimate usage of cookies and other trackers, adware applications track information in order to improve their advertising campaigns. Furthermore, operators of adware applications may decide to offer data records on dark web forums for additional profit. The following information could be extracted from your web browser by the NavigateSystem adware:
- The browsing history from your browser.
- Your mouse clicks.
- What searches you have made.
- What you have visited.
- Your mouse movements.
- IP and Mac addresses.
- Your bookmarked websites.
Is NavigateSystem a Virus?
NavigateSystem is not a malicious Mac virus. But its behavior indicated that it could represent danger for both your privacy and security. The program could be involved in shady advertising schemes that trick people to visit different types of dangerous websites like:
- Survey sites that are fraud.
- Rogue software sites.
- Web pages that contain scams.
- Redirects to dangerous sites via multiple pay-per-click redirects.
- Tech support fraud pages.
- Phishing pages.
- URLs, containing a virus infection file or script.
This is the main reason why you should be focusing on removing this adware from your Mac as soon as you notice it.
How to Remove NavigateSystem from Mac?
In order to effectively clean up your Mac and the web browsers that are installed in it from NavigateSystem, it is strongly recommended that you follow the steps for removal below. They have been created with the main idea to contain all of the necessary information to clean up your Mac. If you want the most effective removal or just lack the experience to do manual removal, the best way to do it according to security professionals is the scan your Mac, by using an anti-malware program. Such reputable software is created with the primary idea to thoroughly check your Mac and automatically get it rid of any malicious software.
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 NavigateSystem files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as NavigateSystem, 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 NavigateSystem 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 NavigateSystem:
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 NavigateSystem. 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 NavigateSystem. 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 NavigateSystem 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 NavigateSystem. 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 NavigateSystem – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
NavigateSystem-FAQ
What is NavigateSystem on your Mac?
The NavigateSystem 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 NavigateSystem?
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 NavigateSystem?
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 NavigateSystem Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this NavigateSystem 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 NavigateSystem?
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 NavigateSystem threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.