What Is ProcessBrand Mac?
The latest reports indicate a possibly unwanted application, going by the name ProcessBrand. ProcessBrand is the name of an app for Mac that may appear useful only at first glance. In reality, this software may perform multiple adware activities on your macOS, and these ads may affect your most used web browsers. Not only the ads shown by ProcessBrand adware could lead to dangerous websites, but they may also track what you do on your browser. These are the main reasons applications like ProcessBrand are considered indirectly harmful, and their removal is strongly recommended.
Read this removal instructions article to learn how ProcessBrand operates and how to get rid of it from macOS.
ProcessBrand Summary
| Name | ProcessBrand |
| Type | Browser Hijacker/Adware/PUP for Mac |
| Short Description | Aims to modify the settings on your web browser and your Mac in order to get it to cause browser redirects and display different advertisements. |
| Symptoms | Your web browser begins to display various advertisements, which leads to it slowing down in terms of performance. |
| Distribution Method | Bundled downloads. Web pages which may advertise it. |
| Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss ProcessBrand. |
ProcessBrand Adware Mac – What Does It Do?
ProcessBrand can enter your Mac by being added optionally to another installer. Such installers belong to free apps downloaded from low-reputation sites, like free converters for files, media players, and others of such type. This is called bundling, and it works by adding the ProcessBrand installation in the setup of the app downloaded in question. And not many users remember installing ProcessBrand because it is often hidden in one of the setup steps that are in the “Advanced” install option. Since many users choose “Express” install, these steps are often skipped, and this is how ProcessBrand gets added to a Mac device. And even if you choose the custom setup, you may see ProcessBrand be advertised “as a free extra” to your current installation.
Once ProcessBrand is installed on your Mac, it may immediately run a process in the Activity Monitor. This process may add suspicious add-ons or extensions to Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Safari browsers. The outcome of this is you may see your new tab, the home page, and the default search engine is changed from their traditional ones.
The main activity of ProcessBrand is ads. These apps are made to generate profit and the more ads they get you to visit, the more money their developers will make. Other apps, like ProcessBrand we have detected, are FrequencyProgress, ValidGeneration and GeneralSection. Judging by their names, they likely belong to the same circle of adware developers.
The advertisements you may see if your Mac has ProcessBrand adware installed in it could be from the following types:
- Push notifications.
- Browser redirected pages.
- Ad-supported search results.
- Highlighted tex.
- Pop-ups.
- Banners.
These ads may contain a lot of cookies and other trackers that may stay on your Mac for years of time and track what you do on your browser. What they track varies, but is generally the following activities:
- Where you visit.
- What you bookmark.
- Your browsing history.
- Where you click on a site.
- What you type while in your browser.
But tracking your information is not the main risk that is related to apps like this one. ProcessBrand may lead you to sites that are very dangerous through those ads since it’s made only to profit, and its developers do not care what exactly it is that they push you.
The risky sites ProcessBrand could lead you to are from the following kinds:
- Phishing.
- Scams and fake surveys.
- Fake tech support fraud pages.
- Virus URLs.
These are the primary reasons to consider removing this software as fast as possible.
Steps to Remove ProcessBrand from Your Mac
ProcessBrand is software that leaves a lot of cookies and other leftover objects after manual uninstall and may be hard to delete traditionally. Besides the removal steps for this app we have made below, we also suggest you scan your Mac with a professional anti-malware. Such software will detect any trackers and hidden objects on your Mac and get rid of them, plus protect your device in the future as well.
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 ProcessBrand files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as ProcessBrand, 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 ProcessBrand 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 ProcessBrand:
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 ProcessBrand. 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 ProcessBrand. 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 ProcessBrand 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 ProcessBrand. 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 ProcessBrand – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
ProcessBrand-FAQ
What is ProcessBrand on your Mac?
The ProcessBrand 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 ProcessBrand?
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 ProcessBrand?
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 ProcessBrand Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this ProcessBrand 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 ProcessBrand?
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 ProcessBrand threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.