What Is QuicklookPI Mac?
QuicklookPI is an unwanted program that may appear on your Mac device. This adware application may display different types of advertisements such as pop-ups, banners, push notifications. It may also use cookies or other types of tracking technologies to obtain information regarding your online browsing activity.
The main goal of QuicklookPI’s developers most likely is to profit by getting you to click on as many ads as possible. Such pay-per-click schemes aim to generate profits from displaying intrusive ads. To accomplish this goal, the fraudters could flood your Mac with different types of ads which may slow it down and make it freeze at times. But the primary risk involved with these pop-ups is that they may take you to scam sites or sites hiding malware.
QuicklookPI Mac Summary
| Name | QuicklookPI |
| Type | Browser Hijacker/Adware/PUP for Mac |
| Short Description | Aims to modify the settings on your web browser in order to get it to cause browser redirects and display different advertisements. |
| Symptoms | Your web browser 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 |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss QuicklookPI. |
QuicklookPI Mac – More Information
QuicklookPI is the type of program that may pretend it is some sort of Quick Look feature on Mac. In reality, however, this software may be a bit problematic for your Mac, because such programs are only created to generate profit. Other apps, like QuicklookPI which we have seen to exhibit the same or similar behavior may include Default Products, ValidBoost and GlobalSearchSystem.
Apps, like QuicklookPI often are distributed via the help of software bundling. This means that this program can be displayed as a useful kind of application on the installers of other free programs you could have download. Such programs often are freeware apps, like media players, file converters, image editors and others. The way it works is you could encounter this adware to be promoted as a “Free Extra” or “Optional Offer” somewhere in the “Custom” or “Advanced” installation modes.
QuicklookPI may be sharing something in common with QuickLookSearches adware app. It can enter your Mac by being optionally added to the setup of another application you recently may have downloaded on your Mac. Usually, applications like QuicklookPI often tend to be advertised as legitimate programs that can help you with your daily Mac activities. This is how this application may be marketed to you in case you have deliberately downloaded it or approved it to be added.
Once QuicklookPI has been installed on your Mac, it may start utiziling different types of trackers, such as:
- Cookies.
- Tags.
- Pixels
- Geo-locators.
- LSOs
These tracking technologies are used by QuicklookPI or its related websites to get information about your online browsing behavior. The following types of online activities can be tracked in your browsers:
- Browsing History.
- Online Clicks history.
- Search history.
- Online clicks.
- Information you type on your computer.
But tracking is not the main reason why this unwanted app is running on your Mac. The main purpose of this application most likely is to display different types of advertised content:
- Pop-ups.
- Redirects.
- Search result ads.
- Online banners.
- Push notification ads.
Since nobody can guarantee that the QuicklookPI advertisements shown on your Mac can lead to safe websites, we recommended that you focus on removing the unwanted app. Remember that intrusive and unwanted ads could redirect you to risky websites.
Remove QuicklookPI from Mac
In order to remove this QuicklookPI from Mac, we strongly recommend that you follow the Mac instructions listed in the guide below. Be advised that the best method to remove this application and fully protect your Mac in the future is to download an advanced Mac anti-malware program. Such an anti-malware application will scan your macOS for all types of unwanted programs or malware, and then get rid of them automatically.
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 QuicklookPI files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as QuicklookPI, 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 QuicklookPI 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 QuicklookPI:
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 QuicklookPI. 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 QuicklookPI. 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 QuicklookPI 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 QuicklookPI. 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 QuicklookPI – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
QuicklookPI-FAQ
What is QuicklookPI on your Mac?
The QuicklookPI 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 QuicklookPI?
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 QuicklookPI?
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 QuicklookPI Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this QuicklookPI 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 QuicklookPI?
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 QuicklookPI threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.