The Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A is a dangerous Mac malware that is placed in unauthorized software. The name “jailbreak” in its name shows that the hackers are using files as carriers for the threat, specifically those that are used to remove vendor protection.
Victims can get infected with it by downloading such files from untrusted websites, forums, chatrooms, and social media. Usually, most of the malware of this category may present adware, install other threats, and cause unwanted system changes. The scope of the damage will depend on the current configuration.
Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A Summary
| Name | Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A |
| Type | Unwanted Software 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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Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A Mac Virus – What Does It Do
This particular Mac malware has been investigated to be one of the core components of the Bundlelore virus. Apparently, it is being distributed by various hacking groups to victims around the world. As such the distribution tactics can vary, different attack campaigns can focus on specific methods. Most of them will rely on the use of file carriers, data that when launched or interacted with will lead to the malware deployment. Hackers may use documents (with built-in macros), software installers (of popular software), or directly executable packages. The key is that the virus code will be hidden and executed in the background. Different types of executables that can lead to the Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A Mac Virus infection may be patches, add-ons, plugins, and etc. To help spread them to the target victims social manipulation that trick the users into accessing certain pages and downloading them. This can be done by creating fake landing pages or sending out email messages that impersonate services and companies.
As part of the macOS Bundlelore (OSX.Bundlelore virus infection) malware, this particular threat is designed to bypass the operating system security measures and allow for other viruses to be easily installed. Functionality-wise this can lead to dangerous changes including browser settings. This works with a certain list of compatible programs that will have their important values modified to show a hacker-controlled site, have the built-in information hijacked, and other related actions.
What we know is that the Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A Mac Virus will install itself as a persistent threat. This is done by modifying boot-related configuration files and operating system values. Every time the Mac computer is powered on the relevant malicious code will launch. It will probably also block access to the recovery menus, which will make it very hard to effectively restore the affected computers. A prominent action created by the Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A Mac Virus is the installation of an intrusive advertising module, a function of the virus that will display various types of content. This can be in the web browsers, through application frames, pop-ups, and etc. For every display and interaction, the hackers will be rewarded with a small commission fee.
A dangerous fact about this Mac virus is that it can be used for installing other malware on the contaminated hosts. Popular examples are the following:
- Trojan Horse Clients — These are small agent clients that establish a secure connection to a hacker-controlled server. This allows the criminals to have control over the infected machine, spy on the users, and steal their files.
- Ransomware — These virus types encrypt target user’s data with a strong cipher, as a result, they will no longer be accessible by the users. To restore access to them they will be blackmailed to pay a certain decryption fee.
- Cryptocurrency Miners — Many of the functionalities of this Mac Virus threat are related to modifications related to the web browser. This can be abused by inserting “miner code” into these applications, or as standalone services in the background. They work by downloading and running hardware-intensive mathematical tasks. Whenever one of them is reported as complete, the criminals will receive a small commission in cryptocurrency that will be directly delivered to their digital wallets.
Due to the fact that the Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A Mac Virus can be used for a variety of different purposes, we strongly recommend that detected viruses are removed as soon as possible.
Remove Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A Virus from Your Mac
To get rid of Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A, we strongly suggest that you comply with the removal guide listed below. It has been made to aid you remove Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A in depth from your Mac. If you want a rapid and reliable solution, we strongly suggest that you download and install plus run a scan of your computer by utilizing an innovative malware removal software. Such anti-malware programs are designed to discover and remove all elements of programs, like Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A and help see to it that these infections are fully gone and also your Mac is safe against them in the future.
Martin Beltov
Martin graduated with a degree in Publishing from Sofia University. As a cyber security enthusiast he enjoys writing about the latest threats and mechanisms of intrusion.
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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 Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A, 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 Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A 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 Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A:
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 Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A. 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 Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A. 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 Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A 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 Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A. 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 Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A-FAQ
What is Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A on your Mac?
The Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A 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 Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A?
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 Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A?
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 Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A 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 Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A?
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 Adware.MacOS.WebTools.A threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.