What Is CommonOperation on Mac?
CommonOperation is an ad-supported application that may appear on Mac devices without any signs of the installation process. The main idea of this adware program is to show various forms of advertisements that generate profit for its operators. This may be dangerous for your macOS in a couple of ways. Some dangerous websites such as scams or phishing sites may load in the browser. The load of one such site may lead to an unnoticed infection with an undesired or malicious program. This is the main reason why adware applications are classified as threats of low level that should be removed from every infected Mac.
Read this article in order to learn more information about the software, how it works and how you can get rid of it from your Mac safely.
CommonOperation Mac – Details
| Name | CommonOperation |
| Type | Adware / PUP / Redirect for Mac |
| Short Description | Aims to modify the settings on your computer in order to get it to cause browser redirects and display different advertisements. |
| Symptoms | Your device 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 |
See If Your Mac Has Been Affected by CommonOperation
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Malware Removal Tool
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss CommonOperation. |
CommonOperation Virus – How Did I Get Infected
Is CommonOperation a virus? Well, it is adware application based on the code of the Adload threat for Mac. The following additional variants have been registered recently:
CommonOperation may get installed on macOS via software bundles where its installation files come together with setups and other free applications. Apps with corrupted installers can be downloaded from sites different from the App Store. For the success of this method of distribution, people should skip following the Advanced or Custom installation steps while installing the primary app. PUPs are often advertised as free extras as shown in the example below:
CommonOperation may also obtain access to the system by pretending to be a fake Adobe Flash Player update. Here is a copycat webpage that aims to slither you the unwanted software instead of the actual update of the legitimate software:
CommonOperation Mac – What Does It Do?
CommonOperation may be responsible for a lot of different activities on your Mac. Changes in your browser and macOS settings may occur. This program may add plugins and browser extensions that alter the main web browser pages – the new tab destination, the home page and the default search engine.
The program may also read and modify the information on the websites you visit so that it can display advertisements afterwards. Ads like the ones listed below may start to show up in the browser:
- Interruptive banner ads.
- Redirects.
- Changed search results to show ads instead of relevant sites.
- Highlighted text on the pages you visit.
- Intrusive push notifications.
- Pop-ups with video and/or sound.
This program may also be responsible for using different types of cookies:
These are small objects that are left on your drive and may remain there for years of time if you do not remove them manually. They are often utilised to get information about your browsing activities, like the following details:
- Your mouse movements.
- IP and Mac addresses.
- What you have visited.
- Your bookmarked websites.
- The browsing history from your browser.
- What searches you have made.
- Your mouse clicks.
Is CommonOperation a Virus?
CommonOperation is not a virus, but it may be responsible for taking you to some vicious websites. Advertisements it shows are displayed mainly for profit. PUP developers do not care about the security of the sites their software promotes. This is often how you may end up being redirected to one of the following domains:
- URLs, containing a virus infection file or script.
- Tech support fraud pages.
- Redirects to dangerous sites via multiple pay-per-click redirects.
- Rogue software sites.
- Phishing pages.
- Web pages that contain scams.
- Survey sites that are fraud.
This is the main reason why this software is classified as an indirect threat to your Mac and should be removed from it and your browsers as well.
How to Remove CommonOperation from Mac
To remove CommonOperation we would suggest that you follow the removal steps we have listed beneath this article. They have been created with the primary idea to best assist you in getting rid of this program either by yourself or automatically. If you do not have the time or the experience to do this yourself, you can also follow experts’ advice and run a scan of your device, using an advanced anti-malware for Mac. Such software is designed from the ground up to scan your device thoroughly and get rid of any malicious software and trackers.
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.
Step 1: Uninstall CommonOperation 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 CommonOperation:
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 CommonOperation. 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 CommonOperation. 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 CommonOperation 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 CommonOperation. 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 2: Remove CommonOperation – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
Step 3: Scan for and remove CommonOperation files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as CommonOperation, 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.
CommonOperation FAQ
What is CommonOperation on your Mac?
The CommonOperation 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 siginficantly and display advertisements. They could also use cookies and other trackers to obtain browsing information from the installed web browsers on your Mac.
The creators of such unwanted apps work with pay-per-click schemes to get your Mac to visit risky or different types of websites that may generate them funds. This is why they do not even care what types of websites show up on the ads. This makes their unwanted software indirectly risky for your MacOS.
Can my Mac get a virus?
Yes. As much as any other device, Apple computers do get viruses. Apple devices may not be a frequent target by malware authors, but rest assured that the following Apple devices can become infected with a virus:
- iMac
- Mac Mini
- Macbook Air
- Macbook Pro
- iPhone
- iPad
What are the symptoms of CommonOperation on your Mac?
There are several symptoms to look for when this particular threat and also most Mac threats in general are active:
Symptom #1: Your Mac may become slow and has poor performance in general.
Symtpom #2: You have toolbars, add-ons or extensions on your web browsers that you don't remember adding.
Symptom #3: You see all types of ads, like ad-supported search results, pop-ups and redirects to randomly appear.
Symptom #4: You see installed apps on your Mac running automatically and you do not remember installing them.
Symptom #5: You see suspicious processes running in your Mac's Activity Monitor.
If you see one or more of those symptoms, then security experts reccomend that you check your Mac for viruses.
What types of Mac threats are there?
According to most malware researchers and cyber-security experts, the threats that can currently infect your Mac can be the following types:
- Rogue Antivirus programs.
- Adware and hijackers.
- Trojan horses and other spyware.
- Ransomware and screen-lockers.
- Cryptocurrency miner malware.
What to do if I have a Mac virus, like CommonOperation?
Do not panic! You can easily get rid of most Mac threats by firstly isolating them and then removing them. One reccomended 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, tracking cookies and unwanted adware apps plus take care of them quickly. This saves time for manual removal that you would otherwise have to do.
How to secure my passwords and other data from CommonOperation?
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 CommonOperation Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this CommonOperation 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 CommonOperation?
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 CommonOperation threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.
References
1. macOS More Susceptible to Adware and PUPs than Windows
2. XLoader Malware-as-a-Service Now Available for macOS for Only $49
3. XCSSET Mac Malware Targets Apple’s M1-Based Macs and macOS 11
4. macOS Backdoor Malware Linked to OceanLotus Hackers
5. The State of Apple’s Privacy So Far in 2021