What is ContentStyles?
ContentStyles has been detected to appear on Mac devices without users’ permission. It is promoted as a reliable application that enhances browsing experience but appears to be yet another adware. Adware is a potentially unwanted program that affects main browser settings in order to start spying on online activities and delivering ads based on collected data. So, ContentStyles is one of those applications you don’t need on your Mac. As long as this program is running on your system it will prevent you from browsing the web safely. Furthermore, personal data of yours may be stolen and disclosed to shady third-parties or cybercriminals.
Even though, ContentStyles is not a malicious app it endangers the overall system security. Security experts recommend the complete removal of ContentStyles from Mac operating systems.
Threat Summary
| Name | ContentStyles adware |
| Type | PUP, Adware |
| Short Description | A questionable application that hijacks Mac operating systems and popular browsers like Safari and Chrome installed on them. Performs browser modifications without your knowledge. |
| Symptoms | Affected browser is inundated with lots of annoying ads. The browser loads slower than ususal. The unwanted program may start every time you start the system. |
| Distribution Method | Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages, Shady Websites |
| Detection Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware Download Malware Removal Tool |
| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss ContentStyles adware. |
How does ContentStyles adware spread? What issues does it cause on a MacOS?
ContentStyles is a program that is classified as an adware. Hence, it is not a computer virus as its main purpose is not to damage your system and files. However, it still poses certain danger to the security of the infected operating system.
ContentStyles is a potentially unwanted program that acts like a typical adware. It affects Mac operating systems by tricking users into running its configuration files. You may have installed this adware by following steps presented on a bogus website, downloading and installing freeware with a corrupted installer or simply visiting a website that triggers an installation process on the background of the browser.
Once it finds a way to gain access to a macOS it alters main browser settings without asking for permission. Then it starts delivering various intrusive advertisements like pop-ups, pop-unders, banners, in-text links, and so on. The ads may appear on almost every website you visit. However, be careful with these ads. They are not placed by the official websites’ publishers. Actually, the publishers do not know that these annoying ads appear on their websites. Hence, there is no guarantee whether these ads are associated with trustworthy offers hosted on secure websites or they load fake promotions hosted on poorly secured/dangerous websites.
Since the purpose of these ads is to lure you into visiting sponsored content, the adware is designed to collect various personal and non-personal information. So once ContentStyles tricks you into running its activation files on your Mac, it creates additional files, activates tracking technologies and starts spying on your online activities.
Even though this adware is not a malicious program, it can trick you into visiting hacked web pages. As a result, you may become a victim of a drive-by attack and then malware infection.We recommend the immediate removal of ContentStyles adware from your affected Mac and browser.
How to Remove ContentStyles from Mac
In order to remove ContentStyles adware along with all entries it creates on the system, you should complete several removal steps in a precise order. The guide below presents you manual and automatic removal approach. In order to fully get rid of files installed by undesired programs and strengthen macOS security, we recommend that you combine the steps. Some of the files associated with the adware cannot be removed manually except you are an experienced computer user. So the manual adware removal might be quite a complicated process that requires advanced computer skills. If you don’t feel comfortable with the manual steps, navigate to the automatic part of the guide.
In case you have further questions or need additional help with the removal process, don’t hesitate to leave us a comment.
Gergana Ivanova
Gergana has a bachelor's degree in Marketing. She has been with the STF team for five years, researching malware, reporting on the latest computer infections, and following digital marketing trends.
Follow Me:
Preparation Phase:
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 ContentStyles adware 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:
- 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 ContentStyles adware 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:
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 ContentStyles adware – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
Remove an extension from Safari and reset it.
Remove a toolbar from Google Chrome
Remove a toolbar from Mozilla Firefox
Step 3: Scan for and remove ContentStyles adware files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as ContentStyles adware, 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.
