This article has been created in order to give you insight on how to quickly remove the DarthMiner Mac Miner from your Mac effectively.
The DarthMiner Mac Miner is a very dangerous threat to all Mac computers as it can install itself silently and lead to data theft. Active infections can be made without any apparent symptoms and depending on the specific hacker instructions different actions can take place. This is the reason why affected users should remove it immediately.
Threat Summary
| Name | DarthMiner Mac Miner |
| Type | Mac OS Adware |
| Short Description | The DarthMiner Mac Miner installs various malware on the target computers. |
| Symptoms | The victims may not experience any apparent signs of infection. |
| Distribution Method | Emails, infected software installers and other methods. |
| Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss DarthMiner Mac Miner. |
DarthMiner Mac Miner — How Did I Get It
A new dangerous malware threat has been identified as the DarthMiner Mac Miner. Despite its name it is a hybrid threat that contains capabilities of several different types of malware.
At the moment the main distribution tactic relies on the use of infected application installers. The ongoing attack campaign rely on malware Adobe Zii samples which are pirate tools used to activate paid Adobe software. When downloaded and run on a Mac machine the appliactions will execute a shell script that will download another script written in Python. This in turn will download another executable called “sample.app”. This sequence of events will in-turn make detection much more difficult to detect by the operating system.
The current attack campaign shows that the main method is through a malware payload delivery techniques. It is possible that the other method will be used which takes advantage of infected documents. They can be of any of the popular file types: spreadsheets, presentations, databases and text files. As soon as they are run a prompt will appear asking for the built-in scripts to be run. This will trigger the DarthMiner Mac Miner installation.
The other popular methods of delivery include the following:
- Browser Hijackers — They represent malicious plugins made for the most popular web browsers. The strains are uploaded with descriptions and offers that promise new feature additions and performance optimizations. Often fake or hacked user reviews and developer credentials are used to make them look legitimate.
- Co-Infection — Usually the threats can be delivered by other threats such as ransomware and Trojans.
- Malware Sites Usage — Various malicious sites and related content can lead to the DarthMiner Mac Miner infection. This category does not include spoofed sites of vendor pages or download portals, but also available through SPAM ad content: redirects, banners, pop-ups and in-text links.
DarthMiner Mac Miner — Full Description
The DarthMiner Mac Miner not only infects the machines using a multiple tier sequence of script downloads, but the current wave of attacks have been found to contain many malware modules that are run as soon as they are deployed.
One of the first actions that are undertaken is the confirmation if the “Little Snitch” app is installed. This is a popular firewall installed by most Mac users, the reason for this is that if it is installed and active it may block the outgoing connections to the hacker servers. When it is bypassed the infection can continue.
The next action is a Trojan connection to a predefined hacker-controlled server. The first commands that are run are related to the download and execution of the main malware. Its current configuration is set to launch a cryptocurrency miner, a custom variant of the popular XMRIG script. The behavior that is associated with them is to come in contact to a hacker-controlled mining server (called “pool”) which will direct the malware to download and run resources-intensive tasks that will take a heavy toll on all major components: CPU, GPU, memory and hard disk space. And when a completed task is reported the hacker operators will receive income in the form of digital currency that will be directly wired to them.
An additional step is the download and installation of a root certificate along with a surveillance application. This allows the hacker operators to capture Internet traffic thereby monitoring all user Internet activities. As the connection is made on a local level the malicious actors will also have the ability to access encrypted traffic and contents as well.
As the DarthMiner Mac Miner by itself contains a Trojan component it can be used for various other malicious actions:
- Machine Access — Having infected computers means that the malicious actors will be able not only to steal all accessible information, but also spy on the users in real-time and overtake control of the machines.
- Additional Malware Infection — Active infections can enable the malicious operators to install other threats to the victim machines.
- Persistent Installation — The infections can be installed in a way which makes recovery very difficult. They can change the operating system settings, boot options and other places which are used by the users to restore their machines.
- Data Deletion — The DarthMiner Mac Miner can be programmed to delete data such as Backups and Restore Points.
- Data Theft — The constant monitoring of user traffic and the access to user data on the local machine can allow the hackers to steal information that can directly expose the victims. The collected information can also be used for crimes such as identity theft and financial abuse.
At the moment no information is known about the malicious actors and their intent. Future versions of it may also include additional functionality.
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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About the DarthMiner Mac Miner Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this DarthMiner Mac Miner 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 DarthMiner Mac Miner?
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 DarthMiner Mac Miner 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
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 DarthMiner Mac Miner 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 DarthMiner Mac Miner:
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 DarthMiner Mac Miner. 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 DarthMiner Mac Miner. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
7. Remove any left-over 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 DarthMiner Mac Miner 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 DarthMiner Mac Miner. 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 DarthMiner Mac Miner – 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 DarthMiner Mac Miner files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as DarthMiner Mac Miner, 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
Step 4: 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.
DarthMiner Mac Miner FAQ
What is DarthMiner Mac Miner on your Mac?
The DarthMiner Mac Miner 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 DarthMiner Mac Miner 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 DarthMiner Mac Miner?
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 DarthMiner Mac Miner?
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.