What Is ZipArrow on Mac?
ZipArrow on Mac is among your installed applications because you visited a questionable site or downloaded a free application featuring it in its installer. It is from the applications you don’t want on your Mac. Anti-malware tools categorize ZipArrow as a potentially unwanted program. The purpose of this PUP is monetizing its presence on the macOS. That’s why this software modifies different settings and then start to display lots of advertisements. Unlike ads delivered by legitimate apps and sites, adverts delivered by the adware may open corrupted sites that promote rogue apps. Visiting such sites may be risky for your computer security.
Read this article in order to learn more information about how you can delete this nasty software from your macOS and how to secure your web browsers.
ZipArrow Mac – Details
| Name | ZipArrow |
| Type | Adware, PUP |
| 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 ZipArrow
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss ZipArrow. |
ZipArrow Mac – How Did I Get Infected?
The software ZipArrow is based on the code of the poplar AdLoad software that has given origin to a whole family of threats for macOS. We’ve detected quite a lot of programs of the same family. Some recent detections include SmartProducts, CrazyGames, and CompactFilter.
The installation of such apps on Mac machines is supported by shady methods that can conduct unnoticed processes. One such method is called software bundling. It allows fraudsters to compromise the setups of various free apps.
When you download a free app from a site different from the official App Store, you may install an unwanted program without noticing the process.
Such apps are typically pretending to be useful free media players, file conversion applications and other handy tools. Here is an example of how an infection triggered by a software bundle works:
Applications like ZipArrow could end up on your Mac via fake Adobe Flash Player updates. The way it works is via browser redirects to questionable webpages that try to trick you to download the new Flash Player update, which actually runs the adware:
ZipArrow – What Does It Do?
ZipArrow adware performs certain modifications of macOS settings and then accesses installed web browsers to alter some of the main preferenced there as well. Afterwards, the app can display multiple kinds of advertisements, for example:
- Pop-ups with video and/or sound.
- Changed search results to show ads instead of relevant sites.
- Highlighted text on the pages you visit.
- Redirects.
- Interruptive banner ads.
- Intrusive push notifications.
Unwanted applications like NetworkBeta are famous for activating various kinds of tracking objects, like pixels, tags, cookies, etc. in order to help their operators to learn more about users browsing habits and online interests:
All of the mentioned trackers can obtain information from infected web browsers without making you aware of the process. The types of data that can be gathered can vary, based on the ads that are used, but the most often are:
- What you have visited.
- The browsing history from your browser.
- What searches you have made.
- Your mouse movements.
- Your mouse clicks.
- IP and Mac addresses.
- Your bookmarked websites.
Is ZipArrow a Virus?
ZipArrow is adware which means it is not a malicious type of app. The risk of keeping this program on your Mac is its capability of displaying bogus adverts for profit. There are no special security filters regarding the promoted websites. Hence, you may end up on a dangerous site that is set to infect your macOS with a virus. Some of the dangerous domains which such advertisement can lead you could be of the following types:
- Redirects to dangerous sites via multiple pay-per-click redirects.
- Survey sites that are fraud.
- Rogue software sites.
- Web pages that contain scams.
- Phishing pages.
- URLs, containing a virus infection file or script.
- Tech support fraud pages.
These are the main reasons why this program is regarded as an indirectly risky threat to your device.
How to Remove ZipArrow from Mac?
ZipArrow is the type of app that can be deleted from your computer if you follow the removal instructions that have been posted below this article. They contain the steps that are necessary to get rid of this nasty software based on the web browsers that are installed on your Mac and from your macOS as well. For the most effective removal, more security experts would strongly suggest that you scan your computer by using a professional anti-malware for Mac. Such a program is designed to automatically detect and get rid of any software that is unwanted and any viruses as well.
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.
- 1. Scan for Mac Malware
- 2. Uninstall Risky Apps
- 3. Clean Your Browsers
Step 1: Scan for and remove ZipArrow files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as ZipArrow, 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 ZipArrow 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 ZipArrow:
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 ZipArrow. 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 ZipArrow. 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 ZipArrow 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 ZipArrow. 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 ZipArrow – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
ZipArrow-FAQ
What is ZipArrow on your Mac?
The ZipArrow 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 ZipArrow?
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 ZipArrow?
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 ZipArrow Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this ZipArrow 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 ZipArrow?
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 ZipArrow threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.