This article has been created in order to explain what is Smart Mac Care PUP and how you can remove it from your Mac effectively.
A new program, which claims to be “a perfect solution for all your Mac problems” has been reported by security experts to be involved in questionable activities. The program, called Smart Mac Care is believed to be a rogue app that is promoted as a useful tool to optimize users’ Macs. In reality however, the app may perform automated scans which show users that their Mac is at risk and they should purchase it’s licensed version in order to fix problems for your Mac. If you have the Smart Mac Care program installed on your Mac and want to remove it, we recommend that you read the following article.
Threat Summary
| Name | Smart Mac Care |
| Type | Hoax Optimizer for Mac OS |
| Short Description | May perform numerous scans and ask victims to pay it’s license before actually fixing problems on their Macs that may not even exist. |
| Symptoms | May run automatic system scans that detect different errors on each scan. May suggest to purchase it’s full version in an intrusive manner. |
| Distribution Method | Via bundled installers or fake advertisements. |
| Detection Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware Download Combo Cleaner | User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Smart Mac Care. |
Smart Mac Care – How Did I Get It
The main method by which you could have started seeing these types of unwanted scans to appear on your Mac is by letting the Smart Mac Care app to be installed automatically alongside the setups of other programs or apps you may have downloaded from third-party websites.
In addition to this, the Smart Mac Care app may also be advertised on a website, claiming the app is useful. Furthermore, it is also not excluded that you may encounter suspicious advertisements that may mislead you into downloading the program by believing that your Mac might be at risk. They may appear in proximity to the fake “virus detected” type of message below:
Smart Mac Care – More Information
Once installed on your Mac, the Smart Mac Care program may begin an automated scan on it. This scan may result in Smart Mac Care to detect various types of errors and risks for your Mac. Most experts do advise not to fall for this, because the program aims to trick people into purchasing it’s full version in order to remove the risks.
The Smart Mac Care software may display various scan result messages whose primary goal is to get users to purchase it’s full version:
Furthermore, the program may also be adware-related as many security sites report. This basically means that various different types of unwanted advertisements may appear on your Mac after this app is installed. These ads may vary in type but generally they might be:
- Pop-ups.
- Browser re-directions.
- Online search results that are ad-supported.
- Banners on the sites you visit.
- Online highlighted text ads.
Each time you click on those ads or open the products they advertise, your security may be exposed in different ways. One of those ways is to use tracking technologies on the web pages themselves that may collect information from your Mac. Some of the websites you may be redirected to as a result of visiting those advertisements may get you to download and install malware files that are posing as legitimate program. And some may even pretend to be official login pages for Facebook, Gmail or other often used services with the goal ot steal your passwords. Only one more reason why Smart Mac Care is considered potentially harmful.
Remove Smart Mac Care from Yoyr Mac
If you want to remove this suspicious software from your Mac, we suggest that you follow the removal instructions underneath this article. They might be able to help you to get rid of this software effectively. If manual removal does not seem to work and you still see the Smart Mac Care app running on your Mac, the best way to remove this program effectively according to security experts is by running an anti-malware scan with an advanced cleaner program. Such software aims to fully detect and remove these types of unwanted software and ensure that future protection is also available for your Mac.
Ventsislav Krastev
Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.
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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 Smart Mac Care 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 Smart Mac Care 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 Smart Mac Care – 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 Smart Mac Care files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Smart Mac Care, 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.
