What Is Speechlee
Speechlee is the kind of software that you do not want getting installed on your Mac. This program’s main idea is to change the settings of your web browsers and begin to display tons of different advertisements on it. The main idea is for the creators of such software is to profit from them as they show on your Mac. The bad news here is most of these ads go unverified and unchecked and they may cause problems for your Mac as they could lead you to dangerous websites, that may turn out to be viruses or scam sites. This is the main reason why Speechlee is classified as potentially unwanted software and an indirect risk for your Mac.
Speechlee can be removed from your Mac by following the instructions posted in this article.
Speechlee Summary
| Name | Speechlee |
| Type | Browser Hijacker / PUP / Scam Redirect |
| Short Description | Aims to modify the settings on your web browser in order to get it to cause browser redirects and display different advertisements. |
| Symptoms | Your web browser begins to display various types of online advertisements, which results in slowing down of your computer. |
| Distribution Method | Bundled downloads. Web pages which may advertise it. |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your Device Has Been Affected by Speechlee
Download
Malware Removal Tool
|
User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Speechlee. |
Speechlee Mac – Main Activity
Speechlee is your typical browser hijacker for Mac. We believe that it is similar to other such software for Mac, including Searchlee, Search Baron and Search Marquis as they may share the same code. These applications may seem helpful, but in reality their primary objective could be to cause multiple kinds of problems for your Mac, like display the following types of advertisements:
- New banners that replace legitimate ones on the sites you visit.
- Push notificaitons.
- Pop-up promotion.
- Third-party website transfers.
- Search result advertisements.
- Ads linked on the text of the sites you read from.
The software behind Speechlee may enter your Mac by posting as a legitimate free extra that is optionally included in the options of other free software, for example, media players, file converters, editors, and others. Once on your Mac, the Speechlee software may heavily modify the options of your web browsers and change your default home page, new tab page and search page to another one. It may also use different kinds of trackers, like cookies, pixels, tags and other such tracking technologies. These are small files dropped on your Mac and used to obtain information from it, like:
- Your last pages seen.
- Your browsers’ history.
- What you search.
- Your mouse clicks, scrolls and movements.
- Bookmarked sites.
- Your location and language.
The main issue with this software lies within the ads it shows on your Mac. These ads may lead to several different sites that may often turn out to be a risk as they go unchecked, for example:
- Scam pages.
- Software download sites that are fraud.
- Redirects to other adware and risky domains.
- Survey scams that are phishing.
- Fake websites designed to steal information.
- Virus websites that infect your device with malware.
- Fake tech support.
This is the main reason why Speechlee is classified as unwanted software and may be indirectly risky for your Mac as it may bring more problems than help you.
Remove Speechlee from Your Mac
Speechlee may be a bit tricky to be removed from your Mac as it may create multiple different kinds of files on your device. One way to remove it manually is to follow the removal guide that has been posted underneath this article. According to cyber-security experts, the most recommended way to remove Speechlee from your Mac is if you download and run a scan of your Mac using an advanced anti-malware program. Such a program has been created with the primary idea to best assist you in removing Speechlee by scanning your Mac thoroughly for all adware, malware, and trackers and automatically removing them.
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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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 Speechlee files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Speechlee, 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 Speechlee 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 Speechlee:
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 Speechlee. 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 Speechlee. 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 Speechlee 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 Speechlee. 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 Speechlee – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
Speechlee-FAQ
What is Speechlee on your Mac?
The Speechlee 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 Speechlee?
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 Speechlee?
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 Speechlee Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Speechlee 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 Speechlee?
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 Speechlee threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.