What Is Swagbucks Toolbar Mac
If you are wondering what is Swagbucks Toolbar installed on your Mac, then be advised that it has been created purely for profit. While Swagbucks Toolbar may appear helpful and legitimate for your Mac, be advised that it could show you ads that include pay-per-click schemes. The bad news here is that these schemes are mainly created with the word profit in mind and this is how the developers of this application make money. And this means that most of the ads that are shown on your Mac by software, like Swagbucks Toolbar may lead to third-party websites that could be risky in one or more ways for your Mac.
Read this article if you want to learn how you can remove Swagbucks Toolbar from your Mac completely.
Swagbucks Toolbar Summary
| Name | Swagbucks Toolbar |
| Type | Browser Hijacker / PUP |
| 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 Swagbucks Toolbar
Download
Malware Removal Tool
|
User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Swagbucks Toolbar. |
Swagbucks Toolbar – Activity Report
In a similar way to other Mac adware, like Helper_update, CrushArcade and Video Explorer, the Swagbucks Toolbar may also be the reason why you could start seeing tons of ads after being installed on your Mac. The first activity this app does after being installed is to likely modify the settings of your web browsers so that they could begin to display other default pages than your original home and new tab page. Then, this program may start to show the following types of ads:
- Text-embedded advertisements.
- Banner adverts.
- Browser pop-ups.
- Redirects and transfers to third-party sites.
- Ads appearing instead of search results.
- Push notifications promotions.
These ads may contain multiple trackers embedded in them, which are essentially small files droped on your computer, that may be cookies, tags, pixels, geo-locators and others. The main problem that is related to this is if not removed, these objects can obtain information from your browsing activity for years of time. Such information includes the sites you visit, clicks you make, your browsing history, search history and mouse movements.
For now, it is not entirely known how Swagbucks Toolbar may have ended up being installed on your Mac, but the main way that ammounts for most of these apps is called bundling. This means they could be included in the installation of other freeware, including file conversion apps, media players and others of this kind. What usually happens is Swagbucks Toolbar may be added to one of the install steps where it could be advertised as a free extra or an optional offer to the software you downloaded.
Be advised that seeing Swagbucks Toolbar means that the ads it shows you are only for profit. This means that they could take you to dangerous websites in some cases, for example:
- Tech support scams.
- Phishing or “Fake” sites.
- Scamming sites.
- Virus domains.
- Rogue software download frauds.
- Endless redirect loop schemes.
- Scam surveys.
This is the main reason why such software is considered indirectly dangeorus and has no place on your Mac.
Remove Swagbucks Toolbar from Your Mac
In order to remove software, like Swagbucks Toolbar, it is a good idea to follow the guide below. It is made to help you clear your web browsers and your Mac library from your Mac. The most effective method to remove Swagbucks Toolbar is to use advanced anti-malware software. Such an application has been created with the main idea to help you delete apps, like Swagbucks Toolbar from your Mac automatically by deleting its core files and cleaning your Mac up from any trackers automatically.
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.
Follow Me:
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 Swagbucks Toolbar files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Swagbucks Toolbar, 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 Swagbucks Toolbar 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 Swagbucks Toolbar:
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 Swagbucks Toolbar. 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 Swagbucks Toolbar. 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 Swagbucks Toolbar 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 Swagbucks Toolbar. 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 Swagbucks Toolbar – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
Swagbucks Toolbar-FAQ
What is Swagbucks Toolbar on your Mac?
The Swagbucks Toolbar 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 Swagbucks Toolbar?
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 Swagbucks Toolbar?
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 Swagbucks Toolbar Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Swagbucks Toolbar 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 Swagbucks Toolbar?
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 Swagbucks Toolbar threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.