What Is TaskSample Mac
TaskSample it’s a program for Mac, that is reported to show a lot of different advertisements without users knowledge and consent. These types of software are known as adware or browser hijackers and their main goal is to profit from these ads. This may be risky for your Mac in multiple ways, mainly because these applications often track what you do online and could lead you to some very problematic websites.
Read this article to understand how this program spreads, how does it work and how you can get rid of it from your browsers and your Mac.
TaskSample Mac – Details
| Name | TaskSample |
| Type | Adware / PUP / Redirect for Mac |
| 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 TaskSample
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Malware Removal Tool
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss TaskSample. |
TaskSample Virus – How Did I Get Infected
TaskSample is an Adload variant. Is there a series of adware applications for Mac, that have similar names and our likely containing the same code. Other recently detected versions of this family include the following:
There are a couple of different ways these applications can end up being installed on your Mac and one of the reported methods is to get downloaded as a result of visiting a fake Adobe Flash Player update webpage.
Another method is known as software bundle link. This means that the installation files of this application can be included in some other free software download it from the web and the app itself can be advertised as a free extra that is optionally added to the install, like shown in the example below:
TaskSample Mac – What Does It Do?
TaskSample may be involved in a couple of different activities once it lands on your Mac. First of all, it may change different types of settings of your web browsers, like add browser extensions, plug-ins and change the default search and new tab and homepages. All of this is done so that the software can get permissions to read and change the data on the websites you visit so that it can display advertisements, like the following kinds:
- Redirects.
- Interruptive banner ads.
- Intrusive push notifications.
- Pop-ups with video and/or sound.
- Changed search results to show ads instead of relevant sites.
- Highlighted text on the pages you visit.
The usage of cookies is also something that is very typical when it comes to the activity of applications from the TaskSample kind:
Usually, these programs use such tracking technologies to get more information about what you do online, presumably to improve their services, as they often claim in their shady privacy policies. In reality you do not know what happened to this information and it may even be of the following kinds:
- What searches you have made.
- Your mouse clicks.
- What you have visited.
- Your mouse movements.
- IP and Mac addresses.
- Your bookmarked websites.
- The browsing history from your browser.
Is TaskSample a Virus?
No, TaskSample is not a virus. However it may pose an equal threat to your Mac as one, since once it lands on your Mac, because it could take you to some very nasty websites as a result:
- Phishing pages.
- URLs, containing a virus infection file or script.
- Tech support fraud pages.
- Web pages that contain scams.
- Redirects to dangerous sites via multiple pay-per-click redirects.
- Rogue software sites.
- Survey sites that are fraud.
These are the primary reasons why you should start focusing on removing this risky software from your Mac immediately.
How to Remove TaskSample from Mac?
If you want TaskSample gone from your Mac for good, then we suggest following the instructions that have been laid out underneath this article. They have been made so that you can clean up your web browsers and your Mac from any traces of this software. If you want the best possible removal, then we suggest that you follow what experts recommendations and scan your device using a professional anti-malware for Mac. Such a software specifically designed to thoroughly check your device and get it rid of any trackers, adware and malware 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.
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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 TaskSample files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as TaskSample, 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 TaskSample 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 TaskSample:
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 TaskSample. 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 TaskSample. 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 TaskSample 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 TaskSample. 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 TaskSample – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
TaskSample-FAQ
What is TaskSample on your Mac?
The TaskSample 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 TaskSample?
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 TaskSample?
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 TaskSample Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this TaskSample 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 TaskSample?
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 TaskSample threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.