This article will help you to remove malware that is causing the URL:Mal message to be displayed. Follow the removal instructions provided at the end of the article.
URL:Mal is the generic name given to specific threats detected by AVG and Avast anti-virus programs. Your computer somehow has reached a malicious URL domain blocked by Avast. Reaching a malicious URL might be due to having your computer system infected by a Trojan horse, trying to connect to a malicious URL constantly. To remove the actual malware labeled as URL:Mal and all related messages, you should know that it is in your best interest to remove all of those as soon as possible.
Threat Summary
| Name | URL:Mal |
| Type | Trojan Horse, False Positive, Malicious URL |
| Short Description | The URL:Mal is a legitimate Avast notification which shows up when Avast detects a malicious URL domain being accessed. The URL can be loaded due to malware such as a Trojan horse present on your PC. |
| Symptoms | You will see a notification saying “URL: Mal” Malicious URL blocked. |
| Distribution Method | Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages, JavaScript |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
Download
Malware Removal Tool
|
| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss URL:Mal. |
URL:Mal – Detection and Distribution
The URL:Mal can spread in a few ways. Third-party installer setups could have put a Trojan horse on your computer system via bundling. These installations typically arrive with freeware and application packages. Without you knowing, additive content could be installed to your computer, which could even be a JavaScript file that downloads the actual malware. Avoiding such installations is possible if you find Custom or Advanced settings in the install setup.
URL:Mal can also spread if you come across unknown websites through redirects and advertisements which have some sort of scripts in themselves and load them when you visit a site or click on an advert. Pop-ups, pop-unders, as well as banners could have links inside of them that can redirect you. When visiting such websites, especially with an unknown origin, they could inject the malware inside your computer device. That can happen via any browser.
URL:Mal – Technical Data
URL:Mal is the generic name given to specific threats detected by AVG and Avast anti-virus programs. It is also connected to a very similar threat called [wplinkpreview url=”https://sensorstechforum.com/svchost-exe-urlmal-description-and-removal-manual/”] Svchost.exe URL:Mal that we have written about in the past. Your computer somehow has reached a malicious URL domain blocked by Avast. Reaching a malicious URL might be due to having your computer system infected by a Trojan horse, trying to connect to a malicious URL rather frequently.
URL:Mal’s related processes can be implemented deep inside the Windows Operating System, so some software might detect it and push messages about it, but not be able to completely remove it for some reason. The reason might be that files of the actual threat behind URL:Mal are being used or that anti-malware software is trying to prevent your computer from opening the malicious URL, but not able to find the source of the malware that is pushing the requests to connect to the particular URL domain.
The URL:Mal is not a vastly known detection by anti-virus software, but used mainly by Avast and AVG anti-virus programs as an abbreviation for “URL:Malicious” letting users know that a URL has been blocked because the program has it identified in its database for being malicious.
The malware behind the URL:Mal name might be dropped to systems when the malware authors manage to brute force the login credentials of the targeted servers. A successful attack might push a Trojan horse into a person’s computer.
URL:Mal might be detected if the following Windows file has been modified or tampered with in some malicious way:
- C:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe
A Trojan horse that is behind the URL:Mal notification is likely to download some additional components that will aid it to achieve its purpose to full effect. Thus, after it being executed on the system, it may establish a remote connection to a command and control server (the blocked URL, hence the display of the notification) from where all other malicious files are available. There are some essential Windows folders in which the malicious files are usually dropped:
- %AppData%
- %Local%
- %LocalLow%
- %Roaming%
- %Temp%
The following registry key entry might be present on your computer system:
→“HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run”
The entry listed above will make the miner to launch with every restart or boot of your computer device. Below you can see some useful tips that can help you to prevent similar malware to install onto your PC, in the future:
- Run programs inside a sandbox environment
- Install an advanced anti-malware protection
- Update your mostly-used programs and software in general
- Update your OS with security updates
- Install an ad-blocker application
- Be wary around your e-mails and don’t open them unless you know the source
- Disable macros in Microsoft Office Applications
- Disable JavaScript
- Keep your firewall ON
URL:Mal, although a legitimate notification is most definitely caused by the presence of malware on your computer machine. It is your duty to clean it.
Remove URL:Mal Completely
To remove URL:Mal manually from your computer, follow the step-by-step removal tutorial written down below. In case this manual removal does not get rid of the miner malware completely, you should search for and remove any leftover items with an advanced anti-malware tool. Such software can keep your computer secure in the future.
Tsetso Mihailov
Tsetso Mihailov is a tech-geek and loves everything that is tech-related, while observing the latest news surrounding technologies. He has worked in IT before, as a system administrator and a computer repair technician. Dealing with malware since his teens, he is determined to spread word about the latest threats revolving around computer security.
Follow Me:
- Guide 1: How to Remove URL:Mal from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of URL:Mal on Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove URL:Mal in Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase URL:Mal from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall URL:Mal from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove URL:Mal from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate URL:Mal from Internet Explorer.
- Guide 8: Disable URL:Mal Push Notifications in Your Browsers.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
About the URL:Mal Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this URL:Mal how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific, adware-related problem, and restore your browser and computer system.
How did we conduct the research on URL:Mal?
Please note that our research is based on independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware, adware, and browser hijacker definitions.
Furthermore, the research behind the URL:Mal threat is backed with VirusTotal https://www.virustotal.com/gui/home/upload.
To better understand this online threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.
References
1.Browser Redirect – What Is It?
2.Adware Is Malicious, and It Uses Advanced Techniques to Infect
3.The Thin Red Line Between Potentially Unwanted Programs and Malware
4.The Pay-Per-Install Affiliate Business – Making Millions out of Adware
5.Malicious Firefox Extensions Installed by 455,000 Users Blocked Updates
How to Remove URL:Mal from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove URL:Mal
Step 2: Uninstall URL:Mal and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by URL:Mal on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by URL:Mal there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
1. Open the Run Window again, type "regedit" and click OK.
2. When you open it, you can freely navigate to the Run and RunOnce keys, whose locations are shown above.
3. You can remove the value of the virus by right-clicking on it and removing it.
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.
Step 4: Scan for URL:Mal with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
1. Click on the "Download" button to proceed to SpyHunter's download page.
2. After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.
3. After the update process has finished, click on the 'Malware/PC Scan' tab. A new window will appear. Click on 'Start Scan'.
4. After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any files of the associated threat and found them, you can try to get them removed automatically and permanently by clicking on the 'Next' button.
Video Removal Guide for URL:Mal (Windows).
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Get rid of URL:Mal from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall URL:Mal 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 URL:Mal:
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 URL:Mal. 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 URL:Mal. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
7: Remove any left-over 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 URL:Mal 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 URL:Mal. 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 2: Scan for and remove URL:Mal files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as URL:Mal, 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.
Video Removal Guide for URL:Mal (Mac)
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Remove URL:Mal from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2:Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Erase URL:Mal from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Uninstall URL:Mal from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Remove URL:Mal from Safari.
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the URL:Mal will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Eliminate URL:Mal from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
Remove Push Notifications caused by URL:Mal from Your Browsers.
Turn Off Push Notifications from Google Chrome
To disable any Push Notices from Google Chrome browser, please follow the steps below:
Step 1: Go to Settings in Chrome.
Step 2: In Settings, select “Advanced Settings”:
Step 3: Click “Content Settings”:
Step 4: Open “Notifications”:
Step 5: Click the three dots and choose Block, Edit or Remove options:
Remove Push Notifications on Firefox
Step 1: Go to Firefox Options.
Step 2: Go to “Settings”, type “notifications” in the search bar and click "Settings":
Step 3: Click “Remove” on any site you wish notifications gone and click “Save Changes”
Stop Push Notifications on Opera
Step 1: In Opera, press ALT+P to go to Settings.
Step 2: In Setting search, type “Content” to go to Content Settings.
Step 3: Open Notifications:
Step 4: Do the same as you did with Google Chrome (explained below):
Eliminate Push Notifications on Safari
Step 1: Open Safari Preferences.
Step 2: Choose the domain from where you like push pop-ups gone and change to "Deny" from "Allow".
URL:Mal FAQ
What is URL:Mal?
The URL:Mal threat is adware or browser redirect virus. It may slow your computer down siginficantly and display advertisements. The main idea is for your information to likely get stolen or more ads to appear on your device.
The creators of such unwanted apps work with pay-per-click schemes to get your computer to visit risky or different types of websites that may generate them funds. This is why they do not even care what types of websites show up on the ads. This makes their unwanted software indirectly risky for your OS.
What are the symptoms of URL:Mal?
There are several symptoms to look for when this particular threat and also unwanted apps in general are active:
Symptom #1: Your computer may become slow and has poor performance in general.
Symtpom #2: You have toolbars, add-ons or extensions on your web browsers that you don't remember adding.
Symptom #3: You see all types of ads, like ad-supported search results, pop-ups and redirects to randomly appear.
Symptom #4: You see installed apps on your Mac running automatically and you do not remember installing them.
Symptom #5: You see suspicious processes running in your Task Manager.
If you see one or more of those symptoms, then security experts reccomend that you check your computer for viruses.
What types of Unwanted Programs are there?
According to most malware researchers and cyber-security experts, the threats that can currently affect your Mac can be the following types:
- Rogue Antivirus programs.
- Adware.
- Browser hijackers.
- Clickers.
- Fake optimizers.
What to do if I have a "virus" like URL:Mal?
Do not panic! You can easily get rid of most adware or unwanted program threats by firstly isolating them and then removing them from your browser and computer. One reccomended 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 anti-malware apps out there that you can choose from. SpyHunter is one of the reccomended anti-malware apps, that can scan your computer for free and detect any viruses, tracking cookies and unwanted adware apps and eliminate them quickly. This saves time when compared to doing the removal manually.
How to secure my passwords and other data from URL:Mal?
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 all devices will become significantly more secure against any threats or information invasive software and be virus free and protected in the future too.
More tips you can find on our website, where you can also ask any questions and comment underneath the articles about your computer problems. We will try to respond as fast as possible.
