How to completely remove Mac Auto Fixer virus

There is a particularly pernicious type of malware that disguises itself as an attempt to help users fix non-existent problems with their computer, whether it be supposedly out-of-date software, a non-existent virus, or performance problems that don’t exist. Mac Auto Fixer is one example. It pretends to fix your Mac when all it does is infects it with a potentially unwanted program.

What you need to know about Mac Auto Fixer virus

First of all, Mac Auto Fixer, although malware, isn’t a virus as such. It doesn’t copy itself from computer to computer without help from the user. Instead, it downloads and installs itself by being bundled with another app that you’ve chosen to install. Most commonly, a pop-up window appears during a web browsing session telling the user that their Flash Player is out of date and offers a button to click to update it. When the user clicks that button, it downloads Mac Auto Fixer.

It’s a form of malware known as scareware because once installed, it pops up windows telling you that you have problems that need fixing or your Mac needs cleaning or some other pretense to get you to click a button. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Mac Auto Fixer also displays fake Trojan alerts and offers to get rid of the malware. The irony is, of course, that it’s Mac Auto Fixer that has infiltrated your Mac without invitation and is slowing it down, inconveniencing you, and probably stealing data while it’s at it. So you definitely want to get rid of it as soon as you spot it. 

How to fight Mac Auto Fixer virus

Delete Auto Fixer with an antivirus 

The Auto Fixer virus usually infiltrates your admin profile. That’s why it is so hard to pin down. Before applying the targeted solutions, you should do a basic malware check and see if it detects the virus. Which antivirus to choose? This is totally up to you, and good antiviruses are plenty. The recent Mac solution that’s reported to have a good malware database is CleanMyMac X. It goes after Mac-specific viruses and the so-called “backdoor” agents. This app is notarized by Apple, which means it’s free from malware.

Get CleanMyMac X for free here.
Open the app and click Malware Removal in the sidebar.

The interface is pretty simple and looks like this:

Then go to your Applications folder and look for Mac Auto Fixer. When you find it, drag it to the Trash. You should do the same with the app that Mac Auto Fixer was bundled with.

Remove your Login Items

Mac Auto Fixer cunningly installs a login item so that it launches automatically each time you restart your Mac.

1. Go to the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
2. Click on General > Login Items.
3. Select the box next to the Mac Auto Fixer and click the “-” button.
4. Quit System Settings.

Check for Launch Agents

Along with login items, malware often installs launch agents. Here’s how to check.

1. In the Finder, choose the Go menu and select “Go to Folder.”
2. Paste this into the box: /Library/LaunchAgents
3. Look through the folder for anything with the name “Mac Auto Fixer.”
4. If you find anything, drag it to the Trash and empty it.

Tip: CleanMyMac X can also remove login items and launch agents with just a couple of clicks.

Remove malicious browser extensions

Mac Auto Fixer may also install browser extensions to redirect your homepage or change your default search engine. You need to remove them.

Safari

1. Go to Settings, choose Extensions, and look for any extensions you didn’t install.
2. If you see one, click on it and choose Uninstall.
3. Use the Search tab in Settings to reset the default search engine and General to change the default homepage.

Chrome

1. In the address bar, type: chrome://extensions and look for extensions that shouldn’t be there.
2. If you find one, click Remove to get rid of it.
3. Type: chrome://settings to reset the default homepage and search engine.

Firefox

1. Click on the three lines to the right of the address bar.
2. Choose Add-ons and then Extensions and look for any extensions you don’t install.
3. Click Remove to get rid of them.
4. Click the three lines again and choose Options to reset the homepage and search engine.

Mac Auto Fixer is a potentially unwanted program that pretends to be helpful and scan your Mac so it can fix it. However, in reality, it’s malware that causes inconvenience, slows down your computer, and may steal data and display intrusive adverts. You can get rid of it by following the steps above.