How to get rid of adware on your Mac

Adware is an unwelcome intrusion in many browsers. It attempts to trick or force you into clicking through to a website you weren’t planning on visiting to generate revenue for the company that produced it. Some versions of ad software also contain hidden viruses, posing a serious risk to your Mac and the data it contains.

Fortunately, there are ways to remove this rogue software either manually via your browser and your system files or with a cleaner tool like CleanMyMac X. We’ll take you through each of these methods to help you get rid of adware on your Mac for good.

What is adware, and what does it do to your Mac

Adware is not necessarily a virus. It is a type of malicious software responsible for those unwanted pop-up ads you see when you’re online. Adware may turn your browsing experience into complete chaos, opening pages you didn’t intend to visit and showing ads non-stop. It may even sell your data to third parties and put your computer at risk.

The symptoms of an adware infection

Take a look at these symptoms to see if any are familiar:

• Several pop-ups appear when you click on links that advertise fake updates or software.
• More ads than you’re used to show up in search results and webpages — particularly banner ads or in-text advertisements in content.
• Your homepage redirects to another website.
• The link that you click in search results redirects to a different website.
• Mac performance seems much slower than usual.
• Unwanted toolbars appear in your browser.

If you’ve noticed any of the things happening when browsing the internet on your Mac, you’re almost certainly dealing with adware. In this case, you need to take action.

This is how adware actually looks like

This string of code is an example of an adware program on Mac. As you can see in the third line, it “downloads offers” for the user, which will look like intrusive banners and pop-ups to you.

Malware distribution methods

The ways malware gets into our Mac systems are quite a few, but the most trending channels that hackers use are: 

1. Phishing emails with links or file attachments containing malicious code
2. Infected applications or code from a compromised website
3. Drive-by downloads
4. Remote Desktop Protocol

How to remove adware from your browser

To remove adware on Macs, you need to change your browser preferences and dig into your system files to find and remove the culprit.

Let’s start with the browser. Use this adware removal guide for your browser:

1. Block ads with ClearVPN

We’ve created the perfect solution to help you block ads and protect you from irritating adware while browsing. MacPaw’s ClearVPN is the first effortless VPN for a personalized and secure online experience. The app’s “Block ads” shortcut will protect your internet session from ads with just one tap. Furthermore, you won’t have to worry about tracking from ad companies anymore. So enjoy your clear internet with ClearVPN!

2. Disable unrecognized extensions

Extensions are an important part of the browsing experience, but you shouldn’t have anything that you don’t recognize. For example, if the name of a pop-up isn’t familiar or you don’t know what it does, disable it.

Disabling extensions in Safari

1. In Safari, go to Settings > Extensions.
2. Select an unfamiliar extension from the list and click Uninstall.

Disabling extensions in Chrome

1. To remove adware from Chrome, go to chrome://extensions.
2. Find any unfamiliar extensions in the list and click Remove.

Disabling extensions in Firefox

1. Open Firefox and navigate to Menu > Add-ons and Themes.
   
2. Go to Extensions, select the ones you want to delete, and click Remove. 

3. Check homepage and search engine settings

Finally, make sure adware hasn’t changed your browser homepage or search engine settings.

This can be done in the General tab of the Safari browser settings, the On Startup and Default Browser sections of the Chrome browser settings, and the Home and Search settings sections in Firefox.

How to remove adware from your Mac device 

Tackling adware in your browser will help improve your browsing experience, but it doesn’t guarantee to set your Mac free from viruses completely.

Adware often finds its way into your system by bundling itself with legitimate Mac software, usually being installed at the same time. So the only way to get rid of it is to dig deep into your system files, find every bit of adware, and then wipe it out. You can do this manually or with an adware cleaner. 

Manual deletion simply works by sending files to the Trash. Often though, files placed in Trash can leave behind associated files that lie deep inside system files, meaning the pesky adware still exists on your Mac. The adware cleaners, on the other hand, are an automated option that scans your entire system and removes all threats in full.

What is Mac adware cleaner and how it works

Anyone can easily guess what Mac adware cleaner is and what it does. The name speaks for itself — it is a software application that removes unwanted advertisements and other kinds of malware secretly invading your Mac. Now, how does an adware removal tool actually work?

Being designed to spot and extract viruses and malware from your computer, Mac adware cleaners do not delete important files keeping your data safe and sound. To understand the mechanics of it, let’s take CleanMyMac X as an example.

Removing adware from Mac with CleanMyMac X

CleanMyMac X can detect and get rid of thousands of threats, making your Mac immune to adware, viruses, worms, spyware, and more. With its dedicated Malware Removal tool, all it takes is a couple of clicks to make your Mac as good as new.

Here’s how to remove adware from Mac:

1. Download CleanMyMac X for free and open it.
2. Click on Malware Removal from the sidebar menu.
3. Click Scan.
4. Click Remove.

That’s it! Scan for adware has never been easier and faster. Another useful feature of CleanMyMac X is real-time monitoring. It checks your Mac in background mode and notifies you if any adware app attempts to infiltrate your Mac.

Remove adware from your Mac manually

If you’d prefer to remove potential adware manually before opting for an app like CleanMyMac X, it’s easy to do, albeit a little more time-consuming.

1. From the Launchpad, open Activity Monitor.
2. Find the suspect applications (Genio and InstallMac are common culprits) and click the Force Quit button in the top left corner of the window.
3. Go back to your applications and drag the app to Trash.
4. Restart your Mac and empty the Trash.

Tip: If your Chrome, Firefox, or Safari browser is infected with adware, uninstall it and download it again. 

How to avoid being infected by adware

• Use ClearVPN’s handy shortcut to block all ads.
• Google the original developer and download the app from that source.
• Avoid installing apps in a bundle (an offer that’s included with the main app).
• Read some independent software reviews beforehand. 
• Get a Mac antivirus that works in real time.
• Be extremely suspicious of email attachments.
• Don’t download anything from banners; google it yourself.

Never engage with adware

Adware seeks to steal your money and your personal details and does so by damaging system performance. If you’re worried that your Mac could be infected, err on the side of caution and follow the instructions in this post to lock down your browser and delete files. If you suspect that adware has installed itself on your system, get our app, CleanMyMac X, to ensure you get rid of it for good. And regular scans are a healthy practice.

CleanMyMac X is recommended by MacStories and MacWorld Magazine as a top Mac utility. Download it today to keep your Mac safe from harmful adware.