Like it or not, as Macs become even more popular, they’re also becoming a more attractive target for hackers and scammers. And they’re doing so at an alarming rate. So, as new malware and adware are being created, there’s quite a bit Mac users should be aware of. Well, at least, if they want to try to protect their computers from adware like Bloom virus.

In this article, I will answer the question you are most probably asking yourself if you’ve found this piece, “Is Bloom.exe a virus?” I will also outline what you can do if it ends up on your Mac and explain how you can prevent infecting your computer with adware in the future. So, keep reading!

What is Bloom.exe virus?

Bloom software virus is a piece of malicious software that’s designed to show you ads. Seriously. That’s really all it’s created to do. Trust me when I say that Bloom virus is not unique in this. In fact, it’s part of a whole subgenre of malware called adware.

So, why would anyone go through all the trouble of creating malware to infect computers just to show ads to users? Well, if you’re someone that gets paid based on how many page clicks you get, then that would prove to be pretty good motivation.

You’ll know you have Bloom virus typically because the ads you’ll see on websites and the invasive pop-ups you get will all be marked with “Ads by Bloom.”

How can a Mac get infected with Bloom virus?

Adware like Bloom technologies virus spreads across the internet in two ways: by software bundling or misleading ads.

Software bundling is when it’s hidden in the installation file of another app. These apps are typically free apps or pirated versions of apps. A scammer will bury the malware underneath everything else that needs to be installed with the program you intended to download. That’s one of the reasons it’s the best practice to install apps from trusted sources only.

If you do have to install an app from somewhere that seems a little sketchy, just adjust the install options. So, as you’re going through the setup wizard, make sure you click the Advanced Install or Customize Install button. This will show you any plugin, codec, or basically any additional software that’s being copied over to your computer. If you see anything that says “Bloom” or “Ads by Bloom,” cancel the install and don’t continue.

The other common way for Bloom virus to spread to your Mac is through misleading ads. You might get a pop-up that’s designed to look like a computer notification. That way, what you see feels more legit. Nevertheless, do not fall for it — these ads can execute scripts that will infect your Mac with the virus. So, it’s just another tactic to trick you into putting this software on your computer.

How can it harm my Mac?

The good news is Bloom virus is more annoying than vicious. Unlike other viruses, it is not going to damage your system seriously or steal your data. But you’re mostly going to see pop-up ads. My recommendation for you is to be cautious — this virus may show you websites and applications developed by scammers, and they may want to trick you into installing intrusive software and exposing your personal and private information.

Also, like any good malware, Bloom application virus does track your browsing activity. The problem is that no one is 100% sure what the malicious code does with that information.

How to remove Bloom virus from an infected Mac manually

If you already have Bloom virus on your Mac, then don’t worry. It’s still relatively easy to remove it from your hard drive. Although it is a bit of a pain only because you have to go through the browsers you have installed it to and remove the extension manually. But, trust me, you can do it. I mean, with these instructions, almost anybody could remove the adware. And, when I say anybody, I absolutely mean almost everybody can do it.

The process is a little bit time-consuming, though. Just follow the instructions below, depending on which browsers you have to make it less painful. Remember that you may have to take these steps for all of the browsers you have on your Mac.

Safari

This is how to get rid of Bloom virus in Safari:

1. Open Safari.
2. Click Safari > Preferences > Extensions.
3. Select the suspicious extension > Uninstall.
4. Then, quit Safari and restart it.

Chrome

To remove a Chrome extension, open it and follow these steps:

1. Click Chrome > Preferences > Extensions.
2. Look for the devious extension and click Remove.
3. Restart Chrome.

Firefox

If you need to uninstall an extension in Firefox, these are the instructions for that process:

1. Open Firefox.
2. Click the button with the three lines > Add-ons and themes > Extensions.
3. Scroll down to the troublesome extension.
4. Click … > Remove.
5. Then, quit Firefox and restart it.

How to prevent infecting a Mac with adware

The best way to avoid adware is to check what you click. As I said, you may also want to download applications and software from verified channels only and be cautious during the installation process.

After you get rid of any suspicious extensions, it’s always a good idea to scan your Mac for any malware or adware that’s lingering in the background of your computer.

Actually, starting a regular routine of scanning your Mac once a week is a great way to spot malware before it has a chance to really take hold of your hard drive.

Lucky for you, there’s a handy app called CleanMyMac X. It’s an app that’s been notarized by Apple and made to help optimize your computer’s speed and protect your Mac. One of the ways it does that is by scanning your computer for all types of Mac malware.

The app is so easy to use. All you have to do is follow these steps:

1. Open CleanMyMac X (download it for free here).
2. Click Malware Removal in the sidebar.
3. Then, hit the Scan button.

It will only take a few minutes for CleanMyMac X to scan your entire computer. But once it’s done, it will show you all it found. Then, you’ll just hit the Remove button, and it will be gone from your life forever.

Adware like Bloom virus can be very annoying and make your computer cumbersome to use. Who knows, you might already be at that point — so frustrated with your Mac that you can’t get to the websites you’re trying to access because there are so many pop-up ads.

But, now, you don’t have to just put up with the ads. After reading this article, you have real, tangible ways to fix the root of the problem — not just blocking the pop-ups but also removing the malicious code from your Mac.