A few years ago, there was a noticeable increase in adware and malware that Macs could get. Suddenly, browsers on Mac laptops and desktops were inundated with adware. Safari, the native macOS web browser, and others, such as Firefox and Chrome, were not immune from these annoying viruses and irritating pop-up adverts. Internet Explorer is even more vulnerable to adware and other viruses, although very few use that browser on a Mac.
Shopper Helper Pro is part of the adware family of viruses. Claiming to be a way to save shoppers money by offering deals and generating money-saving coupons, this adware infects a web browser and injects annoying pop-ups and banners into the web browsing experience.
What is Shopper Helper Pro and how to remove it?
Similar to other adware viruses such as this, Shopper Helper Pro is bundled with other software packages and apps. So, when someone downloads something (usually from a file-sharing or torrent website), adware is often included. Adware is often found in installers from Cnet, Softonic, and other third-party applications. Once you accept the terms and conditions, they include the permissions for Shopper Helper Pro to take over your browser.
Instead of saving you money online, Shopper Helper Pro and other adware programs are designed to show you:
- Annoying adverts that appear everywhere;
- Text within web pages turned into links (almost any time you’ve unexpectedly seen the double-underlined text, it could be a sign of an adware infection), which shows you pop-ups or takes you to websites controlled by cyber gangs;
- Software recommendations. Watch out; they’re almost certainly harmful to your Mac and not the real deal;
- Unexpected banner adverts and redirects whenever you’ve filed in an online form or even your password when logging into a website you trust.
All of this is designed to generate the creators of this adware pay-per-click advertising revenue while causing as much annoyance as possible for anyone who’s got this or a similar program infecting one or more web browsers.
Beyond the immediate annoyance, there is a risk that adware could cause more serious problems, including letting malware and ransomware viruses in that can take over a Mac and steal sensitive data. In some cases, the creators of this software will ask for money to return your data, although there is a high risk that they will have got hold of passwords and other information regardless of what you pay. Removing adware and restoring your browser to working order is the only way to make sure you’re safe from this threat.
How to remove Shopper Helper Pro?
There are two ways you can remove Shopper Helper Pro; manually or with some assistance from a dedicated app, such as CleanMyMac X.
To remove adware manually, start with the web browsers:
- Whether you use Safari, Firefox, or Chrome, the changes you need to make are roughly similar. In all of them, go to Settings and find Add-ons or Extensions.
- Within that area of settings, you should see that Shopper Helper Pro is an extension you didn’t expressly aim to download.
- Remove it within settings and then check your Applications folder for the following:
/Applications/ShopperHelperPro - It is also worth checking Library files for any trace of the application. It may not always be an obvious addition, but with a bit of searching, the programs that make it work should become visible.
Take care when removing files not to remove something that is a vital part of your macOS.
Another way to remove adware is with a tool designed to clean malware and other threats.
Safeguard your Mac with CleanMyMac X
CleanMyMac X is an all-in-one application for complete Mac care. It includes different tools to remove junk files, uninstall unneeded applications, speed up your system, and keep your data safe. It’s also an invaluable helper when fighting adware, spyware, viruses, and thousands of various malware threats.
To clear Shopper Helper Pro out of your system this way, you need to do the following:
- Download CleanMyMac X (free trial available).
- Open the app.
- Click on Malware Removal on the left.
- Click Scan.
- Click Remove.
After that, your Mac will be operating at peak performance again. As good as new, without unwanted adverts, pop-ups, and other viruses.
