ActiveSource Mac virus (Free Guide)

What is ActiveSource Mac virus?

ActiveSource is a malicious Mac application that can compromise your security

ActiveSource is a type of Mac malware that you might have accidentally installed, usually when you're deceived by a fake Flash Player update or when you download illegal software from risky websites. If your Mac is infected with this virus, you'll likely encounter more malicious ads, redirects, sponsored links, and other intrusive content while browsing.

Removing ActiveSource can be quite challenging because it installs various harmful files on your system. This malware, which is part of the Adload family, is recognized by its unique icon featuring a magnifying glass with a colored background (commonly blue, teal, green, or gray). The virus is known to hijack browsers, steal user data, and evade Mac's built-in defenses. If you think your Mac is infected, it's crucial to follow detailed instructions to remove the malware effectively.

How does the ActiveSource virus spread?

Adload variants are highly effective, primarily due to their distribution methods. One of the main ways to get infected with the ActiveSource virus (or any other variant) is through fake Flash Player updates or pirated software installers.

When you see an online message claiming your system needs a Flash Player update, it's always fake, and you should avoid interacting with it. Flash has been discontinued and is no longer supported, as the technology behind it is outdated, with alternatives like HTML5 available for years.

Another common way to install malware is through illegal software. Cybercriminals often use torrents and similar methods to distribute dangerous malware, including ransomware. To protect your system, it's best to avoid such installers entirely.

What is the ActiveSource virus capable of?

ActiveSource, like other variants from the Adload family, poses a significant malware threat capable of causing extensive damage to Mac systems. Once it infiltrates, the malware quickly changes the user's browser settings, altering the homepage and default search engine. This is mainly done to generate revenue through ads and may redirect search queries through unexpected channels, leading to potentially harmful search results.

Beyond the annoying browser modifications, the malware can severely impact user privacy and security. By installing itself with escalated permissions, it uses AppleScript to bypass Mac defenses such as XProtect.

With these elevated permissions, the malware can monitor a user's online activities, collecting sensitive information like passwords, account details, and credit card numbers. This exposes users to serious privacy risks, making it essential to avoid entering any sensitive information while the system is compromised.

ActiveSource and other Adload malware often promote malicious websites, which may contain additional viruses or promote fake service subscriptions. Interacting with these links can increase the risk and potentially cause further damage to the user's system. Therefore, it is crucial to avoid clicking on any advertised links while an infection is present.

Removal instructions

Removing ActiveSource presents a unique challenge due to its operation with elevated system permissions. This malware not only deposits multiple files on the system but also creates new user profiles and login items. Using AppleScript, it effectively evades deletion by Mac's native security features, persisting even after the primary application or browser extension is removed.

Given these complexities, it is recommended to use specialized security software like SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes for automated removal of the infection. Regardless of the removal method, clearing your web browser's cache is advisable to prevent future issues.

If you decide to tackle the removal manually, be aware that background processes related to the malware could obstruct your efforts. To address this, use the Activity Monitor to identify and terminate these processes before proceeding.

Remove the main app components

• Open Applications folder
• Select Utilities
• Double-click Activity Monitor
• Here, look for suspicious processes related to adware and use the Force Quit command to shut them down
• Go back to the Applications folder
• Find the virus name in the list and move it to Trash.

The PLIST files are small config files, also known as “Properly list.” They hold various user settings and hold information about certain applications.

• Select Go > Go to Folder.
• Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
• In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
• Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and delete all the related .plist files.

Upon infiltration, the virus establishes new user profiles and login items, securing its persistent presence on your system. This is probably the reason you find it difficult to uninstall the application or browser extension.

• Go to Preferences and select Accounts
• Click Login items and delete everything suspicious
• Next, pick System Preferences > Users & Groups
• Find Profiles and remove unwanted profiles from the list.

Take care of your browsers

ActiveSource requires access to multiple areas of the operating system to function, but the browser is the most critical since ads are primarily delivered to users through it.

First, try uninstalling the primary browser extension using the same procedure as for conventional extensions. Depending on various circumstances, this step may or may not be effective (the app might simply be grayed out). To ensure all remnants are properly removed, delete web browser cookies, caches, and other site data.

If none of these methods work and you are still stuck with the browser extension, resetting your browser will remove everything on it. As a last resort, you might consider completely reinstalling the browser.

Safari

1. Click Safari > Preferences…
2. In the new window, pick Extensions.
3. Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.

Google Chrome

1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.

If you could not uninstall the extension regularly, you could reset your browser instead. Use the following:

Safari

1. Click Safari > Preferences…
2. Go to the Advanced tab.
3. Tick the Show Develop menu in the menu bar.
4. From the menu bar, click Develop, and then select Empty Caches.

Google Chrome

1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
5. Confirm with Reset settings.

Finally, you should clear browser caches by removing cookies and other trackers. You can use an automatic solution like the FortectIntego maintenance utility for this task, although it can also be done manually:

Safari

1. Click Safari > Clear History…
2. From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
3. Confirm with Clear History.

Google Chrome

1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
4. Click Clear data.