There has been steady growth in production of rogue tool for Mac system in recent years. Probably, cyber criminals saw the potentials of generating swindled funds from Macintosh owners now that they recognizes user’s weakness and exploited it to penetrate the machine. The recent malware to take advantage of user’s fondness on freeware is Smart Mac Booster. Nothing new about this counterfeit program and it is obvious from the graphical user interface (GUI) how it resembles to My Mac Speedup, Super Mac Cleaner, and some other fictitious system optimizer from PCVARK group.
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Numbers speak out that a great portion of Mac users have encountered rogue software due to careless downloading of free software particularly those that are supplied by questionable websites. Smart Mac Booster is able to infiltrate the computer in the same manner that most victims do not recall how it manages to sneak-in without giving any authority. Behind their knowledge, they play vital role or partially gave the potentially unwanted program (PUP) a mandate to mount unnecessary apps while installing free software. Rogue software creators often misuse ‘Express’ installation to freely load Smart Mac Booster behind the default setup proceedings. And because of this abuse, computer security professionals advises to abstain from this traditional approach and instead, run the setup using ‘Custom’ mode to inspect what the package is comprise of. As suggested, opt-out in the installation of surplus components including suspicious program like Smart Mac Booster.
Fake warning and alerts starts to inundate the screen after full installation of the bogus security and optimization tool. Moreover, Mac users may experience grave intimidation via Smart Mac Booster’s scan where result contains nothing but falsified detection of system blunders. The rogue program remains hastening the repair and suggests proceeding immediately via paid edition of Smart Mac Booster. This trick scheme goes on a loop as long as the culprit software is inside the system. In order to isolate the issue, it is very well suggested to get rid of Smart Mac Booster as it is the verified origin of all the abnormality on the computer.
Procedures to Remove Smart Mac Booster
- Step 4: Scan for Mac Viruses with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool. Click on the “Download” button to proceed to SpyHunter’s download page.
- HouseCall for Mac. As threats become harder to detect and harder to clean, your Mac needs protection more than ever before. You can count on HouseCall to keep malicious files.
This section contains complete instructions to assist you in removing potentially unwanted program from Mac system.
Procedures published on this page are written in method that can be easily understand and execute by Mac users.
Step 1 : Quick Fix - Scan the System with Combo Cleaner
These apps check for ransomware and other types of malware on your Mac. Run an anti-malware scan. Open Bitdefender (or another app), click Update Now to get the latest definition files, and then click Scan Entire System. Follow the on-screen instructions to remove the ransomware (if found). Use Malwarebytes for Mac. There are now two versions of Malwarebytes for Mac, a free version and a premium version. The standard scanner that checks for malware on your system and removes it is free. Anyone can manually initiate a scan and remove malware with Malwarebytes for Mac without spending a penny.
Combo Cleaner is a trusted Mac utility application with complete antivirus and optimization features. It is useful in dealing with adware and malware. Moreover, it can get rid of unwanted program like Smart Mac Booster. You may need to purchase full version if you require to maximize its premium features.
1. Download the tool from the following page:
2. Double-click the downloaded file and proceed with the installation.
3. In the opened window, drag and drop the Combo Cleaner icon onto your Applications folder icon.
4. Open your Launchpad and click on the Combo Cleaner icon.
5. Wait until antivirus downloads it's latest virus definition updates and click on 'Start Combo Scan' to start removing Smart Mac Booster.
6. Free features of Combo Cleaner include Disk Cleaner, Big Files finder, Duplicate files finder, and Uninstaller. To use antivirus and privacy scanner, users have to upgrade to a premium version.
Proceed with the rest of the removal steps if you are comfortable in manually removing malicious objects associated with the threat.
Step 2 : Quit Smart Mac Booster Process
Before proceeding with the steps below, please close Smart Mac Booster window if in case it is open.
1. Go to Launchpad, Utilities folder, open Activity Monitor.
2. Choose All Processes from the upper right corner of the window.
3. Under Process Name column, look for Smart Mac Booster. Click the name to select the malicious process.
4. Next, click the Quit Process button located in the upper left corner of the window.
5. When prompted, click on Force Quit.
6. You may now delete or remove files that belongs to Smart Mac Booster. Proceed to the next steps.
Step 3 : Delete Smart Mac Booster Login Items
Some malware also installs login item into compromised account under System Preferences. This object automatically runs Smart Mac Booster during user log in.
1. Go to Apple menu and choose System Preferences. Food brand food processor user manual.
2. Select Users & Groups from the preferences window.
3. You may need to Unlock this area in order to make changes. Click on the Lock icon on lower left corner of the window.
4. Next, select user account that runs Smart Mac Booster.
5. Click on Login Items tab.
6. Select Smart Mac Booster from listed entries and click on the minus [-] button and confirm your actions. Please see image below for reference.
Step 4 : Delete Malicious Files that have installed Smart Mac Booster
1. Select and copy the string below to your Clipboard by pressing Command + C on your keyboard.
~/Library/LaunchAgents
2. Go to your Finder. From the menu bar please select Go > Go to Folder.
3. Press Command + V on your keyboard to paste the copied string. Press Return to go to the said folder.
4. You will now see a folder named LaunchAgents. Take note of the following files inside the folder:
- smbhlpr.app
- smb.help
- SmartMacBooster.agent
If you cannot find the specified file, please look for any unfamiliar or suspicious entries. It may be the one causing Smart Mac Booster to be present on your Mac. Arranging all items to see the most latest ones may also help you identify recently installed unfamiliar files. Please press Option + Command + 4 on your keyboard to arrange the application list in chronological order.
5. Drag all suspicious files that you may find to Trash.
6. Repeat Step 2, numbers 1-5 procedures on the following folder (without ~):
/Library/LaunchAgents
7. Please restart the computer.
8. Open another folder using the same method as above. Copy and Paste the following string to easily locate the folder.
~/Library/Application Support
9. Look for suspicious objects or folders with the following names and drag them to the Trash.
- SMB
- SmartMacBooster
- Smbhlpr
10. Repeat procedures 8 and 9 on the following folders if necessary.
~/Library/Caches Bose wireless headphones software update.
11. Go to your Finder and open the Applications Folder. Look for subfolders Diary for mac free download. with names similar above and drag them to Trash.
12. Lastly, please Empty your Mac's Trash bin.
Step 5 : Run another Scan using MBAM Tool for Mac
How Do I Scan Mac For Malware
1. Download Malwarebytes Anti-malware for Mac from this link:
2. Run Malwarebytes Anti-malware for Mac. It will check for updates and download if most recent version is available. This is necessary in finding recent malware threats including Smart Mac Booster.
3. If it prompts to close all running web browser, please do so. Thus, we advise you to PRINT this guide for your reference before going offline.
4. Once it opens the user interface, please click on Scan button to start scanning your Mac computer.
5. After the scan, Malwarebytes Anti-malware for Mac will display a list of identified threats, Smart Mac Booster is surely part of it. Be sure to select all items in the list. Then, click Remove button to clean the computer.
6. You may now restart the computer.
There is a popular opinion that Mac systems are inherently more secure than Windows. In fact, most Mac users don’t even bother to use an antivirus or anti-malware software. Objectively speaking, that opinion may or may not be true. Mainly because that depends on a variety of factors like the number of Mac users, how they use their system, how computer literate they are, etc. However, over the past few years, the threats to Mac users have been increasing, thanks to quickly spearing malware, ransomware, and adware.
Read: Best Malware Removal Tools For Windows
Avoid MacKeeper
I bet you might have seen ads on websites (mostly porn sites), telling you to clean your Mac with MacKeeper. And while it’s legitimate software (as in not a virus), but it’s nonetheless useless and a waste of resources. Also, uninstalling MacKeeper isn’t easy as well. So, no matter what you do, avoid MacKeeper at any cost.
Instead, it is essential that you use a good anti-malware software so that not only you can be safe but also avoid spreading malware, ransomware, and viruses to other users. Here are some of the best anti-malware software for mac.
Read: How I Removed Malware From my WordPress Site
Best Anti Malware for Mac
1. Malwarebytes
When it comes to dealing with malware and other nasty stuff like rootkits, there is no other software that more popular than Malwarebytes. Other than it being able to remove malware from Mac effectively, the best thing about Malwarebytes is that it plays nice with your other antivirus software if you’ve already installed any. In fact, most users including me use Malwarebytes as a backup and perform weekly scans just to make sure that the system hasn’t been infected or has infected files.
To scan your system all you have to do is install the application, launch it and hit the scan button. As soon as you hit the button, it can do a quick scan for malware, PUPs (potentially unwanted programs), rootkits, adware, spyware, virus, etc., both in your system memory and hard disk. If it finds any threats, it will automatically quarantine those threats.
For in-depth scanning, select the custom scan option. Do keep in mind that the custom scan can take a couple of hours depending on the amount of data you have on your hard disk.
Download Malwarebytes (free, $40 for pro version)
2. Systweak Anti-Malware
Systweak Anti-Malware is a dedicated malware scanning and removal software for MacOS. Just like Malwarebytes, Systweak Anti-Malware scans for malware, rootkits, viruses, and adware in your hard disk and system memory. Once it finds a threat, it automatically quarantines it. Intuit quickbooks for small business. If you know that Systweak Anti-Malware quarantined a false positive, you can restore the file or app with just a single click. For regular, deep, or custom scans, you can create custom schedules.
If you know a file or folder to be safe, you can exclude them from scanning avoiding any possible false positives by adding them to the exclude list. Of course, Systweak Anti-Malware always runs in the background and protects your Mac system from malware and PUPs in real-time. Other features of the software include start-up scan, memory scan, and beginner friendly user interface.
So, if you unsatisfied or looking for a good alternative for Malwarebytes you should try Systweak Anti-Malware.
Download Systweak Anti-Malware ($40)
3. Bitdefender
Bitdefender is another popular software to protect your mac from various threats like malware, virus, trojans, adware, spyware, unwanted software, and much more. The best thing about Bitdefender is that apart from protecting you from regular threats, it can actively scan in multiple layers and protect your system from ransomware. Other than that, Bitdefender can also keep an eye on cross-platform threats so that you don’t unintentionally spread malware, virus, or other infected files to your friends, colleagues or family.
Since Bitdefender always runs in the background, it can block any and all threats in real-time. Of course, Bitdefender also scans your system occasionally. If needed, you can create custom schedules with various configurations and scan settings. Bitdefender also has other features like backup protection, safe files, parental controls, secure shopping protection, etc.
Simply put, if you need a full-fledged software that can do much more than blocking and removing malware then give Bitdefender a try.
Download Bitdefender ($50 – $70 according to the version you choose)
4. Avast
Just like Bitdefender, Avast is not just an anti-malware software, it is a anti-virus software that can scan and protect your system from a wide range of threats. In fact, if you’ve ever searched for a anti-virus software, you should have definitely heard about Avast.
Using Avast you can regularly scan your system and create your own schedules to better protect your system. Along with anti-malware security, Avast can also protect your system from infected emails, unprotect WiFi network, and ransomware. Other features of the software include real-time protection, detailed security reports, browser protection, ability to shield you from dangerous downloads and PUPs, etc.
https://iddkkx.weebly.com/blog/how-to-format-external-hard-drive-for-mac. As good as the software is, while using Avast, you should be ready for a little bit of performance dip, at least, that is my experience while using Avast. Other than that, Avast is a pretty good and reputed software to protect Mac system from online and offline threats.
Download Avast (free, $70 for pro version)
5. AVG
AVG is yet another popular software that can protect you from malware, viruses, trojans, adware, and other threats. The good thing about AVG is that you can scan your system for threats related to Mac, Windows, and Android so that you don’t spread viruses or malware to other systems. Also, thanks to the simple and minimal design, using AVG to scan or create scanning schedules is pretty easy and straightforward. Moreover, unlike Avast, AVG always runs in the background and provides real-time protection for free.
As good as it is, when you try to download AVG from the official site, you will be redirected to the CNET website. So, be careful while installing it on your system as CNET has a habit of bundling adware and other toolbars along with the software you are trying to install.
If you are looking for all-around protection with real-time threat analysis and blocking then you should go with AVG.
Download AVG (free)
6. Sophos Home
Scan Macbook For Malware
Another popular opinion amongst Mac users which is more than just an Anti-Malware. Sophos Home comes with a bunch of extra features including a live chat support.
Sophos offers features like Anti-virus and ransomware security along with anti-malware protection. The programme also lets you remotely manage your devices. Yes ‘Device(s)’, Sophos home can be used in up to 10 devices for the paid version and 3 devices for the free version. Doesn’t end here, Sophos Home also lets you put on parental controls so that none of your devices reach the unprotected side of Web.
Download Sophos Home (30 day trial, $27 yearly for premium)
Wrapping Up: Best Anti Malware for Mac
If you are looking for a dedicated anti-malware software that plays well with other antivirus and firewall software then go with Malwarebytes. As a premium option, you can also try Systweak Anti-Malware. If you are looking for a full-fledged anti-virus software that can extend the protection to viruses, adware, ransomware, and other threats then go with AVG as it provides real-time protection for free. You can also try Bitdefender.
In general, if you know what you are doing on the Internet and don’t download the cracked software or porn, you’ll probably don’t need an anti-virus and/or anti-malware software. That said, if you don’t consider yourself tech savvy or if you are buying a computer for your parents, it’s a good idea to have an anti-malware installed.
How To Scan My Mac For Malware
That’s for now. If you think I missed any of your favorite anti-malware software then command below and share it with me. It will also help other Mac users.
Scan Computer For Virus Mac
Read: Top 10 Free Portable Anti-Malware Software to Have on Your Pen Drive