How to remove SniperSpy Mac Trojan

Easy tips to delete SniperSpy Mac Trojan

SniperSpy Mac Trojan is a rogue program targeting Mac operating systems. It runs silently and carries out a serious of malicious activities. It mainly aims to steal data. Also, it is capable in mining cryptocurrenc, such as Bitcoin, ZCash or Monero. The Trojan can even spy on users’ activities and swipe out their data from the infected system. Read this article fully to understand how to perform its removal from system.

SniperSpy Mac Trojan – what does it do?

Downloading/installing fake programs, installers, patch, cracks or any other software may lead you to SniperSpy Mac Trojan infection. When the virus runs on system, it might takes advantage of the system resources by starting various crpytomining tasks. These activities could be attached to crypto currency mining pool, which is a network of computer systems. All these powers are integrated to mine cryptocurrency.

Unfortunately, this mining process will have huge impact over the system. This will overuse the CPU and GPU causing the Mac running slower or stutter. The main aim of the crooks with that is to produce Bitcoins while using the resources of the Mac. Not just that, the SniperSpy Mac Trojan malware could additionally have Trojan element. It can monitor the victims move as well as the activities like:

• Log the keystrokes,
• Steal data,
• Acquire data from Mac,
• Download other viruses,
• Update the virus file,
• Take screenshots,
• Control camera, microphone and sound of the system and so on.

On considering the seriousness of all such activities by SniperSpy Mac Trojan, its removal is strongly recommended to you. This should be done using some powerful antivirus tool. Manually it will be difficult to you to find the files belonging to the virus spread on different locations and delete them one by one. Antivirus tool will help you in finding them and then you can easily perform their removal with a single mouse click.

How did SniperSpy Mac Trojan enter my system?

The malware can be distributed through untrustworthy downloading channels like p2p networks, free file hosting sites and third party downloaders/ installers. These channels disguise the malware as some legit files, software. Cracking tools and fake updaters can cause the malware download with the same malware-proliferating content. Cracking tools are supposed to activate licensed software for free and fake updaters allegedly claim to provide software update. When used, they cause system infection instead.

Malware can be downloaded through spam email campaigns. The campaigns refer large scale operations during which thousands of spam emails are sent. The letters are presented as are coming from legit companies, organizations and institutions. There is some file or link for such files attached to them. These files are usually in the formats include malicious Microsoft Office documents, PDFs, Archives, JavaScript, Executables and so on. When executed, run or otherwise clicked -the malware download/ installation process is triggered.

How to prevent malware intrusion?

Irrelevant and suspicious emails should never be clicked- especially the provided attachments in them. Use only official websites and direct links for any software download and avoid all aforementioned untrustworthy channels used to distribute malware. Similarly, all installed apps should have to be updated/ activated using the tools/ functions from official software developers. For adequate protection, have a reputable antivirus tool installed and updated. Also, use this tool for regular system scans and to remove any detected threats and issues.

Remove Files and Folders Related to SniperSpy Mac Trojan

Open the “Menu” bar and click the “Finder” icon. Select “Go” and click on “Go to Folder…”

Step 1: Search the suspicious and doubtful malware generated files in /Library/LaunchAgents folder

Type /Library/LaunchAgents in the “Go to Folder” option

In the “Launch Agent” folder, search for all the files that you have recently downloaded and move them to “Trash”. Few of the examples of files created by browser-hijacker or adware are as follow, “myppes.download.plist”, “mykotlerino.Itvbit.plist”, installmac.AppRemoval.plist”, and “kuklorest.update.plist” and so on.

Step 2: Detect and remove the files generated by the adware in “/Library/Application” Support folder

In the “Go to Folder..bar”, type “/Library/Application Support”

Search for any suspicious newly added folders in “Application Support” folder. If you detect any one of these like “NicePlayer” or “MPlayerX” then send them to “Trash” folder.

Step 3: Look for the files generated by malware in /Library/LaunchAgent Folder:

Go to Folder bar and type /Library/LaunchAgents

You are in the “LaunchAgents” folder. Here, you have to search for all the newly added files and move them to “Trash” if you find them suspicious. Some of the examples of suspicious files generated by malware are “myppes.download.plist”, “installmac.AppRemoved.plist”, “kuklorest.update.plist”, “mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist” and so on.

Step4: Go to /Library/LaunchDaemons Folder and search for the files created by malware

Type /Library/LaunchDaemons in the “Go To Folder” option

In the newly opened “LaunchDaemons” folder, search for any recently added suspicious files and move them to “Trash”. Examples of some of the suspicious files are “com.kuklorest.net-preferences.plist”, “com.avickUpd.plist”, “com.myppes.net-preference.plist”, “com.aoudad.net-preferences.plist” and so on.

Step 5: Use Combo Cleaner Anti-Malware and Scan your Mac PC

The malware infections could be removed from the Mac PC if you execute all the steps mentioned above in the correct way. However, it is always advised to be sure that your PC is not infected. It is suggested to scan the work-station with “Combo Cleaner Anti-virus”.

Once the file gets downloaded, double click on combocleaner.dmg installer in the newly opened window. Next is to open the “Launchpad” and press on “Combo Cleaner” icon. It is advised to wait until “Combo Cleaner” updates the latest definition for malware detection. Click on “Start Combo Scan” button.

A depth scan of your Mac PC will be executed in order to detect malware. If the Anti-virus scan report says “no threat found” then you can continue with guide further. On the other hand, it is recommended to delete the detected malware infection before continuing.

Now the files and folders created by the adware is removed, you have to remove the rogue extensions from the browsers.

Remove SniperSpy Mac Trojan from Internet Browsers

Delete Doubtful and Malicious Extension from Safari

Go to “Menu Bar” and open “Safari” browser. Select “Safari” and then “Preferences”

In the opened “preferences” window, select “Extensions” that you have recently installed. All such extensions should be detected and click the “Uninstall” button next to it. If you are doubtful then you can remove all the extensions from “Safari” browser as none of them are important for smooth functionality of the browser.

In case if you continue facing unwanted webpage redirections or aggressive advertisements bombarding, you can reset the “Safari” browser.

“Reset Safari”

Open the Safari menu and choose “preferences…” from the drop-down menu.

Go to the “Extension” tab and set the extension slider to “Off” position. This disables all the installed extensions in the Safari browser

Next step is to check the homepage. Go to “Preferences…” option and choose “General” tab. Change the homepage to your preferred URL.

Also check the default search-engine provider settings. Go to “Preferences…” window and select the “Search” tab and select the search-engine provider that you want such as “Google”.

Next is to clear the Safari browser Cache- Go to “Preferences…” window and select “Advanced” tab and click on “Show develop menu in the menu bar.“

Go to “Develop” menu and select “Empty Caches”.

Remove website data and browsing history. Go to “Safari” menu and select “Clear History and Website Data”. Choose “all history” and then click on “Clear History”.

Remove Unwanted and Malicious Plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox

Delete SniperSpy Mac Trojan add-ons from Mozilla Firefox

Open the Firefox Mozilla browser. Click on the “Open Menu” present in the top right corner of the screen. From the newly opened menu, choose “Add-ons”.

Go to “Extension” option and detect all the latest installed add-ons. Select each of the suspicious add-ons and click on “Remove” button next to them.

In case if you want to “reset” the Mozilla Firefox browser then follow the steps that has been mentioned below.

Reset Mozilla Firefox Settings

Open the Firefox Mozilla browser and click on “Firefox” button situated at the top left corner of the screen.

In the new menu, go to “Help” sub-menu and choose “Troubleshooting Information”

In the “Troubleshooting Information” page, click on “Reset Firefox” button.

Confirm that you want to reset the Mozilla Firefox settings to default by pressing on “Reset Firefox” option

The browser will get restarted and the settings changes to factory default

Delete Unwanted and Malicious Extensions from Google Chrome

Open the chrome browser and click on “Chrome menu”. From the drop down option, choose “More Tools” and then “Extensions”.

In the “Extensions” option, search for all the recently installed add-ons and extensions. Select them and choose “Trash” button. Any third-party extension is not important for the smooth functionality of the browser.

Reset Google Chrome Settings

Open the browser and click on three line bar at the top right side corner of the window.

Go to the bottom of the newly opened window and select “Show advanced settings”.

In the newly opened window, scroll down to the bottom and choose “Reset browser settings”

Click on the “Reset” button on the opened “Reset browser settings” window

Restart the browser and the changes you get will be applied

The above mentioned manual process should be executed as it is mentioned. It is a cumbersome process and requires a lot of technical expertise. And hence it is advised for technical experts only. To be sure that your PC is free from malware, it is better that you scan the work-station with a powerful anti-malware tool. The automatic malware removal application is preferred because it doesn’t requires any additional technical skills and expertise.

Download the application and execute it on the PC to begin the depth scanning. Once the scanning gets completed, it shows the list of all the files related to SniperSpy Mac Trojan. You can select such harmful files and folders and remove them immediately.