ArchiveTask mac virus (Free Guide)

What is ArchiveTask mac virus?

ArchiveTask is a virus targeting mac machines with adware and hijacking capabilities

Adload mac viruses are hardly noticeable in the system

ArchiveTask is a virus that is capable of both hijacking and adware.^[1] It is part of the Adload malware family, which means it was designed specifically for Mac users. It has the potential to change browser settings such as the homepage, new tab address, and search engine.

Users who are affected may also notice an increase in commercial content such as pop-ups, banners, and redirects. We previously discussed several other Adload viruses, including PromotePower, TrueWander, and DeskActivity. They are far more dangerous than adware designed to infect Windows computers.

Many Mac users believe that they cannot be infected, but this has not been the case for a long time. PUP (potentially unwanted program)^[2] and malware developers have been devising new methods to circumvent Apple's native security system. Adload developers only needed to remove a single strand of code to become undetectable.

Adware in disguise

The malicious program can be found in the “Applications” folder. Adload viruses typically have the same icon – a magnifying glass within a teal, green, or grey background. Because the virus is so sneaky, most people are unaware of the infection until it begins performing unwanted tasks.

ArchiveTask is dangerous because it can steal the administrator password and install other PUPs and malware without the users' knowledge. So, while this may appear to be a minor adware infection at first glance, it can lead to much more serious issues.

Distribution methods

Fake Flash Player updates or installations are one of the most common causes of Adload infections. Threat actors use social engineering techniques^[3] to trick people into believing their Flash Player is out of date. They use misleading messages to convince people that if they do not install the latest version, they will be unable to access content.

Many people are still unaware that Flash Player will be phased out in 2020 and will be replaced by HTML5. If you come across a website that tells you otherwise, leave immediately. You should also be aware that installing freeware increases the likelihood of viruses being included as bundled software.

You should also be aware of the dangers of torrent websites and peer-to-peer file-sharing platforms. Because they are unregulated, they are ideal breeding grounds for malware. You never know if the program you want to install is safe or if it contains a Trojan or another type of malware.

When installing new programs, we recommend that you only use official channels. The app store has a plethora of free applications to choose from. Even if it is not the same, you can protect your operating system and privacy by downloading files from reputable sources.

Specific steps should also be taken during the installation process. Always use the “Custom” or “Advanced” installation methods, and carefully read the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. The most important step is to go through the file list and uncheck the boxes next to any unrelated apps.

Stay away from fishy software updates and installers

Removal of ArchiveTask Mac virus

You should not attempt this unless you are certain of what you are doing and what files you need to delete. Some of the files may have a .plist extension, indicating that they are standard settings files, also known as “properties files,” used by macOS applications. It contains program properties and configuration settings. The app also employs a variety of persistence techniques and scatters numerous files throughout the system, making browser extension and application removal difficult.

To keep your mind at ease, we recommend using professional anti-malware tools SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes, which can detect and remove unwanted programs. You also don't know if the virus installed any additional malicious programs, so this is the most secure method of ensuring the system is clean.

If you still want to try and delete it manually, proceed with these steps:

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

If you are unable to shut down the related processes or can't move the app to Trash, you should look for malicious profiles and login items:

• 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.

There are likely to be more .plist files hiding in the following locations – delete them all:

• 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 terminate all the related .plist files.

The manual elimination process might not always result in full virus removal. Therefore, we still strongly suggest you perform a scan with security software.

Remove the malicious extension

ArchiveTask also adds a browser extension that begins performing a variety of unwanted tasks. It may collect sensitive information and send it to tracking servers. IP address, user name, macOS version, browser versions, computer ID, items in the “Applications” folder, a list of agents, daemons, and system configuration profiles are some of the data that could be exposed.

After removing the dangerous files from your system, you should remove the add-on as soon as possible. You can use FortectIntego to delete cookies and cache automatically. It will also repair any damaged files and system errors, so the machine's performance should improve.

If you prefer doing this yourself without additional help, here are the instructions. You will find guides for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox at the bottom of this article:

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

Cookies and website data:

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

The simplest and quickest solution to this is completely resetting Safari:

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