Auto Mac Speedup: what it is and how to remove it

Auto Mac Speedup is a rogue computer cleaning program which users overcome on their Mac computers and laptops. The meaning of such software is to imitate full system scans and post warnings that numerous infections have been detected.

Facts checked October 7, 2026. Removal steps checked against Apple's current documentation and the security vendors' reports. We have not run the malware on a Mac. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.

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Auto Mac Speedup: tool
Auto Mac Speedup as our 2019 report showed it.

Auto Mac Speedup: summary

NameAuto Mac Speedup
TypeSystem tool
Sub-typeScareware
OSThis rogue program often appears on Mac computers
PurposeTo gain income from users who agree to purchase the licensed version of the software
Detection namesNo Microsoft detection name is known
Removal

Scan the Mac with security software to find the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect for Mac scans for malware and unwanted programs.

Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free.
Show 6 more facts
DistributionNot recorded in the old report
DamageNot recorded in the old report
SymptomsAn unknown program in Installed apps
Evidence5 write-ups by security sites; details still limited
First seen8 March 2019
Facts checked7 October 2026

What Auto Mac Speedup does on an infected Mac

From our report of Mar 2019 · not reviewed since

Auto Mac Speedup - a misleading computer tool which appears on Mac OS X computers

Auto Mac Speedup is a rogue computer cleaning program which users overcome on their Mac computers and laptops.

The meaning of such software is to imitate full system scans and post warnings that numerous infections have been detected. However, all fake system optimizers do is collect outdated registry keys, cache, and other similar content, and provide it as critical errors.

Developers who spread Auto Mac Speedup virus seek to gain benefits from their customers as users are urged to purchase the license key to use the more elevated version of the system tool.

If you have encountered Auto Mac Speedup on your Mac, you should avoid using this software as it will not bring any benefits. Even though the program might claim that it is capable of dealing with various cyber infections, removing errors, optimizing the computer system, and so on, you need to know that it is only a promotion to attract a bigger number of people.

As you can see, Auto Mac Speedup is not a tool you can trust. Not only that this program sneaks into the system via bundling or unprotected websites, but it might also bombard your computer screen with intrusive notifications that promote the potentially unwanted application itself. Additionally, suspicious content might be added to your browser apps too.

You should also need to know that Auto Mac Speedup and similar tools are called scareware not for no reason. The rogue program alerts about numerous errors and system issues found in order to scare the user and convince him/her to take fast actions. These actions are buying the licensed version of the program and paying the developers.

If you have been annoyed by pop-ups that have been caused by this rogue system tool, you should use anti-malware such as to locate the potentially unwanted program and all related content in the system. After that, remove Auto Mac Speedup virus from your Mac operating system by using automatical software or by performing our step-by-step guidelines.

The Auto Mac Speedup removal is necessary if you want to stop the annoying advertising and false warnings from showing up. Take notice that the potentially unwanted program might have planted some rogue content in your web browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, so do not forget to check these applications too.

Auto Mac Speedup: tool
Auto Mac Speedup in our 2019 report.
Auto Mac Speedup: pup
Auto Mac Speedup in our 2019 report.

From our report of Mar 2019 · not reviewed since

False applications are capable of sneaking into the system silently

According to SemVirus.pt technology professionals, rogue applications are able to sneak into the computer by using stealth techniques.

The most popular technique used by developers is bundling when the creators plant their apps into legitimate software packages which users download from third-party sources together with the PUP.

Additionally, rogue programs and their components can be injected into misleading advertisements or hyperlinks that are found on secondary websites. Be careful with all content you access on the Internet sphere and make sure that you keep a distance from questionable-looking components to avoid possible unwanted software invasion.

Last but not least, download a reliable antivirus program. Every user should have automatical protection on their computer or laptop. The only two things you need to do is choose a reputable tool and make sure that it is always kept up-to-date. If not, the outdated version of the antivirus will not be able to protect your machine and the system properly anymore.

From our report of Mar 2019 · not reviewed since

More from our earlier report on Auto Mac Speedup

  • Terminate the program by using specific tools or the step-by-step guide

How to remove Auto Mac Speedup

How to remove Auto Mac Speedup from a Mac

Start with the passwords and crypto, from another device: a stealer copies them in seconds.

Then clean the Mac, or erase it.

  1. Step 1: Change passwords from another device first

    If you pasted a command into Terminal or opened a downloaded file from Auto Mac Speedup, assume the passwords saved in the browsers and in Keychain on this Mac are known to the attacker.

    From a phone or a clean computer, change the e-mail password first, then banking, shopping, social and work accounts, and sign out of all other sessions on each one.

    Move any cryptocurrency to a new wallet created on a clean device, because a seed phrase that was stored on this Mac is compromised. Do this before cleaning the Mac: cleaning does not undo the theft.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Turn on two-step verification / secure a hacked account

  2. Step 2: Quit what is running that you do not recognize

    Open Activity Monitor (in Applications > Utilities, or search for it with Command + Space).

    In the CPU or Network tab, look for a process you did not install or whose name is random, select it, click the stop button (the octagon with an X) and choose Quit or Force Quit.

    Note the name first: you will look for the same name in the next steps. Malware that comes back after a restart is handled in the next two steps.

  3. Step 3: Remove unknown login items and background items

    Open System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions. Under Open at Login and Allow in the Background, switch off or remove anything you do not recognize, especially items whose developer is shown as an unknown name or that appeared on the day you ran the command.

    Then open Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder and check ~/Library/LaunchAgents, /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons for property list (.plist) files you did not add. Drag suspicious ones to the Bin, then restart the Mac.

  4. Step 4: Delete apps and downloads you did not intend to install

    Open the Applications folder and your Downloads folder. Drag any app you did not install, and any disk image (.dmg), installer (.pkg) or archive (.zip) that came from Auto Mac Speedup or a site you do not trust, to the Bin, then empty the Bin.

    Also check ~/Library/Application Support for a folder with the same name as the app you removed.

  5. Step 5: Check the browsers for extensions and changed settings

    In Safari open Settings > Extensions and General (homepage). In Chrome open chrome://extensions, in Firefox about:addons.

    Remove any extension you did not add, and reset the homepage and search engine if they changed. Browsers hold saved passwords and cookies, which is why the password step comes first.

  6. Step 6: If it was an infostealer, erase and reinstall macOS

    Stealers copy data and often leave persistence you cannot be sure you found.

    The only complete fix is to back up your personal files only (documents, photos, not apps or settings), then open System Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings, or use macOS Recovery to erase the disk and reinstall macOS, as Apple describes in its support articles.

    Restore only your files afterwards, and install apps again from their official sources.

  7. Step 7: Report it and watch your accounts

    Report the site and the command to the authorities in your country, and tell your bank if any card was saved in a browser or in Keychain.

    Over the next weeks watch your e-mail, bank and exchange accounts for sign-ins and transfers you did not make. Keep the notes you made, such as the process names and the file dates, in case a bank or the police ask for them.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Report a cyber attack or scam to the authorities

Instructions for each browser and system

The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.

Remove from Google Chrome

If the potentially unwanted program has left any rogue components in your Google Chrome web browser, you can terminate all suspicious browser add-ons by using this guide:

Delete malicious extensions from 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 suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from 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.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.

Reset Google Chrome:

If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:

  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.Reset Chrome 2
Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

  1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
  2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
  3. Click Remove.Remove extensions from Edge

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.Reset MS Edge
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Spotting unknown objects in your Mozilla Firefox web browser is not a good thing. If you want to reverse all unpleasant changes, take a look at these instructions:

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2
Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
  2. Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.Remove extensions from Safari

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari
Delete from macOS

If you have encountered the fake system optimization tool on your Mac computer system, you can get rid of it easily by performing these instructing steps:

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer

Remove dangerous add-ons:

  1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
  2. Pick Manage Add-ons.
  3. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Change your homepage if it was altered:

  1. Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
  2. Select Internet Options.
  3. In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
  4. Click Apply and then select OK.Reset IE homepage

Delete temporary files:

  1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
  2. Under Browsing history, click Delete...
  3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.Clear temporary files from Internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer:

  1. Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
  2. Select Reset.
  3. In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.Reset Internet Explorer

From our report of Mar 2019 · not reviewed since

Auto Mac Speedup fake system tool can be removed by using two different techniques

Remove Auto Mac Speedup virus by using reputable software.

Automatical computer tools are capable of eliminating the potentially unwanted program by using less effort and less time. However, if you feel self-confident enough to get rid of the cyber threat on your own, you can give a try to our step-by-step guide which is presented below the article.

Note that if you decide to perform the Auto Mac Speedup removal on your own, you risk making mistakes and causing even more damage to your computer system. Additionally, you will need to check all possibly-infected web browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and others.

After removal: passwords, accounts and prevention

Your passwords after Auto Mac Speedup

Removing Auto Mac Speedup does not undo what it may already have sent out while the PC showed auto Mac Speedup in the list of installed apps.

Treat saved browser passwords and logged-in sessions on this PC as known to the attacker.

From another device, change the e-mail password first and end all its sessions. Then do the same for the bank, PayPal, Microsoft, Google and Apple accounts. Stolen session cookies keep working after a password change until you sign out everywhere.

Move crypto to a new wallet created on a clean device. A step-by-step order for every kind of account is in our guide to account security after an infection.

Access your website securely from any location

When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.

If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.

Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks

While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files.

More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.

Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.

Questions about Auto Mac Speedup

Is Auto Mac Speedup a virus?

Most programs that appear the way Auto Mac Speedup did are not viruses in the strict sense. They are potentially unwanted programs:

  • real software that arrives bundled with other downloads and then shows offers
  • changes browser settings
  • starts with Windows

Some are harmless, some are annoying and a few carry adware. What makes it worth removing is that you did not choose it.

Uninstall it from Installed apps and check the startup list and the browsers for anything added the same day. If it refuses to uninstall or returns after a restart, treat it as more serious and run a Microsoft Defender offline scan.

Auto Mac Speedup will not uninstall. What can I do?

First restart the PC and try again, because the program may have been running and locked its own files. If the uninstaller is missing or fails, start Windows in Safe Mode, where most third-party programs do not start, and remove Auto Mac Speedup from Installed apps there.

If it still refuses, delete its startup entry and its scheduled task, restart, and try once more. A program that actively prevents removal is behaving like malware, so finish with a Microsoft Defender offline scan. Avoid third-party uninstallers offered on search ads; several of them are unwanted programs themselves.

Can a normal remote support program be a backdoor?

Yes. Tools such as AnyDesk, TeamViewer and ScreenConnect are legitimate, but whoever controls the account behind them controls the PC. Scammers install them during fake support calls, and some trojan campaigns install them silently because antivirus programs do not flag a genuine, signed product.

If you find one you did not set up, uninstall it, check Startup apps for related entries and change passwords from another device. If money or accounts were involved, call your bank and report the incident.

Should I reset my PC because of Auto Mac Speedup?

Only if the signs point to deeper access. Reset when you see auto Mac Speedup in the list of installed apps again after removal, when Windows Security cannot start or update, when remote access tools you did not install keep appearing, or when you simply cannot trust the PC any more.

Otherwise, the plan in this guide plus an offline scan is enough. If you do reset, choose Remove everything and Cloud download for a fresh copy of Windows, restore only documents and photos, and reinstall programs from their official sites. Change important passwords from the clean system afterwards.

What are the signs of a trojan infection?

Most trojans try to leave no visible signs, so look for side effects. Common ones:

  • Windows Security turned off or unable to update
  • new entries in Startup apps or Task Scheduler
  • programs in Installed apps you did not install
  • browser settings that changed by themselves
  • unusual network activity while the PC is idle
  • password-reset or login-alert e-mails you did not trigger

None of these proves an infection on its own. Together with an antivirus alert naming Auto Mac Speedup, they are a strong reason to follow the full plan.

Why didn't my antivirus stop Auto Mac Speedup?

New trojan builds are packed and changed often so that signatures do not match, and some are signed with stolen or bought certificates. Many arrive inside password-protected archives, which scanners cannot open until you extract them.

Some downloads also tell the user to turn off the antivirus "because it gives false alarms", a common line in cracked software instructions. Keep real-time protection on, never disable it for an installer, and run the offline scan whenever you suspect something slipped through.

Is a trojan infection worth reporting to the police?

If there was harm, yes. Unauthorised payments, accounts used for fraud, blackmail or a remote session during a scam call all belong in a report, and banks often ask for its reference number before they refund anything.

If antivirus caught Auto Mac Speedup before it ran and nothing was misused, there is nothing to report. Keep the evidence anyway:

  • protection history
  • the original download
  • the dates

Businesses may also have to notify a data protection authority if personal data could have been accessed.

Which malware family is Auto Mac Speedup?

That is not known yet. Auto Mac Speedup has been reported by people who saw auto Mac Speedup in the list of installed apps, but no sample has been analysed publicly, so security companies have not assigned it to a family. The name you see may be a file or program name chosen by the authors, not a family name.

This does not stop you from removing it: the startup points, the offline scan and the account steps are the same for most families of this type. If Microsoft Defender or another scanner gives the file a detection name, write it down; that name is the best clue to the family and is useful when you report the incident.

How dangerous is Auto Mac Speedup?

Treat it as serious until proven otherwise. The visible sign is auto Mac Speedup in the list of installed apps, and programs that behave this way often have more abilities than they show:

  • copying passwords
  • downloading other malware
  • giving remote access

Its family is not known yet, so nobody can say which of these it uses. The good news is that the response is the same in every case and takes about an hour:

  • cut the network
  • remove the startup entry
  • run an offline scan
  • change passwords from a clean device

If someone had remote control, a full reset is safer.

Will Fortect remove Auto Mac Speedup?

Fortect for Mac scans for malware and unwanted programs, and its free scan shows what it finds on your Mac before you decide anything.

For Auto Mac Speedup, follow the plan on this page as well: removing a launch item or an app is done in macOS itself, and a scanner cannot undo what was typed or entered on the infected Mac, such as saved passwords that were copied.

Change your passwords from another device first, and if the page tells you to erase the Mac, a scan is not a substitute. The free scan costs nothing and the full-featured product needs a license.

Sources

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