Automator virus: what it is and how to remove it
Automator is a legitimate application for Mac OS allowing users to perform particular tasks on the system automatically. It has an inbuilt list of AppleScripts allowing to create workflows - the sequence of actions that have to be performed to finish some kind of tasks.
Facts checked October 7, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. 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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Automator virus: summary
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Name | Automator virus |
| Type | Loader |
| Symptoms | An unknown program in Installed apps |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 3 more facts
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
|---|---|
| First seen | 27 October 2020 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
What Automator virus does on an infected PC
From our report of Oct 2020 · not reviewed since
Automator is a Mac OS tool that can be misused by malware for creating AppleScripts to automatically perform suspicious activities
Automator is a legitimate application for Mac OS allowing users to perform particular tasks on the system automatically.
It has an inbuilt list of AppleScripts allowing to create workflows - the sequence of actions that have to be performed to finish some kind of tasks. It may be extremely useful for tasks like renaming many photos at once, extracting texts from PDF files, archiving files and folders, combine documents, quit all applications, create backups, and so on.
However, this application is considered as one of the most vulnerable since both Apple and third-party developers can add new scripts and create tasks. Therefore, it may initiate suspicious activities on your Mac, which is why many regular PC users consider it to be an Automator virus.
At the moment, Automator can be set to handle tasks in more than 80 applications.
The biggest risk of this application is to get affected by malware and filled with scripts that download other malware or perform tasks such as injection of unwanted web browser's toolbars, add-ons, or enabling third-party cookies on Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and other web browsers. Automator removal is usually not permitted unless your device has a rogue version.
The term Automator virus is not suitable when we talk about a malware-free Mac OS system. This application has been developed with an intention to help users make specific tasks automated and turn them into a routine.
However, the scripts that are used for creating the workflows can be injected by both Mac apps and third-party developers. In other words, adware, browser hijacker, spyware, or other malware installed on the device can program a scrip and command the device to initiate particular activities without the user's permission.
As pointed out by several Mac users on Reddit , the Automator malware managed to download MacKeeper without being asked for. Besides, it forces the Safari web browser to open every five minutes, thus disrupting normal web browsing activities.
That can be explained by the presence of malware on the affected Mac OS device. Since third-party apps can attempt to add new Automator tasks support to both new and existing applications, the malware might have added a task to download specific items and created a routine to open Safari.
There are many apps that may trigger the Automator app on Mac to start working abnormally, including Adware Cleaner or LiveShoppers. In addition to doubtful MAC activities, the web browser may be compromised by adding unwanted toolbars, add-ons, and plug-ins. Besides, a questionable search engine and start page can manifest.
Although malware is not extremely dangerous if comparing to ransomware or spyware. Nevertheless, questionable advertising material positions on random websites can expose people to rogue websites used as phishing for spreading more dangerous cyber infections.
If you are still having a problem or no malware has been found, try to remove Automator from the system. For that, you should disable the process via Activity Monitor and then delete the app from the Applications/Utilities folder.
If Automator removal ends up with a notification saying that "Automator" can't be modified or deleted because it's required by MacOS," it means that the app is currently in use by another application or runs in the background. Thus, force quit the app and then perform the removal.
From our report of Oct 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Automator virus
- A general Automator app is a pre-installed Mac OS component, which can be used for creating workflows in scripts to tell the system what tasks it should do automatically without the user's intervention.
- Therefore, this application stands at a high risk of being affected by malware.
- Normally, the application does not exhibit any signs of malfunctioning unless the user sets the scripts in the wrong way.
- In case the poorly made script is opened, the system may start encountering errors or even crash.
- If malware resides on Mac and regularly sends scripts to the Automator, the system may start displaying ads, opening apps without being asked for, automatically send email messages from the user's account, and so on.
- The original Automator application is kept in /Applications/Utilities folder.
- The application can be exploited by malware.
- Although it's not dangerous in its nature, malicious scripts can be injected by criminals forcing the system to perform suspicious tasks
- Trying to remove Automator from Mac OS may fail because it's one of the pre-installed system's tools.
- Although it is possible to get rid of it, it is advisable to use a professional anti-malware program and check your Mac for malicious applications in the first place.
- If this tool caused damage to the system, we strongly recommend you to fix malware damage with tool.
- It will check the libraries, folders, and processes that may have been corrupted and fix them.
- I accidentally installed a malware and it keeps popping the safari browser every five minutes.
- It had installed mackeeper application and I am unable to find mackeeper under the applications.
- However there is an app called automator and when I try to uninstall it, an error window appears '"automator" can't be modified or deleted because it's required by macos.' Can someone help me with this?
How Automator virus got on your PC
From our report of Oct 2020 · not reviewed since
There are many free applications that are offered on reputable download sources, such as Google App Store or Mac App Store .
Besides, often unwanted applications have dedicated official websites and direct downloads. However, if they are flagged as potentially dangerous by cybersecurity experts, having a direct download website does not make it less questionable.
Experts from lesvirus.fr explain that an app is referred to as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) as soon as it is detected as being distributed by bundling or other doubtful methods. Besides, such apps statistically show a high tendency to initiate advertising campaigns and track users' activities behind their backs.
Therefore, to protect the system from PUPs and malware, it's very important to stay away from applications that are underrated or do not have clear specifications. When downloading an app to the system, always opt for an Advanced installation setup, which generates more setup windows and indicates the fact that additional programs are being installed alongside.
Besides, do not fully trust the inbuilt Mac security system.
How to remove Automator virus
A loader's job is to install other malware, so treat the PC as infected with more than one program until the scans are clean.
Step 1: Delete scheduled tasks that bring it back
Open Task Scheduler from the Start menu and click Task Scheduler Library. Select each task you do not recognise and read the Actions tab:
- a task that starts a file in
%AppData%or%Temp% - runs
powershellwith a long encoded line - opens a web address belongs to Automator virus or a similar program
Right-click such a task and choose Delete, and check the subfolders too. Leave tasks from Microsoft, your PC's maker and programs you use. Task Scheduler is the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Windows 11: Task Scheduler Library, the task selected, the Actions tab shows the file it runs. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove what malware leaves behind in Windows
- a task that starts a file in
Step 2: Remove it from startup
Whatever Automator virus installed usually starts with Windows. Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, go to Startup apps in Windows 11 or the Startup tab in Windows 10, and disable what you do not know, starting with entries that have an empty Publisher column.
Open file location on the right-click menu shows the file, which helps you decide and tells you what to delete later. Disabling is safe: if something you need stops working, switch it back on.
Full procedure with screenshots: Stop apps from opening at startup On uGetFix
Step 3: Delete the folders left behind
What the uninstaller leaves behind is usually in the user folders. Open File Explorer, switch on View > Show > Hidden items (in Windows 10 View > Hidden items), and go through
%LocalAppData%,%AppData%, %ProgramData% and the two Program Files folders.Sort by Date modified and delete folders that appeared together with the problem and belong to no program you use. Folders with random names that hold
.exe,.dll, .js or .ps1 files are the strongest sign.Full procedure with screenshots: Remove what malware leaves behind in Windows
Step 4: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan and remove everything it finds. Then select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now: the PC restarts and scans before Windows loads, which finds files that hide while Windows runs.
Save your work first, because the offline scan takes about 15 minutes. Both scans are built into Windows 11 and Windows 10, and a second scanner from another vendor is a useful extra opinion.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Step 5: Change passwords from another device and sign out other sessions
Assume that the passwords saved in this PC's browsers, and the accounts that were open in them, are known to the attacker. From a phone or a clean computer, change the e-mail password first, then banking, shopping, social and gaming accounts.
Use each service's option to sign out of all other sessions, because stolen cookies keep a session open even after a password change. Turn on two-step verification on each account. Wait with the infected Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC until the scans are clean.
Full procedure with screenshots: Turn on two-step verification / secure a hacked account
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Uninstall from Windows
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.
Remove from Google Chrome
Google Chrome's settings can be compromised after a malware infiltration. To reset the start page, search engine or eliminate advertising material, reset web browser's settings as explained below.
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- 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:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- 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.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- 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.
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.
Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.
Delete from Safari
If you see Automator ads or other related content on Safari, perform the steps shown below to fix your web browser's settings.
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.
Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.
Delete from macOS
The following guide explains how to get rid of Automator. Upon removal, you should also navigate to the Accounts folder and open Login Items. Here you should see the processes that start automatically when you boot up the device. Check the list for Automator and select the Minus icon to stop the process from launching.
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).
Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.
- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.
Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.
Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.
Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.
From our report of Oct 2020 · not reviewed since
Remove malware from Mac to get rid of Automator virus
If you suspect that your Mac is infected by malware and all the suspicious activities directly to the Automator app, do not blame the app itself.
Although it may start malfunctioning due to incorrect scripting, it is very likely that the tool causes problems because of adware or browser hijacker infection.
Automator virus removal may be a tiresome task if you don't know which program is responsible for ads, redirects, unexpected app running, slowdowns, and other symptoms. First of all, you should the Applications folder and remove apps that you are not familiar with. In case that did not help, launch or tool and scan the system for suspicious entries.
Finally, if there is no other solution except to remove Automator Mac virus, then you have to perform several steps:
- force quit related process
- eliminate the utility from the Apps folder
- then delete its remnants
You can find an explicit guide on how to do that below. In case your web browser has been also compromised and now keeps displaying ads and causing redirects to doubtful websites, reset web browser's settings to delete plug-ins.
Accounts folder and open Login Items. Here you should see the processes that start automatically when you boot up the device. Check the list for Automator and select the Minus icon to stop the process from launching.
After removal: passwords, accounts and prevention
Accounts come next
Because the PC showed automator virus in the list of installed apps, a sign of a program that could read browser data, the clean-up is only half of the work.
The other half happens in your online accounts.
Change passwords from a clean device, beginning with e-mail; sign out of all sessions; check forwarding rules and recovery phone numbers; and turn on two-step verification with an authenticator app or a passkey. Ask your bank to replace cards saved in the browser.
Why the order matters and what to check in each account: secure your accounts after malware.
Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool
Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online.
One of the basic means to add a layer of security - choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features.
However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful VPN - it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.
Lost your files? Use data recovery software
While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable.
Family photos, work documents, school projects - these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur:
- power cuts
- Blue Screen of Death errors
- hardware failures
- crypto-malware attack
- even accidental deletion
To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.
Questions about Automator virus
What is Automator virus and why is it on my PC?
Automator virus is a program that was installed on the PC, most likely together with something else you downloaded. Free software sites and many installers add extra programs on setup pages with pre-ticked boxes, so the extra install looks like your choice even though nobody read the page.
Check the install date in Settings, Apps, Installed apps: the program you installed that day is the probable carrier. If you do not need Automator virus, uninstall it. If it belongs to your hardware or to a program you use, search its exact name and publisher first, because drivers and their tools can have unfamiliar names.
How do I stop programs like Automator virus from being installed again?
Most unwanted programs arrive through installers, so the fix is in how you install software. Download programs from their official sites or the Microsoft Store, not from download portals or ads above search results. During setup, choose Custom or Advanced installation and untick every extra offer, including browsers, toolbars and optimizers.
Decline update prompts that appear inside other programs unless you know them. In Windows Security, turn on reputation-based protection and potentially unwanted app blocking. These steps would most likely have stopped Automator virus before it reached the app list.
Can Automator virus spread to other devices on my network?
Most trojans aimed at home users stay on the PC they infected, but an attacker with remote access can look at the network, open shared folders and try passwords on other devices. Loaders sometimes deliver worms or ransomware that do spread.
Disconnect the PC while cleaning, run a full scan on other Windows PCs, change the router's admin password and the Wi-Fi password if they were saved on the infected PC, and update the router's firmware. If other PCs show the same detection, treat them as infected too.
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 Automator virus 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.
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 Automator virus, they are a strong reason to follow the full plan.
Is it safe to do online banking after seeing automator virus in the list of installed apps?
Not on that PC until it is clean. A program that produces automator virus in the list of installed apps runs with your rights and could read what you type or what the browser shows. Use a phone or another computer for banking and for changing passwords.
When the offline scan of the affected PC is clean and nothing suspicious starts with Windows any more, you can go back to using it. Check your bank statements for the past weeks either way, and call the bank if anything looks unfamiliar; banks can block cards and reset access quickly.
Which malware family is Automator virus?
That is not known yet. Automator virus has been reported by people who saw automator virus 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.
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.
Why didn't my antivirus stop Automator virus?
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.
Will Fortect remove Automator virus?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For Automator virus, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Support Apple: Automator User Guide (read October 7, 2026)
- Reddit: Trouble uninstalling malware Automator (read October 7, 2026)
- Lesvirus: ACTUALITÉS SUR LA SÉCURITÉ ET LES LOGICIELS ESPIONS (read October 7, 2026)
- Alert Logic: Apps Infected with Malware on Google Play Store (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)