GuideService Mac adware (virus)

What is GuideService Mac adware?

GuideService is a malicious Mac application designed to show intrusive ads via the web browser

GuideService is a malicious app designed for Mac systems

GuideService is an adware-type program with browser-hijacking elements that stems from a well-established family known as Adload, which has been active for several years now. Since its release in 2018, several hundred variants of the virus has released, and it has become one of the most prevalent strains out there that target Mac users.

The virus gets into the system without users' direct approval, although they grant the permission to install it themselves. This happens because fake Flash Player updates or pirated software installers are used as the primary methods of distribution.

Once on the system, GuideService would import its own files to bypass the security and removal of built-in Mac defenses,^[1] which would allow it to stay on the device much longer. There are two parts to the infection – they consist of an app that is installed on the system level and an extension attached to the web browser. The activities that this variant can perform include:

• Changing browser settings such as homepage and new tab address
• Producing alternative search results with plenty of sponsored links and ads
• Harvesting sensitive user information, including passwords
• Establishing persistence mechanisms to prevent removal
• Showing intrusive ads on most websites that users visit
• Making users more prone to encountering phishing,^[2] scam, or malware-laden websites.

If you have spotted an app that uses a magnifying glass icon, you should immediately take care of its removal. In this article, we will provide all the needed information to do that.

How Adload spreads and how to avoid it

No users would intentionally install malicious applications on their systems, and it is the case of Adload variants. Users are tricked into installing them via fake updates or illegal software installers. Here are a few tips to avoid the installation of such malicious software in the future (note that many other malware strains use similar methods of distribution):

1. Flash Player is an old plugin that has been used on various websites to play multimedia content. For many years now, the technology has been replaced by HTML 5 and a few others and is usually built into web browsers. Adobe discontinued Flash at the start of 2021, so all requests to download it can be dismissed as fakes.
2. Illegal software distribution sites allow people to download otherwise paid applications for free. Not only is that illegal, but it carries heavy risks of infecting a system with malware. Therefore, you should stay away from suck websites in the first place.

GuideService spreads via fake Flash Player updates

The main task of GuideService – make users click on ads

The main monetization method of the virus is to make users view and click on ads. While plenty of applications uses advertisements for monetization, intrusive and inappropriate advertisements are never a sign of a legitimate app. To be more precise, when the app's main function is to monetize user clicks, it is no longer considered desirable. Not to mention that GuideService does not have any useful features in the first place.

The ads that the virus produces can often be malicious; hence affected people are more likely to encounter ads promoting other potentially unwanted or malicious software, or they might be asked to subscribe to push notifications on sites like Check-the-weather.com, which consequently would bring even more unwanted content directly to suers' screens.

Browser-hijacking element is also intrusive and annoying, as it makes people browse through an alternative search provider and turn top results into ads. To make matters worse, the installed extension can also collect personal information such as passwords or credit card details, putting users' privacy and security at risk.

Effective GuideService removal methods

Mac malware development has been steadily increasing, with threats like Shlayer Trojan or CrescentCore infecting hundreds of thousands of users worldwide. It is important for people to realize that the threats are very real, and staying careful online is extremely important.

Because Adload variants can effectively bypass Gatekeeper and Xprotect security measures, it is important to keep an alternative security application running in the background, for example, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes. These apps can also be used to effectively remove all malicious software from the system automatically.

If you would rather look for manual elimination steps, you should proceed with the instructions below. Keep in mind that it might not be as effective as the automatic option, and the virus might return.

First off, you should shut down the related malware processes and remove the main application from the system. If that does not work, proceed with the next solution.

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

Login Items and unwanted Profiles might prevent the removal of malicious applications. Remove them as follows:

• 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.
• Go to Preferences > Accounts > Login items and remove the malicious entries.

Finally, you should remove the remaining files of the virus, which can be found as follows:

• 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.

Clean your browser

Without cleaning cookies^[3] and other web data, your browser could remain vulnerable and prone to collecting your personal information. Thus, you should clean your browsers after eliminating the main application and extension – we recommend employing FortectIntego for the quick and easy solution.

Using this method, you can remove the GuideService extension, although it might not always be possible as the option to do so might be grayed out. If so, skip this step.

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

If you can't eliminate the extension, you should simply reset Safari:

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

If you successfully removed the extension, you should clean browser history and other leftover settings as follows:

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

If you use Chrome or Firefox as your main browser, check for the instructions below.

You may remove virus damage with a help of FortectIntego. SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.