Intego: what it is and how to remove it
It consists of two elements: VirusBarrier X9 and NetBarrier X9, both of which have a different function. The program combines the most important security modules, including full-featured firewall, data-protection, anti-spam, anti-phishing, and anti-virus that are essential for virus protection for Mac.
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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Intego: summary
| Suitable for | This piece of software works as antimalware and is suitable for Mac OS and Mac OS X-based machines |
|---|---|
| Modules | The entire package consists of two different elements that are NetBarrier X9 and VirusBarrier X9 |
| Price | You can purchase the entire licensed version for €33.05 a year. The tool is also a subscription-based program, so if you do not cancel it, you will automatically pay the same amount of money every year |
| Pros | If you get this product, you will be provided with advanced protection from cyber threats, your data will be kept safe, junk cleaned from the system, speed improved |
| Spreading | You can get this type of software from its official website or you can receive the product in a bundle of other software |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| 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 9 more facts
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Name | Intego |
| Type | System optimizer |
| Symptoms | An unknown program in Installed apps |
| Evidence | 6 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Program | Intego |
| First seen | 23 June 2018 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Is Intego safe? Why it is flagged
From our report of Jun 2018 · not reviewed since
Intego - powerful antivirus for Mac with the arsenal of various functions
It consists of two elements: VirusBarrier X9 and NetBarrier X9, both of which have a different function.
The program combines the most important security modules, including full-featured firewall, data-protection, anti-spam, anti-phishing, and anti-virus that are essential for virus protection for Mac. The anti-malware program can be obtained on the official website, although it can also establish itself via software bundling.
Software bundling is a widely-practiced marketing tactic used all over the world. It does benefit companies as well as users who may be interested in the software. Nevertheless, people usually do not pay enough attention to the installation process and install additional programs unintentionally.
From our report of Jun 2018 · not reviewed since
Main facts about Intego
VirusBarrier X9 focuses on protecting the Mac from malware, while NetBarrier X9 is and can protect your network from intruders and bad actors.
The software can be downloaded on the official website, and it has a free trial which lasts 30 days. Users need to purchase then the full licensed version, which costs €33.05 a year. This is a subscription-based product, so if users want to cancel it, they need to do it before the full year goes by. Considering you get two modules with two separate functions - the price is really decent.
From our report of Jun 2018 · not reviewed since
Installing software on the system
The process requires a system restart to be finalized.
However, just like we mentioned in the beginning, the software can also be installed as a component of other programs. You can easily spot this addition to your program if you opt for Custom or Advanced installation of the software.
However, if you are in a hurry of downloading needed tool, you may end up with the unexpected appearance of this Mac antivirus. As a result, you may think that you are infected, but you are not.
After the software is installed, users are prompted to pick their coverage level, which can be chosen from:
For most users, the Standard level should suffice, although picking Maximum level will not harm anyone, and will improve Mac's security.
Once the coverage level is chosen, the program is ready. There is a convenient overlay added, which explains all the functionality of each of the function. This feature can be hidden with a simple mouse click, and then enabled again by clicking Information icon if needed.
Users can also schedule scans in the main window, as well as control real-time protection feature.
- Minimum level - protection from malware only
- Standard level - an added protection from Windows malware
- Maximum level - scan of ZIP files and other archives
From our report of Jun 2018 · not reviewed since
Program's anti-malware feature explained
If any threats are found, the program quarantines the infected files, removes them, and attempts to repair the damage caused to files on the computer.
Additionally, the program is capable of scanning all incoming e-mails and USB drives automatically, as soon as they are connected to the Mac. What is more, the anti-phishing feature can help users battle dubious spam emails that may install malware or trick users into spending money on useless products.
Malware protection is critical indeed, as it can right-out destroy your computer. However, protection from PUPs is important as well, as it can clutter your Mac, display unwanted advertisements and even lead to severe infections.
From our report of Jun 2018 · not reviewed since
NetBarrier - an effective tool to protect your network
The NetBarrier is a firewall utility which capable of protecting the network from intruders.
Users can pick whichever they want to use, and change the setting at any time. Users who possess advanced knowledge of Firewall can create exceptions, allow an only specific type of connections, and modify other options in Advanced settings, although this functionality is not required for a regular user.
- Public Hotspot - blocks all the connections from the internet or the network, as well as all file-sharing and server-related features;
- Work Hotspot - allows incoming connections from trusted networks, and file-sharing is permitted only with the approval;
- Home Hotspot - allows incoming connections, and file-sharing is enabled automatically
From our report of Jun 2018 · not reviewed since
More useful features included to Intego
Content barrier allows software to block potentially harmful emails, links, and social media messages.
This content might not only harm your Mac but also swindle sensitive information about you, which can be used for illegal purposes.
The Personal Backup feature is an extremely important one, as well. As security experts note, backups are vital for any modern computer user, as, for example, ransomware can lock up personal files and make them unusable.
Some crypto-malware is decryptable; however, in most cases, security researchers usually take sometime before they can crack the malicious code and release official decryptor. In this case, back-ups are the only reliable feature that can save your personal files.
Washing Machine can clean all junk from your Mac OS X, reclaim disk space, and speed it up significantly. This feature can remove duplicates that sometimes can be accidentally created, clear caches, downloads, logs, trash, and even organize your desktop.
From our report of Jun 2018 · not reviewed since
Using antivirus is important as Mac viruses do exist
Mac users are still dealing with a misconception about the myth that Macs cannot obtain malware.
However, it is far from the truth, and Macintosh systems have proven to be affected by vulnerabilities and malware, just as it recently happened with "mshelper" which abuses computer's resources and makes the battery to run out extraordinary fast. Most likely, the cyber threat is created to mine cryptocurrency.
Cybercrooks are in a rush to gain monetary benefit off of innocent users, and it does not matter which way they do it - be it survey or tech support scams, browser hijackers, adware, crypto miners or even ransomware. As a result, even senior E-Threat Analyst, Bogdan Botezatualso, is quick to answer the question "Can Macs get viruses?"
Therefore, Mac users should be aware of dangers online and think about an appropriate way to protect their systems.
From our report of Jun 2018 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Intego
- The answer is definitely, yes.
- There have been incidents, and there will be more
How to uninstall Intego
How to remove Intego
Uninstall it, then remove what keeps it starting with Windows.
Nothing it flagged needs fixing.
Step 1: Uninstall Intego
Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps in Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Apps & features in Windows 10. Sort the list by install date and find Intego, then choose Uninstall from the three-dot menu next to it (in Windows 10, click the entry and then Uninstall).
Remove anything else installed on the same day that you do not recognise, because such programs usually arrive together in one installer. If the uninstaller opens a browser page with an offer or a survey, close it: the program is removed either way.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 2: Remove it from startup
Whatever Intego 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
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Delete from macOS
If you want to uninstall Intego from your Mac OS X, follow these simple steps
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.
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.
From our report of Jun 2018 · not reviewed since
Remove Intego from your programs if you are not scared of Mac malware
If you suddenly noticed this program installed on your system and you did not implement it purposely, it must have entered via another software installer.
Typically, users do not pay much attention when installing freeware and pick Recommended or Quick installation mode. Nevertheless, you should be attentive as some suggested programs may be useful, while others may be pure adware which will clutter your browser with ads and redirect to suspicious websites.
Unlike potentially unwanted programs, this security software is easy to uninstall. Simply follow our guide below and get rid of VirusBarrier and similar components that are typically included to the program.
you do not wish to pay for the licensed version after the trial period of 30 days expires) consider how useful the application is at first. We highly recommend refraining from uninstalling it.
Questions about Intego
Is Intego a virus?
Most programs that appear the way Intego 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.
Intego 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 Intego 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.
Is it safe to remove Intego?
Yes. Removing an unwanted program does not damage Windows, because programs like this are not part of the system. Before uninstalling, make sure it is not something you rely on: if the publisher is a company you know and you use the program, keep it.
If not, uninstall it from Installed apps, restart and check that intego in the list of installed apps is gone. If something you need stops working afterwards, reinstall that program from its official website, choosing the custom installation so that the unwanted extra is not added again.
Can Intego see my passwords?
There is no report of that. Unwanted programs make money from ads, offers, data about your browsing or the use of your connection, not from stealing passwords, and the sign reported here is intego in the list of installed apps.
That said, a bundle can contain more than one program, and you cannot be sure what else ran on the day it arrived. After removing Intego, run a full scan in Windows Security.
If it finds a password stealer or a trojan, change your passwords from another device. If the scan is clean and you see no unknown sign-ins, there is no need to change them.
Can I use Intego safely?
Yes, if you installed it on purpose and control its settings. Download it only from the publisher's own site, never through a bundle or a portal. After installing, disable automatic start, offers and telemetry, and check that it did not change your search engine or add extensions.
Watch for renewals if you bought a licence, and turn on PUA blocking in Windows Security so that anything it tries to add during updates is stopped. If Intego keeps pushing payments or offers, it is not worth the trouble.
Is Intego harmful?
It is unwelcome rather than destructive, based on what has been reported: intego in the list of installed apps. Unwanted programs like this slow Windows down, use your connection, show offers or change settings, and they make money for their publisher at your expense. The bigger concern is what arrived with them.
Bundled installers often add two or three programs at once, and some of those change the browser or install updaters that fetch more software later. Remove Intego, then sort Installed apps by date and remove anything else from the same day. A full scan in Windows Security afterwards confirms that nothing more serious came along.
Intego has no uninstall option. What now?
Some unwanted programs leave no entry in Installed apps on purpose. Find the program's files instead:
- open Task Manager while intego in the list of installed apps is visible
- right-click the process
- choose Open file location
End the process, then look in that folder for an uninstall file. If there is none, delete the folder after checking that it holds nothing you need.
Before deleting, remove the startup entry and any scheduled task that points to it, otherwise it may be recreated. A restart and a full scan in Windows Security finish the job and catch files stored elsewhere.
Can Windows Security remove Intego?
Often yes, if Potentially unwanted app blocking is on. Microsoft Defender detects many bundled and unwanted programs as PUA, but by default it only blocks them during download in some cases. For a program already installed, uninstall it yourself from Installed apps first, then run a full scan in Windows Security to catch leftovers.
If intego in the list of installed apps returns after that, run the Microsoft Defender offline scan, which works before Windows starts. Switching on the PUA setting afterwards helps keep similar programs out.
Intego came back after I removed it. Why?
Something reinstalls it:
- another program from the same bundle
- a scheduled task that downloads it again
- a browser extension restored by sync
Look in Installed apps for anything from the same publisher or installed on the same date, and in Task Scheduler for tasks with the program's name or random names.
Remove extensions while signed in to the browser so sync deletes them on every device. Remove everything in one session and restart. If Intego still returns, a full scan and a Microsoft Defender offline scan usually find the part that brings it back.
Will Fortect remove Intego?
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 Intego, 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
- AV Test: AV testing (read October 7, 2026)
- Virukset: Virukset (read October 7, 2026)
- Digital Trends: Can Macs get viruses and malware? We ask an expert (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 7, 2026)