Mhptask (Removal Instructions) - Free Guide

What is Mhptask?

Mhptask is malicious task that is run by a scareware program Mac Heal Pro

Mhptask is a process that is closely related to Mac Heal Pro scareware and should be terminated immediately

Mhptask is a parent process of the potentially unwanted program Mac Heal Pro, which claims that it can perform software and hardware analysis, clean useless files and free up space, as well as enhance users' privacy and security. After seeing such marketing slogans, many users may be tempted to download and install the application in the hopes of improving the speed of macOS. However, Mhptask is nothing but a scam – it aims to make users pay for the full version of the app by showing fake and exaggerated scan results. Such software is often referred to as scareware or scamware^[1] by security experts.

“Mhptask will damage your computer. You should move it to the Bin.” – users may encounter this legitimate pop-up message on their Macs. As evident, this app should not be trusted, as it is set to perform potentially malicious tasks on the system. Similarly to dubious processes related to potentially unwanted programs (for example, Helpermcp, Maftask), Mhptask removal should be performed immediately in order to protect computer safety.

The Mhptask virus usually gets installed along with other applications downloaded from third-party sources, despite the infosec community discouraging users from doing so and relying on official sources like App Store. Nevertheless, some might be looking for solutions to their slow Mac issues, and stumble upon the following marketing phrase:

Clean, Repair & Speed Up Your Mac with All-in-One Mac Utility

Who wouldn't want that? It seems like a great deal. However, Mhptask brings more harm than benefits, and many AV engines are already marking the application as potentially unwanted/malicious.

Once installed, the Mhptask app performs a full system scan, which indicates several macOS areas being of a “poor” status, misrepresenting the actual situation and deliberately misleading users into believing that their Macs are in serious trouble. Exaggerating scan results and marking them in red color (psychologically, red is associated with danger – this is another social engineering^[2] trick) is more likely to subdue victims and look for solutions immediately.

Mhptask is a malicious task that can be found running in the background in Activity Monitor - it boots every time Mac is started

Of course, the alleged solution would be to purchase the full version of Mhptask/Mac Heal Pro, which costs $14,95 per month. However, even after victims realize that they got scammed, the subscription will not stop until they cancel it. Besides, as long as Mac Heal Pro remains on the system, it will continually spam users with pop-ups that ask to purchase the licensed version of the application.

However, once users try to remove Mhptask from their machines, they might not be able to, as the PUP may insert various persistence techniques in order to remain on the system as long as possible. Therefore, users should follow our guide below to make sure that all components of Mhptask and Mac Heal Pro are eliminated. Additionally, we encourage users to scan Macs with FortectIntego after termination, as some changes done by the unwanted app may be damaging to Mac.

It is important to note that Mhptask can also sometimes cause extensive CPU or other resource usages on the device. Unlike Accountsd high CPU usage (this is a legitimate Mac process used by Mail.App), PUP-related processes can be removed as soon as the primary application is deleted, preventing resource usage.

Avoid installing software for Mac from unofficial sources and watch out for fake updates

One of the biggest mistakes that Mac users make is when they resort to external sources for new applications – these are usually not verified by Apple and may cause harm to the computer. This is especially true when downloading cracked software^[3] from torrent, and similar sites. However, even torrents are not necessary to infect your machine with such pests like fake system optimizer, which tries to trick you on every step. Besides, its termination might be just as difficult as that of malware – legitimate apps only need to be moved to trash.

Security experts^[4] advise users to be vigilant: adware and PUP distribution for Macs is on the rise, which explains the increase of such apps like Mac Auto Fixer, Mac Tonic, Advanced Mac Cleaner, and many other useless tools that might be even harmful. Even if you resort for third-parties for new apps, please make sure you read the installation instructions carefully, opt for Advanced/Custom settings, and decline all the offers on the way.

Additionally, be aware that many scareware apps are distributed with the help of fake Flash updates. Never trust prompts that come from your browser – either set the software to update automatically or go to the official site and download the update yourself. Best would be to uninstall Flash altogether, as most modern browsers already have the feature implemented.

Mac Heal Pro developers promise much but give very little - do not trust this scam product

Ways to get rid of Mhptask virus

To remove Mhptask from your device, you will also have to terminate the application associated with it – Mac Heal Pro. First, we suggest you try moving the app to Trash, just as you would do with any other applications. However, it is a well-known fact that deceptive PUPs often implement tasks that run the background or install components all over the system. In such a case, you should follow these steps:

• Click on Finder and select Applications
• Double-click on Utilities and then Activity Monitor
• Locate Mhptask and press X at the top-left of the window

Once the task is shut down, delete the following components to complete Mhptask removal:

~/Library/Application Support/mhp/mhptask
~/Library/Application Support/mhp/com.techyutils.mhptask.plist
~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.techyutils.mhptask.plist

After you are done, scan your machine with a reliable anti-malware software, it will most likely detect all the remaining components (if any are left) and check for other potentially unwanted software/malware.

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.