Your computer is low on memory Mac virus: what it is and how to remove it
Your computer is low on memory Mac virus is an adware that drops legitimate-looking messages on macOS computers. Truly, the notification is provided by BeeAware adware and claims that your Mac computer is lacking space and you need to free up some memory.
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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Your computer is low on memory Mac virus: summary
| Damage | If you have been infected by this adware, you can be put at risk of a malware infection that can happen if you are redirected to a potentially dangerous source or the PUP itself is used for the distribution of virtual parasites |
|---|---|
| Name | Your computer is low on memory Mac virus |
| Type | Adware/potentially unwanted program |
| Cause | This suspicious notification shows up on the computer screen provoked by BeeAware adware |
| Activities | Once you have the adware installed on your computer system, you are likely to receive a big number of intrusive advertisements, constant redirecting sessions. Also, the PUP can collect information about your browsing history, habits, and experience and perform unexpected changes on the web browser's homepage and new tab URL sections |
| Detection names | No 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 8 more facts
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Symptoms | Redirects to an unknown domain |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Domains | cnet.com |
| Ads shown as | Redirects through ad pages |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 16 January 2020 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Is Your computer is low on memory Mac virus dangerous?
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Your computer is low on memory Mac virus is a pop-up that is forced to show up by BeeAware adware
Your computer is low on memory Mac virus is an adware that drops legitimate-looking messages on macOS computers.
Truly, the notification is provided by BeeAware adware and claims that your Mac computer is lacking space and you need to free up some memory. However, this is not an official message and you should be aware that more intrusive activities are yet to come after encountering it.
The intruder that controls the process can drop annoying pop-ups on the targeted computer and start redirecting to unknown locations while surfing the web through the infected web browser. Sometimes, adware apps might even be used for infiltrating other PUPs or malware such as trojans into the computer system which you should be aware of as it can bring big damage to your device and compromise various software.
Your computer is low on memory Mac virus is not an object that you can rely on. After the adware installation process, you can encounter unexpected modifications in the homepage and new tab URL sections of your web browser apps such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari. Also, these locations might get filled with questionable components such as browser add-ons, plug-ins, and extensions.
Continuously, this particular Mac virus can drop misleading advertisements during your browsing sessions and start interrupting your online work constantly. If this happens, you are likely to find your web browser sluggish and with decreasing speed per session. Also, the provided ads might bring you bogus offers, deals, and even drop you technical support scams, fake prize claims, and surveys.
You should not believe in anything that comes from Your computer is low on memory Mac virus as it will be provided for beneficial purposes only. While the first way to gain income from users is to gather monetary benefits from the pay-per-click technique, the second method includes tracking non-personal information that is related to the person's browsing history and sharing the collected items with other parties for income.
The potentially unwanted program that controls these alerts might be able to spy on data such as recently visited websites, hyperlinks, and advertisements accessed, bookmarks that you have saved, offers and deal searched via the search bar, your geographic location, IP address, the type of web browser, etc. Such type of information can also be used in targeted advertising campaigns for providing you with attractive-looking advertisements.
Furthermore, Your computer is low on memory Mac virus might be used for redirecting users to affiliate sources that are filled with additional offers promoted and will likely try to convince users to purchase some type of useless product or service.
However, this is not the worst part of these redirecting sessions as there is a risk of getting directed towards a malware-laden domain. If this happens, your computer system might end up with a nasty infection.
For further benefits, the developers might provide this product bundled with other PUPs such as adware and browser hijackers. In addition, you have a chance of receiving scareware apps and tech support scams. Nevertheless, there also is a risk of getting malware on your computer system through the provided ads.
If you want to remove threats from your device properly, you will have to complete a full elimination process that includes web browsers and the operating system. This way you will be sure that the PUP is gone and save time also.
Even though adware is not considered to be dangerous malware, Your computer is low on memory Mac virus removal is still not a process that you should play with.
The potentially unwanted program might easily reappear if you leave any suspicious files or entries lurking on your computer system. After the cleaning, you can try using for fixing the compromised system parts if you have discovered some during the adware's activity period.
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Adware apps sneak into the system via software bundles
Software bundles often carry potentially unwanted programs such as adware in their packages and get downloaded to computer systems that have the "Recommended" or "Quick" downloading mode set as default.
Continuously, you should avoid downloading and installing products from third-party websites such as Cnet.com, Download.com, and Softonic.com. Also, note that adware and similar PUPs can get distributed together with various PDF converters, download managers, and similar questionable tools. The best thing to do here is to get all of your software and services from reliable developers and the programs' official downloading pages only.
In addition, potentially unwanted products can camouflage themselves as software updates, for example, Adobe Flash Player. If you are ever provided with an update request while browsing the Internet sphere, you should not rush to take it seriously before check the official update releases.
Also, you should get a reliable antivirus tool that will protect you from potential cyber threats and drop you warnings if something suspicious is trying to invade your machine.
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Your computer is low on memory Mac virus
- If you have spotted any signs of system compromisation, you can try fixing the affected areas with the help of software such as
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
cnet.com
How to remove Your computer is low on memory Mac virus
How to remove Your computer is low on memory Mac virus from a Mac
Remove the app and what starts it, then check the browsers.
Step 1: 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 Your computer is low on memory Mac virus or a site you do not trust, to the Bin, then empty the Bin.Also check
~/Library/Application Supportfor a folder with the same name as the app you removed.Step 2: 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/LaunchAgentsand /Library/LaunchDaemons for property list (.plist) files you did not add. Drag suspicious ones to the Bin, then restart the Mac.Step 3: Check the browsers for extensions and changed settings
In Safari open Settings > Extensions and General (homepage). In Chrome open
chrome://extensions, in Firefoxabout: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.
Step 4: 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.
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
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 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
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
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.
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity.
While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important - recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data.
Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Your computer is low on memory Mac virus removal instructions
You should remove any threats from your macOS machine.
Especially if adware like this has been throwing annoying notifications on your screen and interrupting your browsing work with redirecting sessions. Note that the potentially unwanted program might have hidden questionable-looking components in your Applications folder or other computer sections that also need to be cleaned if you do not want the cyber threat to reappear.
The virus removal is a process that you can complete with the help of automatic antimalware software or manual step-by-step guidelines that have been added to the end of this writing. First of all, you should measure your skills and abilities towards the elimination of adware. If you think of yourself as an advanced computer user, you can continue with the manual technique, otherwise, download and use reliable antimalware tools.
Specialists from LesVirus.fr claim that adware programs such as Your computer is low on memory Mac virus add bogus products such as browser extensions to web browser apps such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari. These directories also need to be cleaned, otherwise, the PUP might show up the next time you launch the infected browser.
Questions about Your computer is low on memory Mac virus
cnet.com opens when I click links. What causes it?
When every click leads to cnet.com first, an extension or a script on the page is rewriting the links. If it happens only on one site, that site uses aggressive ads; close it and use another source. If it happens everywhere, open the browser in a private window, where extensions are normally off, and try again.
No redirect in the private window means one of your extensions is responsible: remove the ones you do not know. A redirect in the private window too means the cause is outside the extensions, such as a notification permission, a changed search setting or a program installed on the PC. The removal steps in this guide cover each of those.
Is it safe that my browser was redirected to cnet.com?
Landing on cnet.com does not infect the PC by itself. A browser does not run programs from a page without your action. The danger is in the pages that come next:
- some ask you to allow notifications
- some show fake virus warnings
- some offer downloads
- ask for card details
If you only saw those pages and closed them, nothing more is needed than removing whatever caused the redirect. If you allowed notifications, remove that permission.
If you downloaded a file, delete it unopened, or uninstall it if you ran it. If you typed a password or card number on one of the pages, change the password and call your bank.
Why does Your computer is low on memory Mac virus show me ads?
Because that is its whole purpose. Your computer is low on memory Mac virus is an adware extension, and its operators are paid for every ad it displays and every click it gets. In this case the ads take the form of redirects through ad pages.
They are chosen by ad networks that accept almost any advertiser, which is why so many look like warnings or prizes. The ads are not a sign that your PC is broken or infected with something worse; they are a sign that something on it, or in the browser, has permission to advertise. Removing that permission or program stops them.
Do I have to clean every browser?
Yes, if you use more than one. We saw Your computer is low on memory Mac virus in Chrome, Edge and Firefox, and each browser keeps its own extensions, notification permissions and settings. Chrome and Edge share the same extension format, so one installer can add the same adware to both, while Firefox has its own add-ons.
Check every browser on the PC, including ones you rarely open. If you sync a browser with an account, clean it while signed in, so that the removal reaches your other computers rather than the adware returning from them.
How do I know the ads come from Your computer is low on memory Mac virus?
Look for redirects to cnet.com. That is the trace Your computer is low on memory Mac virus leaves, and it shows up as redirects through ad pages. Ads that appear on every site, including ones that never carried ads before, point to something on your PC or in the browser rather than to the sites themselves.
A quick test is a private window, where extensions are off by default: if the ads disappear there, an extension is responsible. If they appear even with the browser closed, the source is a notification permission or a program in Windows.
I clicked on one of the ads. Am I infected?
Probably not. Clicking an ad usually only opens a page, and a page cannot install programs on an up-to-date Windows PC without your help.
You are at risk only if you then downloaded and ran a file, allowed notifications, entered card or login details, or called a phone number shown on the page. Delete any download and run a full and offline scan.
Change passwords you typed, from a clean device. Call your bank if you gave card details. If you called a number or allowed remote access, see the next question.
An ad showed a phone number and I called it. What now?
The number belongs to scammers, not to Microsoft or an antivirus company. If you only talked, hang up and do not call back. If you let them connect to the PC, disconnect it from the internet, uninstall the remote access program they used, such as AnyDesk, TeamViewer, ScreenConnect or UltraViewer, and run a full and offline scan.
If you paid or gave bank details, call your bank at once on the number printed on your card. Change any passwords you typed while they were connected, and report the call.
Why didn't my antivirus catch Your computer is low on memory Mac virus?
Many security products do not block adware or notification sites by default, because users often agreed to them, even through a misleading prompt. Notification spam installs nothing at all, so there is no file to detect.
In Windows 11 you can make Microsoft Defender block potentially unwanted apps: open Windows Security > App & browser control > Reputation-based protection settings and turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking. If notifications caused the pop-ups, no scanner will report them; the fix is in the browser's site settings.
Can adware slow down my PC?
Yes. Adware runs in the background, loads ad scripts, opens extra tabs and contacts its servers, all of which use processor time, memory and bandwidth. Ad-heavy extensions also slow down every page, because they inspect and change it before you see it.
The effect is strongest on older PCs and when several adware programs arrived together. After removal, restart the PC and check Task Manager for anything still using a lot of resources that you do not recognise. Speed usually returns to normal once the ads stop.
Will Fortect remove Your computer is low on memory Mac virus?
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 Your computer is low on memory Mac virus, 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
- Norton: What is a Trojan? Is it a virus or is it malware? (read October 7, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Pay-per-click (read October 7, 2026)
- LesVirus: LesVirus.fr (read October 7, 2026)
- Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)