How to Remove Adware From Mac

Your Mac is supposed to be a fast and powerful machine worthy of its price tag.  

So you shouldn’t have to put up with adware that causes excessive ads and unwanted browser redirects. Not only are these things extremely annoying — they can also put your privacy at risk. Luckily, it’s easy to remove adware from Mac.

Read on to learn how to spot an adware infestation and remove this problem from your device.

Pro tip: Prevent an adware attack before it causes any problems by installing trustworthy antivirus software. Clario is powerful enough to snuff out even bigger threats that can sneak into your Mac along with adware. Follow these steps to equip your Mac with 24/7 real-time protection:

1. Install Clario.
2. Click the Scan button to spot any malware.
3. Set up real-time protection to prevent future attacks.

Start protecting your Mac today with Clario. Now let’s discuss what you can do if your Mac is already infected with adware.

First, let’s talk about what adware is.

What is Mac adware?

Adware is a type of unwanted software that exposes you to annoying pop-ups and ads, redirects your searches to advertising sites, and collects your data for marketing purposes. It can even infect your computer with other types of malware, including worms,trojans, spyware, and beyond.  

Considered a modern-day PUP (potentially unwanted program), adware is usually loaded to your computer without your knowledge. It’s commonly bundled with regular software, and you’re likely to have unwittingly agreed to its download in the EULA (End User License Agreement). Remember the lengthy terms and conditions you’re asked to tick every time you download an app? If you’re like most people, you probably don’t read the fine print. And that’s how you unknowingly “consent” to downloading a PUP.  

Adware developers make revenue from the number of times users see or click on their content. This is why adware is so intrusive — the more eyes see their ads, the more money they pocket.  

Signs of adware infection on Mac

Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between legitimate pop-up ads and adware. So, how can you check for adware on your Mac?  

Here are some telltale signs you’ve got an adware problem on your hands:

• Your web browser’s homepage has changed, or it now redirects you to an unknown address
• Your web browser is much slower than usual
• Your web browser frequently crashes
• Banners appear in unusual places
• You see text advertisements throughout any web pages you read
• The ads you see promote shady brands
• Website links direct you to unintended pages
• Suspicious error messages appear out of nowhere
• Software starts installing without your permission

If some of the signs above seem familiar — and present in your day-to-day online life — then it’s likely you have adware installed on your Mac. Now, let’s talk about how you can remove this nuisance.  

Steps to remove adware from Mac

The quick and easy way to remove adware from your Mac is to use antivirus software that automatically scans your computer and expels malware.

Follow these steps to get rid of adware on your Mac:

1. Download Clario and create an account.

2. Click on the Quick Scan button, and let Clario do the job for you.

How to remove adware from Mac Safari

Even if you manage to uninstall adware from your Mac, it may have interfered with the settings on your browser, so you might still need to fix this problem.  

Follow these steps to remove adware from Mac Safari:

1. Open Safari.

2. Go to Preferences.

3. Navigate to the Extensions tab.

4. Uninstall any extensions you don’t recognize.

How to get rid of adware on Mac Chrome

You must also double-check your Chrome browser to make sure everything looks right. Fixing the problem usually involves getting rid of unwanted extensions.

Here’s how to remove adware from Mac Chrome:

1. Open Chrome.

2. Navigate to Preferences.

3. Go to the Extensions tab.

4. Remove any extensions you don’t recognize.

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It’s no fun being bombarded by unwanted ads. But this could be the least of your worries. Adware can expose you to greater threats like data breach and identity theft. Fortunately, there are easy ways to defend yourself from both existing and possible attacks. In most cases, all it takes is a quick download of Mac adware removal software.