How to remove AdLoad malware from your Mac

Among the many good reasons to avoid cracked software, free software, and apps from unknown developers is the increased risk of malware. An example of this is AdLoad, a piece of trojan horse malware.

This adware can sneak onto Mac machines and start leaving nasty surprises. Fortunately, it’s easy to detect and remove AdLoad from a Mac. Today, we’ll show you how to do it.

What is AdLoad?

AdLoad is a piece of trojan horse malware that hides inside legitimate software. When you install the legitimate software, AdLoad starts installing itself in the background.

In this way, AdLoad manages to bypass the usual macOS security protocols and plant itself on your system. In May 2024, it was widely reported that AdLoad was managing to evade XProtect, macOS’s default antivirus platform.

Once on your device, AdLoad will start placing pop-up ads on your screen, stealing your personal data, hijacking your browser, and redirecting you to malware-infected websites. Even worse, AdLoad can put more malware on your machine.

Is AdLoad adware actually dangerous?

At first, victims might consider the browser redirection of AdLoad to be little more than an annoyance. But the real damage is done behind the scenes.

AdLoad, like all other types of malware, should be considered dangerous. In addition to loading more malware onto your machine, the AdLoad virus can steal your private data and sell it to third parties.

Signs your Mac is infected with AdLoad adware

Wondering if your Mac is infected with AdLoad? We’ve compiled a list of all the symptoms to look out for. Watch for any of the following on your MacBook:

1. Soon after installing new software, your Mac begins to act strangely.
2. Your Mac is slowing down considerably and even crashes.
3. Your CPU and memory skyrocket to over 90%.
4. Your Mac is overheating.
5. Your browser is sluggish to the point of being unusable.
6. Your browser homepage and search engine have been changed.
7. Your web browsing gets redirected to suspicious-looking websites.
8. Your Wi-Fi network is switching on and off.

If you recognize one or more of these symptoms, you could have malware of some kind, including the possibility of AdLoad malware.

How to remove AdLoad from Mac

It’s a simple process to remove AdLoad from your Mac. Follow our advice below, and soon, your device will be running smoothly again, as if nothing ever happened.

The fastest and most effective AdLoad removal method is CleanMyMac, powered by Moonlock Engine. This is a lightweight, powerful platform that optimizes your Mac. Plus, it immediately removes any kind of malware. It’s a hacker’s worst nightmare.

First, go to CleanMyMac and sign up for your free trial. Then, after installing the software and opening it, do the following to wave goodbye to AdLoad and send it packing:

1. Select the Protection feature on the left. This is MacPaw’s malware removal tool.
2. Before you start scanning, click Configure Scan. This takes you into the scan settings. To ensure an optimal scan, tick all the boxes, especially Deep Scan.
3. Once that’s done, click the Scan button to let CleanMyMac do what it does best. It will start to expertly and thoroughly search your Mac for all traces of AdLoad and other threats.
4. When it’s found, CleanMyMac will show it to you along with a list of any other malware and associated files. Select them all and click Remove.

It may be worth running another scan to make sure everything is gone, as you can never be too careful.

Other ways to get rid of AdLoad adware on your Mac

It is possible to remove AdLoad without the help of an anti-malware tool. However, since AdLoad is also a browser hijacker, you’ll need to do some tweaks to remove the malware from your Mac manually.

To remove AdLoad from Safari:

1. Reset your homepage and search engine.
2. Review your browser security settings.
3. Delete your cache, cookies, and other browser files.
4. Review the pages set to open when the browser starts.
5. Look in your Applications folder and delete any suspicious software. Also, delete any “legitimate” software that you suspect may have carried trojan malware.

How does AdLoad malware infect your Mac?

Once AdLoad is gone, you need to determine the point of entry to ensure that an infection doesn’t happen again. Here are a few ways it could have gotten onto your machine:

1. Bundled with other software as a trojan horse
2. Fake software updates – including the infamous Adobe Flash “update”
3. Malicious websites and malware-infected ads
4. Email links and attachments
5. Malicious browser extensions and add-ons
6. Unpatched vulnerabilities in your operating system or other apps

How to avoid an AdLoad malware infection on your Mac

Once the AdLoad malware has been nuked and you’ve eliminated the point of entry, it’s time to take proactive measures to prevent AdLoad from making a return performance.

Think before clicking web links or downloading attachments

If your mom or your partner sends you a link, it’s probably safe to assume that they have no nefarious intentions and that the link is safe to click. But if a stranger or someone you barely know sends you a link, you’re better safe than sorry. Don’t click it. There’s no way of telling where it really leads.

Install very little outside the Mac App Store

Downloading your software only from the Mac App Store will significantly cut down on the chance of trojan horse malware. All apps in the App Store are strictly vetted and scanned by Apple, unlike a lot of third-party software that avoid strict controls.

Limit your downloads to the App Store as often as possible, and you’ll do well.

Don’t click on pop-up ads or software updaters

For the most part, legitimate software won’t bombard you with large pop-ups or annoying messages on your monitor.

If you get a message on your screen telling you that a piece of software needs to be updated, don’t click it. Instead, go directly to the app’s settings and check for updates there. Download any updates that are available.

Keep your operating system updated

Apple is very good at pushing out regular security updates, but they don’t install them for you. That’s your job.

You can enable auto-updates on macOS or, every couple of days, go to System Settings > General > Software Update to see if any updates are waiting. If so, install them sooner rather than later.

Never sideload browser extensions

Finally, official browser extensions are vetted and monitored. Anything installed outside that environment, however — also known as “sideloaded” extensions — will bypass certain security controls and potentially add malware onto your machine. Always download from official sources.

With malware incidents only getting worse, it’s more important than ever to prevent these attacks from happening in the first place. AdLoad malware is just one example of this.

Stay vigilant, know what to look for, and act fast if a malware infection happens to you. A bit of paranoia isn’t always a bad thing.

This is an independent publication, and it has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. Mac and macOS are trademarks of Apple Inc.