This article has been created in order to give you insight on how to quickly remove the OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware from your Mac effectively.
The OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware is a very dangerous threat to all Mac computers as it can install itself silently and lead to data theft. Active infections can be made without any apparent symptoms and depending on the specific hacker instructions different actions can take place. This is the reason why affected users should remove it immediately.
OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware Infection — How Did I Get It
The OSX/KitM.A Mac malware is a dangerous virus instance that is primarily spread using a mass email phishing campaign. The target users will receive messages that appear to be sent by legitimate companies or services that they might use. In most cases they will copy the content and design layout of the legitimate service. The associated virus files can be directly attached or linked in the body contents.
These messages can redirect the victims to a premade download page which may use similar domain names to well-known Internet download portals or vendors .The content of these addresses can also include security certificates and all elements that can confuse the visiting users into thinking that they have accessed a legitimate site.
Other popular methods include the creation of malicious payloads of which are there two main types:
Document Scripts — Criminal collectives frequently use this approach which embeds an automated installation procedure documents of all popular types: spreadsheets, presentations, text documents and databases. When they are opened by the victims a message will be shown asking them to enable the built-in scripts. If this is done the virus infection will continue.
Software Installers — The hackers can create malicious application installers by taking the legitimate setup files of popular apps that are frequently installed by users. Primary targets are system utilities, creativity suites and productivity software. Whenever they are installed the infection will also be placed onto the target systems.
The OSX/KitM.A Mac malware samples can be acquired through peer-to-peer networks such as BitTorrent where pirate content is usually found.
OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware — Full Description
The analysis of the reported OSX/KitM.A Mac malware shows that one of the initial behavior patterns initiated by it is the installation of a backdoor module called macs.app. Depending on the specific instructions it may lead to the following behavior:
Trojan Component — The client instance will establish a secure connection with a hacker-controlled server allowing the malicious operators to have complete control over the infected host. They will be able to spy on the victims at all times, harvest their data and also upload other threats.
Cryptocurrency Miners — They are scripts or programs that take advantage of the available hardware resources in order to carry out complex calculations. When the completed tasks are reported the operators will be rewarded with digital currency.
Data Harvesting — The associated engine can retrieve sensitive data from the infected computers. There are two main groups of information, the first of which is related to user data. The engine will search for strings that can expose their identities by looking for data such as their name, address, phone number, interests, location and any stored account credentials. Through the infection the virus operators have the ability to access installed software such as the web browsers. The virus deployment also leads to the generation of an unique victim ID, usual components that are used in the process are the installed hardware parts, user configuration and operating system values.
The installation of this application can be done as a persistent threat, this means that it will modify the system settings and launch itself every time the computer is powered on. This action can also prevent certain services or applications from launching properly.
One of the dangerous characteristics of the OSX/KitM.A Mac malware is that it uses a signed Apple Developer ID. This allows it to pass through the Apple Gatekeeper software without raising any concerns. This greatly helps its spread through various repositories, sites and other means.
OSX/KitM.A Mac malware infections have been found to take screenshots of the computers usage between set periods and automatically send them to the hackers using a secure connection. This essentially allows the hackers to use the collected information for crimes such as identity theft and financial abuse. This is possible by installing a keylogger — a program which will automatically monitor all entered keys and mouse movement. This allows the hackers to harvest credentials and password fields that are not visible through the usual screen capture method.
Active infections should be removed as soon as possible to prevent abuse and further infections.
Remove OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware Infection from Your Mac
If you believe that these redirects being systematic are caused by an unwanted program, then you should immediately take actions towards removing it. One such action that you can try is to follow the removal instructions underneath this article. They have been created with the clear purpose to help you delete any unwanted programs that may be associated with this app. If you fail to remove this app manually, you can also do so automatically by downloading and running a scan with an advanced malware cleaner. Such program aims to scan for and remove any unwanted programs and also tries to ensure future protection against such PUP and malware.
Martin graduated with a degree in Publishing from Sofia University. As a cyber security enthusiast he enjoys writing about the latest threats and mechanisms of intrusion.
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Stop Push Pop-ups
How to Remove OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware from Windows.
Step 1: Scan for OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
1.1 Click on the "Download" button to proceed to SpyHunter's download page.
It is recommended to run a scan before purchasing the full version of the software to make sure that the current version of the malware can be detected by SpyHunter. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter's EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria.
1.2 After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.
1.3 After the update process has finished, click on the 'Malware/PC Scan' tab. A new window will appear. Click on 'Start Scan'.
1.4 After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any files of the associated threat and found them, you can try to get them removed automatically and permanently by clicking on the 'Next' button.
If any threats have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart your PC.
Step 2: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode
2.1 Hold Windows key + R
2.2 The "Run" Window will appear. In it, type "msconfig" and click OK.
2.3 Go to the "Boot" tab. There select "Safe Boot" and then click "Apply" and "OK".
Tip: Make sure to reverse those changes by unticking Safe Boot after that, because your system will always boot in Safe Boot from now on.
2.4 When prompted, click on "Restart" to go into Safe Mode.
2.5 You can recognise Safe Mode by the words written on the corners of your screen.
Step 3: Uninstall OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs.No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
3.1 Hold the Windows Logo Button and "R" on your keyboard. A Pop-up window will appear.
3.2 In the field type in "appwiz.cpl" and press ENTER.
3.3 This will open a window with all the programs installed on the PC. Select the program that you want to remove, and press "Uninstall"
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 4: Clean Any registries, Created by OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware on Your PC.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
4.1 Open the Run Window again, type "regedit" and click OK.
4.2 When you open it, you can freely navigate to the Run and RunOnce keys, whose locations are shown above.
4.3 You can remove the value of the virus by right-clicking on it and removing it.
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
Video Removal Guide for OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware (Windows).
Get rid of OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware and remove related files and objects
1.1 Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
1.2 Find Activity Monitor and double-click it:
1.3 In the Activity Monitor look for any suspicious processes, belonging or related to OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware:
Tip: To quit a process completely, choose the “Force Quit” option.
1.4 Click on the "Go" button again, but this time select Applications. Another way is with the ⇧+⌘+A buttons.
1.5 In the Applications menu, look for any suspicious app or an app with a name, similar or identical to OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware. If you find it, right-click on the app and select “Move to Trash”.
1.6 Select Accounts, after which click on the Login Items preference.
Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
1.7 Remove any left-over files that might be related to this threat manually by following the sub-steps below:
Go to Finder.
In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
Disclaimer! If you are about to tamper with Library files on Mac, be sure to know the name of the virus file, because if you delete the wrong file, it may cause irreversible damage to your MacOS. Continue on your own responsibility!
1: Click on "Go" and Then "Go to Folder" as shown underneath:
2: Type in "/Library/LauchAgents/" and click Ok:
3: Delete all of the virus files that have similar or the same name as OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware. If you believe there is no such file, do not delete anything.
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Click the button below below to download SpyHunter for Mac and scan for OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware:
Video Removal Guide for OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware (Mac)
Remove OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Erase OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window:
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Uninstall OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Remove OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware from Safari
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware will be removed.
How to Reset Safari
IMPORTANT: Before resetting Safari make sure you back up all your saved passwords within the browser in case you forget them.
Start Safari and then click on the gear leaver icon.
Click the Reset Safari button and you will reset the browser.
Eliminate OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
Remove Push Notifications from Your Browsers
Turn Off Push Notifications from Google Chrome
To disable any Push Notices from Google Chrome browser, please follow the steps below:
Step 1: Go to Settings in Chrome.
Step 2: In Settings, select “Advanced Settings”:
Step 3: Click “Content Settings”:
Step 4: Open “Notifications”:
Step 5: Click the three dots and choose Block, Edit or Remove options:
Remove Push Notifications on Firefox
Step 1: Go to Firefox Options.
Step 2: Go to “Settings”, type “notifications” in the search bar and click "Settings":
Step 3: Click “Remove” on any site you wish notifications gone and click “Save Changes”
Stop Push Notifications on Opera
Step 1: In Opera, press ALT+P to go to Settings.
Step 2: In Setting search, type “Content” to go to Content Settings.
Step 3: Open Notifications:
Step 4: Do the same as you did with Google Chrome (explained below):
Eliminate Push Notifications on Safari
Step 1: Open Safari Preferences.
Step 2: Choose the domain from where you like push pop-ups gone and change to "Deny" from "Allow".
It may slow your computer down significantly and display advertisements. The main idea is for your information to likely get stolen or more ads to appear on your device.
The creators of such unwanted apps work with pay-per-click schemes to get your computer to visit risky or different types of websites that may generate them funds. This is why they do not even care what types of websites show up on the ads. This makes their unwanted software indirectly risky for your OS.
What Are the Symptoms of OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware?
There are several symptoms to look for when this particular threat and also unwanted apps in general are active:
Symptom #1: Your computer may become slow and have poor performance in general.
Symptom #2: You have toolbars, add-ons or extensions on your web browsers that you don't remember adding.
Symptom #3: You see all types of ads, like ad-supported search results, pop-ups and redirects to randomly appear.
Symptom #4: You see installed apps on your Mac running automatically and you do not remember installing them.
Symptom #5: You see suspicious processes running in your Task Manager.
If you see one or more of those symptoms, then security experts recommend that you check your computer for viruses.
What Types of Unwanted Programs Are There?
According to most malware researchers and cyber-security experts, the threats that can currently affect your device can be rogue antivirus software, adware, browser hijackers, clickers, fake optimizers and any forms of PUPs.
What to Do If I Have a "virus" like OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware?
With few simple actions. First and foremost, it is imperative that you follow these steps:
Step 1:Find a safe computer and connect it to another network, not the one that your Mac was infected in.
Step 2:Change all of your passwords, starting from your email passwords.
Step 3: Enable two-factor authentication for protection of your important accounts.
Step 4: Call your bank to change your credit card details (secret code, etc.) if you have saved your credit card for online shopping or have done online activities with your card.
Step 5: Make sure to call your ISP (Internet provider or carrier) and ask them to change your IP address.
Step 6: Change your Wi-Fi password.
Step 7:(Optional): Make sure to scan all of the devices connected to your network for viruses and repeat these steps for them if they are affected.
Step 8:Install anti-malware software with real-time protection on every device you have.
Step 9: Try not to download software from sites you know nothing about and stay away from low-reputation websites in general.
If you follow these recommendations, your network and all devices will become significantly more secure against any threats or information invasive software and be virus free and protected in the future too.
How Does OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware Work?
Once installed, OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware can collect data using trackers. This data is about your web browsing habits, such as the websites you visit and the search terms you use. It is then used to target you with ads or to sell your information to third parties.
OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware can also download other malicious software onto your computer, such as viruses and spyware, which can be used to steal your personal information and show risky ads, that may redirect to virus sites or scams.
Is OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware Malware?
The truth is that PUPs (adware, browser hijackers) are not viruses, but may be just as dangerous since they may show you and redirect you to malware websites and scam pages.
Many security experts classify potentially unwanted programs as malware. This is because of the unwanted effects that PUPs can cause, such as displaying intrusive ads and collecting user data without the user’s knowledge or consent.
About the OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific, adware-related problem, and restore your browser and computer system.
How did we conduct the research on OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware?
Please note that our research is based on independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware, adware, and browser hijacker definitions.
Furthermore, the research behind the OSX/KitM.A Mac Malware threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand this online threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
