According to computer security experts the SystemSpot is a potentially unwanted application (PUA) that belongs to the Adware family. Adware is short for ‘ad supported’ software. Additionally, some malware has adware software built into the program. Adware presents unwanted ads that appear in pop ups or advertising banners on computer. In order to show unwanted adverts as often as possible adware can change your browser settings. You may even find that your MAC system settings are hijacked without your knowledge. The authors of adware software do so in order to make money via third-party ad network. Thus every your click on the advertisements generates profit for them.
Unwanted ads
The worst is, adware can install a component which enables its creator to track which webpages you visit, which products you look at upon those pages. They are then able to select the type of ads they display you. So, if you had adware software on your Apple Mac, there is a good chance you have another that is collecting and sharing your confidential data with third parties, without your knowledge.
Threat Summary
| Name | SystemSpot |
| Type | adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), pop-up ads, popup virus, pop-ups |
| Symptoms |
|
| Removal | SystemSpot removal guide |
How does Adware get on your MAC OS
In many cases adware spreads bundled with various free programs. Therefore it is very important at the stage of installing software downloaded from the World Wide Web carefully review the Terms of use and the License agreement, as well as to always select the Advanced, Custom or Manual installation mode. In this mode, you can turn off all optional applications, which will be added along with the desired program.
Do not panic because we’ve got the solution. Here’s a guidance on how to remove intrusive SystemSpot adware from the Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Safari and other browsers.
How to remove SystemSpot (Adware virus removal guide)
There are several steps to removing the SystemSpot adware because it installs itself so deeply into MS Windows. You need to delete all suspicious and unknown apps, then remove harmful addons from the Mozilla Firefox, Chrome and Safari and other internet browsers you’ve installed. Finally, you need to reset your browser settings to delete any changes the adware software has made, and then check your Apple Mac with MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) to ensure the adware is fully removed. It will take a while.
To remove SystemSpot, perform the following steps:
- How to remove SystemSpot adware software without any software
- Automatic Removal of SystemSpot adware software
- How to stay safe online
- To sum up
How to remove SystemSpot adware software without any software
Most adware can be removed manually, without the use of anti-virus or other removal tools. The manual steps below will guide you through how to remove SystemSpot adware step by step. Although each of the steps is simple and does not require special knowledge, but you doubt that you can complete them, then use the free utilities, a list of which is given below.
Delete PUPs through the Finder
Some PUPs, browser hijacking apps and adware can be removed by uninstalling the free programs they came with. If this way does not succeed, then looking them up in the list of installed applications in Finder. Use the “Move to Trash” command in order to remove them.
- Open the Finder.
- Click “Applications”.
- It will show a list of all apps installed on the Apple Mac.
- Scroll through the all list, and delete suspicious and unknown applications. Pay maximum attention to the application you installed last.
- Drag the questionable program from the Applications folder to the Trash.
- Empty Trash.
Remove SystemSpot from Chrome
The adware software can alter your Google Chrome settings without your knowledge. You may see an unwanted web-site as your search provider or homepage, additional extensions and toolbars. Reset Chrome web browser will help you to get rid of SystemSpot ads and reset the unwanted changes caused by adware software. However, your themes, bookmarks, history, passwords, and web form auto-fill information will not be deleted.
- First start the Chrome and click Menu button (small button in the form of three dots).
- It will display the Google Chrome main menu. Choose More Tools, then click Extensions.
- You will see the list of installed extensions. If the list has the add-on labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following steps: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
- Now open the Chrome menu once again, click the “Settings” menu.
- You will see the Chrome’s settings page. Scroll down and press “Advanced” link.
- Scroll down again and click the “Reset” button.
- The Google Chrome will open the reset profile settings page as shown on the screen above.
- Next click the “Reset” button.
- Once this process is done, your web-browser’s newtab page, start page and search provider will be restored to their original defaults.
- To learn more, read the article How to reset Google Chrome settings to default.
Remove SystemSpot adware from Safari
By resetting Safari web browser you revert back your browser settings to its default state. This is basic when troubleshooting problems that might have been caused by SystemSpot adware.
Run Safari web browser. Next, select Preferences from the Safari menu.
First, click the “Security” tab. Here, select “Block pop-up windows”. It will stop some types of pop ups.
Now, click the “Extensions” icon. Look for suspicious extensions on left panel, choose it, then click the “Uninstall” button. Most important to remove all dubious extensions from Safari.
Once complete, check your start page and search provider settings. Click “General” tab. Make sure that the “Homepage” field contains the website you want or is empty.
Make sure that the “Search engine” setting shows your preferred search engine. In some versions of Safari, this setting is in the “Search” tab.
Delete SystemSpot adware from Firefox
If the Mozilla Firefox web browser application is hijacked by SystemSpot, then resetting its settings can help. The Reset feature is available on all modern version of Firefox. A reset can fix many issues by restoring Mozilla Firefox settings like search engine by default, new tab page and homepage to their original settings. It’ll save your personal information such as saved passwords, bookmarks, auto-fill data and open tabs.
First, start the Firefox. Next, press the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (
). It will open the drop-down menu. Next, press the Help button (
).
In the Help menu click the “Troubleshooting Information”. In the upper-right corner of the “Troubleshooting Information” page click on “Refresh Firefox” button as displayed in the following example.
Confirm your action, press the “Refresh Firefox”.
Automatic Removal of SystemSpot adware software
If you are not expert at machine technology, then we suggest to use free removal utilities listed below to delete SystemSpot for good. The automatic way is highly recommended. It has less steps and easier to implement than the manual solution. Moreover, it lower risk of system damage. So, the automatic SystemSpot removal is a better option.
Run MalwareBytes AntiMalware to delete SystemSpot adware software
Delete SystemSpot ads manually is difficult and often the adware software is not fully removed. Therefore, we suggest you to run the MalwareBytes Free that are fully clean your computer. Moreover, this free program will allow you to remove malware, potentially unwanted applications, toolbars and hijacker infection that your MAC OS can be infected too.
Download MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) on your MAC system from the link below.
20984 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: September 10, 2020
After downloading is complete, close all programs and windows on your Apple Mac. Run the saved file. Follow the prompts.
The MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) will automatically start and you can see its main screen like below.
Now click the “Scan” button . MalwareBytes Free program will scan through the whole MAC OS for the SystemSpot and other PUAs. Depending on your MAC system, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. While the MalwareBytes Free is scanning, you can see how many objects it has identified either as being malicious software.
When MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) has finished scanning your MAC OS, MalwareBytes Free will show you the results. In order to remove all threats, simply click “Remove Selected Items” button. The MalwareBytes will start to remove SystemSpot adware.
How to stay safe online
Running an adblocker program like AdGuard is an effective way to alleviate the risks. Additionally, ad blocking applications will also protect you from malicious advertisements and web sites, and, of course, stop redirection chain to misleading and other unwanted web-pages.
- Download AdGuard from the following link.
AdGuard for Mac download
3772 downloads
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: January 17, 2018
- When downloading is finished, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
- After the install is done, click “Skip” to close the setup program and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial that will help you get to know AdGuard better.
- In most cases, the default settings are enough and you don’t need to change anything. Each time, when you run your computer, AdGuard will start automatically and stop annoying advertisements, block malicious or misleading web-pages.
To sum up
Now your MAC system should be free of the SystemSpot adware software that redirects your browser to intrusive ad websites. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted popup advertisements and unwanted harmful web pages) and MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (to periodically scan your machine for new malware, browser hijackers and adware). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Mac OS. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new browser hijacker infections, malicious software and adware are released.
If you are still having problems while trying to delete SystemSpot ads from your web-browser, then ask for help here.
