How to Remove Spchlpr ‘Virus’ from Mac

George Herman

IT Security Expert

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What is Spchlpr

Spchlpr will damage your computer. You should move it to the Trash.
The file was downloaded on an unknown date.
Report malware to Apple to protect other users.

If you see this message on your Mac, it means that a rogue application has been installed on the system. Usually, this app turns out to be Similar Photo Cleaner, which is categorized as malicious software from the PUA (Potentially Unwanted Application) category. The thing is, Spchlpr is not an actual virus, because it cannot damage your system or your personal files. It is, however, linked to a PUA, which may be programmed to monitor your online activity and promote other unreliable software, which may carry dangerous viruses. Spchlpr may also appear as a consequence of adware, browser hijacker or other malware on your Mac.

How it is distributed

Potentially unwanted applications are most commonly distributed via fake update messages, freeware, infected ads and links, shady redirects, and software bundles. As we already mentioned, this ‘virus’ is often linked to Similar Photo Cleaner, developed by PCVARK. This company is known for producing many malicious applications, which are programmed to promote other junk. A PUA can find its way on your Mac only with your help. Usually, the user is unaware that they are installing such application on their device. This happens when the parasite is hidden in the installer as ‘additional’. If the user doesn’t pay close attention to the process, this app will get installed by default, without their knowledge. To ensure that such thing never happens, you need to always choose the Custom/Advanced option in the installer. Then, look for any apps marked as ‘additional’, and opt out of their installation.

How it operates

The “Spchlpr will damage your computer” message may be very persistent, and you won’t be able to stop it from appearing simply by closing the message. Ignoring this message altogether will not solve your problem. It will only make it worse. The parasite will just become more and more aggressive, pushing various ads and pop-ups, which will promote shady software. Do not fall into this trap! This PUA may obtain your personal data, using your web history, search results, frequently visited pages and GPS coordinates, so it can produce customized advertisements you’ll be most likely to click on. The Spchlpr ‘virus’ can also redirect you to dubious third-party websites, which may seek to infect your Mac with other viruses. The longer you delay this PUA’s removal, the worse the consequences will get. Protect your private information and return the system to a secure state once again! All you have to do is follow the instructions below, to learn how to thoroughly remove the Spchlpr threat from your Mac.

Staying safe from Spchlpr

Apart from having a reliable AV software installed on your Mac, there are other things you can do to ensure your device’s safety. We highly recommend you to:

• Pay close attention when you install third-party software, especially torrent files, so you don’t install shady additional applications that you don’t want. In most cases, that’s how malicious parasites are able to infect your computer;
• Read any Terms and Conditions you see, so you know exactly what you agree to. The last thing you want is to unknowingly give permission to a nasty virus to infiltrate your Mac;
• Follow links that lead to trustworthy sites only;
• It is best to visit only reliable and official websites. You never know what dangers might lurk behind an unfamiliar site;
• No matter how attractive an ad is, if you are not familiar with the website it redirects to, it might be best to steer clear of it and not click;
• Always check the sender’s email address before opening a message. If it states that it’s from an official company, compare the email with the one given in their official page. If there is no match, delete the message, since it most likely is fake and has malicious aims;
• Don’t open email attachments from unknown senders. More often than not, such files carry infections that can seriously damage your computer.

How to manually remove Spchlpr from Mac

If you’ve had the misfortune of getting your Mac infected with the Spchlpr PUA, the instructions below can help you to remove it manually. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Go to Utilities. You can do that by using the ⇧+⌘+U key combination, or by going to Finder and choosing Utilities from the Go main menu at the top.

2. Find Activity Monitor and double-click it.

3. A list will be displayed. Find any processes that seem suspicious to you and use the ‘Force Quit‘ option to quit them completely.

4. Open Finder. Click on the Go button from the main menu at the top, and choose Applications. An alternative way is to use the ⇧+⌘+A key combination.

5. Look for any suspicious applications, especially ones with a name similar to Spchlpr. If any are found, right-click on them and select the ‘Move to Trash‘ option.

6. Remove any related left-over files by going to Finder‘s search bar and typing the name of the app you want to remove. Make sure to modify the two drop down menus above to ‘System Files‘ and ‘Are Included‘, so that any hidden files are visible for you to remove. Once you find the files you want to remove, simply drag them to Trash.

7. All that’s left for you to do is remove any related extensions to Spchlpr from your Mac browsers.

For Mozilla Firefox extensions:

• Open the Firefox browser and from the ‘burger’ menu in the top right corner of the window select ‘Add-ons’.
• Select any suspicious extensions that may be related to the virus and click ‘Remove’.

For Google Chrome extensions:

• Open the Chrome browser and select Tools > Extensions from the menu (the three dots in the top right corner of the browser window).
• Locate any suspicious extensions that may be related to the virus and remove them.

For Safari extensions:

• Open the Safari browser. From the Safari menu choose Preferences. Select Extensions from the options at the top.
• Find any extensions you think are related to the virus, select them and click ‘Uninstall’. A new window will show up asking for confirmation. Click Uninstall again, for the extension to get deleted permanently from your browser.