Powerlift Mac ‘Virus’ Removal

George Herman

IT Security Expert

Get a FREE scan to check for problems

Some infections like this virus can regenerate themselves. There is no better way to detect, remediate and prevent malware infection, than to use a professional anti-malware software like SpyHunter. One Application that is capable of solving all MAC problems.

Go to Spyhunter.com

SpyHunter Anti-Malware FREE 15-day trial available.

What is Powerlift

Powerlift is a potentially unwanted application (PUA), which is designed to spam your browsers with numerous aggressive advertisements. The app is also known to monitor its victim’s online activity and collect sensitive information like browser history, geolocations, search queries, IP addresses, passwords, bank account credentials, etc. This parasite is capable of modifying browser settings, so it can show shady ads uninterrupted. Powerlift will surely make your browsing a hellish experience. The only way you protect your online privacy, as well as return your Mac to a malware-free state, is by removing every trace of this nasty PUA.

How it is distributed

Unwanted software is known to spread via freeware, fake update messages and torrent files. The program can also be seen advertised on unreliable third-party websites. In most cases, the user is unaware that they’re installing bonus software along with the application they actually want. That’s because some installers contain optional installations, which are often overseen by the user. If you don’t specifically opt out of such additional software, they’ll get automatically installed, since they’re designed that way. However, if you choose the Custom/Advanced option in the Setup Wizard, you’ll have full control over the process. All you have to do is complete every step carefully, and uncheck the boxes next to any programs marked as optional installations.

How it operates

PUAs such as Powerlift may redirect to potentially harmful third-party websites, or trick you into installing other junk with the help of scare tactics. This parasite will start to spy on you as soon as it gets access to your browsers. It will be ale to see which sites you frequently visit, or what your search queries are. This data is beneficial to the cyber criminals in many ways. Not only can it be used to better customize the generated ads, but it can also be sold to other shady people. Powerlift‘s developers can also profit from the pay-per-click scheme, which this app is programmed to perform. For each click you make on the produced ads, the pest will create revenue for its creators. If you want to regain control over your browser, and protect your personal information, you have to get rid of the Powerlift application as soon as you detect its presence on your Mac. The longer you delay, the worse its effect will get!

Staying safe from Powerlift

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 Powerlift from Mac

If you’ve had the misfortune of getting your Mac infected with the Powerlift 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 Powerlift. 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 Powerlift 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.