What is MacOS:Spigot-AY? If your antivirus detects MacOS:Spigot-AY then it indicates that your PC is affected by a potentially unwanted program (PUP). This software is automatically installed, without notification or user consent. Therefore, many users aren’t even aware that their machine has been infected by PUPs.
Once started, the MacOS:Spigot-AY will be configured to run automatically when Mac OS starts. It may show tons of undesired pop-ups, add malicious code into web pages that you are opening in your internet browser, hijack browser’s settings like home page and search engine, and so on.
It is not a good idea to use a personal computer that infected with the MacOS:Spigot-AY threat. The reason for this is simple, it doing things you don’t know about. This virus has the ability to gather a wide variety of marketing-type data about you that can be later transferred third party companies. You do not know if your home address, account names and passwords are safe.
Don’t panic because we have got the method. Here’s a step-by-step instructions on how to remove any PUPs and thereby remove MacOS:Spigot-AY PUP from your machine for free.
Remove MacOS:Spigot-AY PUP (Virus removal steps)
As with removing adware and malware, there are few steps you can do. We advise trying them all. If you do only one part of the guidance, then it should be run malware removal utility, because it should remove MacOS:Spigot-AY PUP and block any further infection. But to completely remove MacOS:Spigot-AY you will have to at least reset your internet browser settings like default search provider, new tab and home page to default state, delete all unwanted and suspicious software, and get rid of potentially unwanted program with malicious software removal tools. Read it once, after doing so, please print this page as you may need to close your internet browser or restart your machine.
To remove MacOS:Spigot-AY, use the steps below:
- How to manually remove MacOS:Spigot-AY
- Run free malware removal utilities to completely get rid of MacOS:Spigot-AY
- Use AdBlocker to stay safe online
- Method of MacOS:Spigot-AY intrusion into your MAC
- Finish words
How to manually remove MacOS:Spigot-AY
To remove MacOS:Spigot-AY, adware and other unwanted programs you can try to do so manually. Unfortunately some of PUPs won’t show up in your program list, but some PUPs may. In this case, you may be able to get rid of it via the uninstall function of your Microsoft Windows computer. You can do this by following the steps below.
Remove MacOS:Spigot-AY associated software by using the Finder
First, go to the Finder and remove questionable software, all programs you do not remember installing. It’s important to pay the most attention to applications you installed just before MacOS:Spigot-AY was detected by your antivirus. If you don’t know what a program does, look for the answer on the Internet.
Open Finder and click “Applications”.
It will open a list of all programs installed on your MAC system. Scroll through the all list, and remove any questionable and unknown programs. Right click to suspicious application and choose “Move to Trash”. Another method is drag the program from the Applications folder to the Trash.
Most important, scroll through the all list, and move to trash any unknown applications. Don’t forget, choose Finder -> Empty Trash.
Remove was detected by your from Chrome
If you have PUPs problem or the Chrome is running slow, then reset Google Chrome settings can help you. In the steps below we will show you a solution to reset your Google Chrome settings to original state without reinstall. This will also allow to delete changes to internet browser settings created by MacOS:Spigot-AY.
- First, start the Google Chrome and press the Menu icon (icon in the form of three dots).
- It will open the Chrome main menu. Choose More Tools, then click Extensions.
- You’ll see the list of installed plugins. If the list has the extension labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following instructions: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
- Now open the Google Chrome menu once again, press the “Settings” menu.
- Next, press “Advanced” link, that located at the bottom of the Settings page.
- On the bottom of the “Advanced settings” page, click the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
- The Google Chrome will display the reset settings prompt as shown on the screen above.
- Confirm the web browser’s reset by clicking on the “Reset” button.
- To learn more, read the post How to reset Google Chrome settings to default.
Remove MacOS:Spigot-AY PUP from Safari
If you find that Safari browser settings having been modified by MacOS:Spigot-AY and other PUPs, then you may restore your settings, via the reset browser procedure.
Click Safari menu and select “Preferences”.
It will open the Safari Preferences window. Next, click the “Extensions” tab. Look for unknown and suspicious extensions on left panel, choose it, then click the “Uninstall” button. Most important to get rid of all unknown plugins from Safari.
Once complete, click “General” tab. Change the “Default Search Engine” to Google.
Find the “Homepage” and type into textfield “https://www.google.com”.
Remove MacOS:Spigot-AY PUP from Mozilla Firefox
If the Mozilla Firefox settings have been modified by the MacOS:Spigot-AY, then resetting it to the default state can help. It’ll keep your personal information such as browsing history, bookmarks, passwords and web form auto-fill data.
First, start the Mozilla Firefox. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (). It will open the drop-down menu. Next, click the Help button ().
In the Help menu click the “Troubleshooting Information”. In the upper-right corner of the “Troubleshooting Information” page press on “Refresh Firefox” button as shown on the image below.
Confirm your action, click the “Refresh Firefox”.
Run free malware removal utilities to completely get rid of MacOS:Spigot-AY
If you are unsure how to remove MacOS:Spigot-AY easily, consider using automatic PUPs removal apps which listed below. It will identify the MacOS:Spigot-AY threat and other unwanted programs and get rid of it from your computer for free.
How to get rid of MacOS:Spigot-AY with MalwareBytes Free
Remove MacOS:Spigot-AY manually is difficult and often the PUP is not completely removed. Therefore, we recommend you to use the MalwareBytes Free that are completely clean your computer. Moreover, the free program will allow you to remove malicious software, potentially unwanted applications, toolbars and hijackers that your computer can be infected too.
Download MalwareBytes Free by clicking on the link below.
20842 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: September 10, 2020
When downloading is finished, close all applications and windows on your MAC. Run the saved file. Follow the prompts.
The MalwareBytes Anti-Malware will automatically start and you can see its main screen as shown below.
Now click the “Scan” button to begin scanning your computer for the MacOS:Spigot-AY and other PUPs. This task can take quite a while, so please be patient. While the utility is scanning, you may see number of objects and files has already scanned.
When the scan get completed, you will be opened the list of all found items on your MAC OS. Next, you need to press “Remove Selected Items” button. The MalwareBytes Free will remove MacOS:Spigot-AY and other PUPs and add items to the Quarantine.
Use AdBlocker to stay safe online
It’s important to use adblocker programs such as AdGuard to protect your Apple Mac from malicious web-pages. Most security experts says that it’s okay to block advertisements. You should do so just to stay safe! And, of course, the AdGuard may to stop misleading and other unwanted pages.
Visit the page linked below to download AdGuard.
3677 downloads
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: January 17, 2018
When the download is finished, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen. Follow the prompts.
Each time, when you launch your computer, AdGuard will start automatically and block unwanted pop up ads, as well as other harmful or misleading web pages.
Method of MacOS:Spigot-AY intrusion into your MAC
Many PUPs are included in the free applications installation package. In most cases, a user have a chance to disable all included “offers”, but certain installers are created to confuse the average users, in order to trick them into installing PUPs and other unwanted apps. Anyway, easier to prevent a potentially unwanted program rather than clean up your Apple Mac after one. So, keep the browser updated (turn on automatic updates), use a good antivirus software, double check a freeware before you open it (do a google search, scan a downloaded file with VirusTotal), avoid harmful and unknown webpages.
Finish words
Now your computer should be free of the MacOS:Spigot-AY and other PUPs. We suggest that you keep MalwareBytes Free (to periodically scan your machine for new PUPs and other malware) and AdGuard (to help you block annoying popup ads and harmful web pages). Moreover, to prevent any potentially unwanted program, please stay clear of unknown and third party programs.
If you need more help with MacOS:Spigot-AY PUP related issues, go to here.