Weknow.ac virus – a persistent Mac infection targeting Chrome browserPUP comes as a fake Adobe Flash update or in software bundlesRemove Weknow.ac virus from Mac
As most of other PUPs, Weknow.ac virus enters the system via software bundles or fake Adobe Flash updates. After the installation, it takes over the used browser and changes its default settings. One key feature of this browser hijacker is that it runs a set of Terminal commands to change Google Chrome policies for its own benefit. The aim of this hijacker is to force people perform searches through unreliable site. Every time you open your browser or a new tab, you will be redirected to a fake search engine without the ability to reset your browser’s settings. These manipulative activities gained this fake search add-on a virus label. Although this name is not technically accurate, people feel highly threatened by this hijacker’s resistance for removal; thus, it is often referred as Weknow.ac virus. Furthermore, some versions of this potentially unwanted program (PUP) do not redirect to its own search engine; instead, it corrupts Google Chrome itself. You can notice the infection by a little change — it says Chrome managed by your organization in the URL bar and settings. Unfortunately, every browsing activity (such as search queries, browsing history, etc.) is monitored while you have this browser hijacker installed on your system. Experts note that information provided during queries on the search engine is collected and may be shared with third-parties or used to customize ads. Those who notice Safari homepage Weknow ac, also report that their browsers are flooded with various advertising content. During browsing sessions, people receive an excessive amount of pop-ups, banners and various product offerings. Additionally, the ads cause significant slowdowns in computer’s performance and can lead to dangerous websites. We recommend to stay away from any promotional content online and refrain from clicking on ads. Otherwise, you might trigger an installation of other potentially unwanted programs (PUPs). Currently, many people search how to remove weknow.ac malware from Mac and Chrome. For this reason, we have prepared a simple step-by-step guide at the end of this article. Every step is illustrated and specifically designed to help you eliminate this browser hijacker from both, your computer and currently used browser. If you’re looking for an automated tool to complete the removal for you, we highly recommend INTEGO. It is a well-reviewed antivirus for OS X that reaches 100% detection rate for OS-targeted malware.
PUP comes as a fake Adobe Flash update or in software bundles
There are two ways how Weknow.ac virus spreads. One of them is traveling as a fake Adobe Flash update pop-up on untrustworthy sites. Users get redirected to a new tab or window displaying a warning that their flash player must be updated. Although, it is merely a disguise to trick people into downloading malware. Another way how this browser hijacker spreads is through software bundles. It is a common practise to distribute applications as an add-on to the main software. Unfortunately, less reliable people took advantage of the legitimate practise and now distribute potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) the same way. For example, if you download software, always choose manual instead of automatic installation process on the installation wizard. This way, you will walk through all the steps and give permission to only necessary changes. Look for pre-selected tick boxes that offer installing add-ons. De-select them and double check your system for additional software that you did not agree to install. For that, always use a robust malware removal software with real-time protection. This feature is designed to help you avoid cyber threats in real time as well as perform regular system scans for professional security.
Remove Weknow.ac virus from Mac
Step 1. Delete Weknow.ac virus profiles from your Mac Step 2. Remove the PUP from the Applications Step 3. Uninstall Weknow.ac add-on and reset search engine settings
Get rid of Weknow from Safari: Open Safari; Navigate to Safari > Preferences > Extensions; Search for Weknow.ac extension and remove it; Then navigate to Preferences > Search; Reset the search engine to a legitimate one, for example, Google. Delete the browser hijacker from Google Chrome: Open Google Chrome and press on the three vertical dots at the top-right corner of the window; Navigate to Settings > Extensions and remove Weknow.ac extension; Then go to Settings > Search Engine and set it to Google. Uninstall Weknow.ac from Mozilla Firefox: Open Mozilla Firefox; Type about:addons in the address bar; Search for suspicious add-ons and remove them.
Step 4. Delete Weknow files from LaunchAgents, Application Support, and LaunchDaemons directories
Clean hijacker’s components from LaunchAgents directory: On the top bar navigate to Go > Go to Folder; Enter /Library/LaunchAgents; Sort files by recently added and try to identify the ones related to Weknow.ac; Drag them to the Trash Bin; Repeat the steps in ~/Library/LaunchAgents directory; Get rid of PUP’s elements from Application Support catalog: Open Go > Go to Folder; Type /Library/Application Support; Delete suspicious files as previously explained; Repeat the steps in ~/Library/Application Support directory. Delete files related to the browser hijacker from LaunchDaemons path: Navigate to Go > Go to Folder; Enter /Library/LaunchDaemons and press Go; Get rid of files related to Weknow.ac hijacker. Clean the trash bin: Once you complete all the steps above and drag the suspicious files to the trash bin, you have to empty it; Go to Trash Bin at the bottom-right corner of the screen; Navigate to the Gear Icon > Empty Bin.
Step 5. Remove Weknow.ac from Chrome (delete policies) Note. This step is essential to finalize Weknow.ac virus removal from Chrome. Note. If you receive “domain (com google chrome not found)” warning when entering the commands into Terminal, it means that Weknow virus might have corrupted some files on the computer. We suggest running a full system scan right away. Try INTEGO, it is highly recommended by security experts and other computer users. Additional Mac cleanup and browser reset instructions are provided below. INTEGO antivirus is one of the leading security products for Mac that includes VirusBarrier X9 and NetBarrier X9 features allowing detection of viruses, ransomware, adware, browser hijackers, Trojans, backdoors and other threats and blocks suspicious network connections. If any detections are found, the software will eliminate them. Learn more about the software’s features in its full review. GeeksAdvice.com editors select recommended products based on their effectiveness. We may earn a commission from affiliate links, at no additional cost to you. Learn more. To remove the unwanted program from your Mac, use these instructions below to uninstall associated applications from your Mac computer. Then scroll down for instructions how to clean each affected web browser individually. Remove Weknow.ac virus from Safari Uninstall suspicious Safari extensions Change Safari Homepage and default search engine Remove push notifications on Safari Some suspicious websites can try to corrupt your Safari by asking to enable push notifications. If you have accidentally agreed, your browser will be flooded with various intrusive advertisements and pop-ups. You can get rid of them by following this quick guide: Reset Safari
Remove Weknow.ac virus from Google Chrome Remove suspicious Chrome extensions Change Start Page settings Change default search settings Remove push notifications from Chrome If you want to get rid of the annoying ads and so-called push-notifications viruses, you must identify their components and clean your browser. You can easily remove ads from Chrome by following these steps: Reset Google Chrome browser
Remove Weknow.ac virus from Mozilla Firefox Remove unwanted add-ons from Firefox Change Firefox Homepage Alter preferences in Firefox Remove annoying push notifications from Firefox Suspicious sites that ask to enable push notifications gain access to Mozilla’s settings and can deliver intrusive advertisements when browsing the Internet. Therefore, you should remove access to your browser by following these simple steps: Reset Mozilla Firefox Disclaimer. This site includes affiliate links. We may earn a small commission by recommending certain products, at no additional cost for you. We only choose quality software and services to recommend.
