DTTarget Mac Malware - How to remove

DTTarget is adware that affects macOS devices. Most likely, DTTarget got downloaded in an infected installer or from a site that was showing a fake message urging visitors to install a software update. When DTTarget is installed, it can change how the browser behaves, hijacking its searches, filling it with ads and redirects. It causes other technical issues, too. Removing DTTarget can be really annoying because if some of its files are left undeleted, it may return after a while. It is important, though – to free web browsers from DTTarget’s harmful influence.

In short about DTTarget:

Classification	Adware.
How DTTarget affects the browser	Changes browser search and new tab settings, causes the Mac to be slow, the internet to drop, online apps to crash.
Adware installation	Infected downloads can be found online, on unsafe websites, malicious and deceptive ads spread adware installers, trojans download and install adware.
Removing DTTarget	Find malware and remove it (Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, others), find and delete malicious files, apps, and add-ons, restore settings that DTTarget might have changed.

Symptoms of a DTTarget infection

DTTarget is a malicious app that affects Macs. Here are a few symptoms that you might have experienced:

• Pop-ups saying that DTTarget will damage your computer.
• A mysterious app that starts with Safari or another browser.
• Pop-up ads and redirects in the browser.
• Unstable and slow Mac, dropping internet connection, crashing apps.
• DTTarget refusing to be deleted.

DTTarget can cause the browser to redirect searches to unusual websites. For example, SearchMarquis or SafeFinder might take over your browser’s new tab.

DTTarget’s goal is to spy on users and to show ads to them. While that’s not a very big deal, it’s still advisable to change your passwords after you delete DTTarget.

How Mac adware gets installed

Malicious ads, infected installers, and trojans can cause DTTarget to be installed without the knowledge of the victim.

For example, pop-ups online about how you need to update Flash Player to watch a video, how you must install the new browser update, or how your OS update just arrived. These are fake (for one, Flash Player is barely used anymore, while web browsers do not show pop-ups about updates – they just install them).

Visiting such sites is generally not dangerous, but downloading and running the files that they offer is. DTTarget, various fake cleaners, unwanted browser extensions, and other junkware could get installed.

Infected installers can also be found on potentially unsafe websites, including pirating sites and software download sites.

Finally, if there was a trojan on the Mac before DTTarget appeared, then maybe that trojan was the one to download DTTarget.

Apps like DTTarget do require you to grant them trust and privileges to work. But malicious apps get around this by overlaying these warnings with fake windows and tricking the victim into clicking on the “OK” button by lying about what it’s for. DTTarget may even hijack the browser cursor, preventing it from going outside the fake pop-up.

How to remove DTTarget

While it is possible to remove DTTarget manually, it can be a bit time-consuming. If not all of its traces are removed, it may be able to return. But an anti-malware program alone would likely not be able to fix everything, either. So, it’s a good idea to combine the two methods.

Start your Mac in safe mode.

Scan your Mac with Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, or another anti-malware app. They should be able to detect and remove malicious files associated with DTTarget.

Open Finder, Go, Go to Folder. Use this dialog to open the hidden ~/Library and /Library folders. Look for files such as these:

• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.DTTarget.plist
• /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.DTTargetDaemon.plist
• ~/Library/Application Support/com.DTTarget/DTTarget
• /Library/Application Support/com.DTTargetDaemon/DTTarget

Almost certainly, there are other malicious files with different names. Sometimes, malware uses names of legitimate apps or even puts a “Mac” or “iTunes” (iTunesWriter) or another trust-inspiring word in there. This is made more complicated because the folders where DTTarget hides contain actually legitimate files, as well. Start by examining file creation dates. If DTTarget appeared recently, then the malicious files should have approximately the same date. Delete them. You may be asked to provide your password.

Look for DTTarget files elsewhere, too – in Finder, press Go, Computer, and in the search box, type in “DTTarget”. Delete its files.

System Preferences, Profiles – select and remove all the suspicious profiles (possibly even all of them).

System Preferences, Network, Advanced, Proxies – is SOCKS ticked? Sometimes Mac malware does that and it causes issues with the internet connection. If you didn’t set this setting yourself, then untick and save.

Below are instructions for removing unwanted extensions from the browser and choosing your own settings for the search engine and the new tab.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Restore browser settings

How to remove DTTarget Mac Malware from Safari:Top

Remove malicious extensions

• Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences.
  
• Select Extensions and uninstall DTTarget Mac Malware and other suspicious extensions.
  
• If your homepage was changed, click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences and choose General tab. Enter preferable URL to the homepage field.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings(older versions) If you are still experiencing any issues related to DTTarget, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Reset Safari…
  
• Select which options you want to reset (usually all of them come preselected) and click on the Reset button.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

TopHow to remove DTTarget Mac Malware from Google Chrome on Mac:

• Open Chrome browser.
• Enter in the url field “chrome://extensions” address and hit Enter.
• Find DTTarget Mac Malware on the extensions list and click on the recycle bin icon next to it.
• Click on 'Chrome' button at the top left corner. Select 'Preferences' on a drop-down menu box.
• Find 'Search' options on Settings tab. If your search engine is changed, click 'Manage Search Engines' and set your preferred search engine.
• On the same page find 'Show home button' checkbox and change your homepage.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to DTTarget, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• On the 'Preferences' menu window, scroll down to the bottom and find 'Reset settings' button. Click it.
• Confirm your selection and click 'Reset' on the following window.

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program. Top

How To remove DTTarget Mac Malware from Firefox on Mac OS:

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla window and select the “Add-ons” icon (Or press cmd+Shift+A on your keyboard).
• Go through Extensions list, remove everything DTTarget Mac Malware related and items you do not recognise. If you do not know the extension and it is not made by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft, Oracle or Adobe then you probably do not need it.
• Enter “about:preferences” in URL bar and hit enter.
• Open Search settings tab.
• If your search engine is changed, click 'Default Search Engines' and set your preferred search engine.
• If your homepage was changed, click on the Firefox menu in the top right corner, select Preferences-> General. Enter a preferable URL to the home page field.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to DTTarget Mac Malware, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla Firefox window. Click on the Help button.
• Choose Troubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
• Click on the Refresh Firefox button.
• Click on the Refresh Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.

If the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program to identify malicious entries.