Malware authors often name malicious programs after legitimate services to avoid detection. This is an age-old method that works regardless of whether the program is targeting Windows, macOS or any other operating system.
In this article, we’re taking a look at the Vibe profile, what it does, whether it’s safe or not and how you can remove it from your computer.
Also read: What is Feed Chunk app? Is it safe?
Vibe Profile explained
Simply put, Vibe Profile is a macOS browser hijacker malware that can get on your computer through malicious websites or pirated downloads. Just like most browser hijackers, Vibe Profile will change your default search engine and won’t let you change those settings back. Additionally, the malware may also span your browser with unwanted pop-ups, ads, and spam messages and can change other browser settings too.
Another important thing to keep in mind about Vibe Profile is that while it might not be as severe as ransomware or trojan horse infection, it can still be rather malicious or lead to other more serious attacks. Since the malware takes control of your browser, you can easily be led to phishing websites and fake redirects and can even end up leaking browser data or cookies, which can further lead to other attacks.
How to remove Vibe Profile?
Here are five ways you can use to remove the browser hijacker from your PC.
Run an antivirus scan
Usually, running an antivirus scan will remove most if not all malware on your PC. You can also use a third-party antivirus or antimalware like Malwarebytes to scan your PC and remove any suspicious software.
Remove suspicious programs and profiles
Sometimes malware might expand itself and install other payloads or create rogue profiles on your computer. Check the Applications tab in your macOS settings to see if there are any suspicious programs on your Mac and if there are, you can uninstall them right away. The same applies to any profiles on your computer that you did not create.
Use Chrome to scan for malware
Chrome has an inbuilt malware scanner that is rather effective at rooting out browser-hijacking malware. Follow these steps to run a scan.
Step 1: Head over to chrome://settings/reset.Click on Clean unwanted Software.
Step 2: Click the Find button and wait for Chrome to automatically find out and remove unwanted apps/software that might be causing this issue.
Now restart your Mac and you should be good to go.
Check your extensions
Shady extensions are one of the most popular infection vectors for browser-hijacking malware. If you’ve recently installed any new extensions, they may be causing this issue.
If you’re on Chrome head over to chrome://extensions/ and try disabling any shady extensions one by one until you get your audio working again.
If you’re on Safari, disabling extensions from the Preferences menu and then enabling them again one at a time until the browser starts working as expected again is a somewhat effective way of singling out any extensions that may be causing the problem.
Restart your browser and Mac once you’re done removing any suspicious extensions and you should be rid of the malware.
Reset Safari
If nothing else works, you will have to reset Safari and start from scratch. All you have to do is head to the Preferences menu and select the Reset Safari option. This will remove all the data stored in your browser and resolve your problem.
