Marmose.app Adware

Marmose.app is an advertising-supported program targeting macOS systems. While it masquerades as legitimate software, it actually belongs to the Pirrit adware family—posing serious threats to privacy, system performance, and potentially exposing users to further malware.

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Threat Overview

Marmose.app is classified as adware for Mac that stealthily displays intrusive advertisements, collects user data, and redirects users to suspicious websites. Although browser-hijacking wasn’t observed in testing, its data-tracking functionalities make it dangerous nonetheless.

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Threat Details Summary

Category	Details
Threat type	Adware (macOS)
Associated domain	Marmose.app (Pirrit family)
Detection names	Avast: MacOS:Pirrit-CH [Adw], Combo Cleaner: Adware.MAC.Pirrit.KF, ESET-NOD32: A Variant Of OSX/Adware.Pirrit.BP, Kaspersky: Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Pirrit.ac
Symptoms of infection	Sluggish Mac performance, unwanted pop-up ads, redirects to dubious sites
Damage & distribution	Browser tracking and data collection, exposure to scam ads or malware downloads; spreads via deceptive bundling, fake pop‑ups, torrent sites
Danger level	Moderate to high (privacy risk + potential malware exposure)
Removal tool	SpyHunter

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Evaluation & Deep Dive

How I Got Infected

Users often install Marmose.app unknowingly via bundled installers, fake pop-ups, or deceptive torrent downloads. Choosing “Express” or “Quick” installs increases the risk by automatically approving bundled malware elements.

What It Does

Once installed, Marmose.app shows persistent advertisements, tracks browsing behavior and possibly collects identifying data such as cookies, search history, and user credentials. Though full browser‑hijacking isn’t confirmed, it may still open unwanted sites or generate phishing risks.

Should You Be Worried?

Yes. Even without overt encryption or theft, Marmose.app compromises privacy, clogs system resources, and can expose you to more dangerous threats. Its presence significantly undermines endpoint protection and secure browsing.

Method 1: Manually Removing Adware from Your Mac

Step 1: Uninstall Suspicious Applications

1. Open Finder and navigate to Applications.
2. Carefully review the list and look for applications you don’t recognize or didn’t install.
3. Drag any suspicious applications to the Trash.
4. Empty the Trash to ensure they’re permanently removed.
5. Open System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items.
6. Remove any unknown startup programs by selecting them and clicking the - button.

Step 2: Remove Unwanted Browser Extensions

Safari

1. Open Safari and click Safari > Preferences > Extensions.
2. Look for any extensions you don’t recognize and uninstall them.
3. Go to History > “Clear History” to remove traces of adware-related activity.

Google Chrome

1. Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner and select Extensions.
2. Find any unfamiliar extensions and remove them.
3. Reset Chrome by going to Settings > Reset settings > “Restore settings to their original defaults.”

Mozilla Firefox

1. Click the three-line menu and go to Add-ons and themes.
2. Remove any unknown extensions.
3. Reset Firefox via Help > More troubleshooting information > “Refresh Firefox.”

Step 3: Delete Malicious Files and Folders

1. Open Finder, press Shift + Command + G, and enter the following locations:
   • ~/Library/Application Support/
   • ~/Library/LaunchAgents/
   • ~/Library/LaunchDaemons/
   • ~/Library/Preferences/
2. Look for suspicious files and remove them.

Step 4: Clear Your DNS Cache

1. Open Terminal.
2. Type the following command and hit Enter:
3. Enter your administrator password if prompted.

Step 5: Restart Your Mac

Restart your Mac to finalize the removal process.

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Method 2: Automatically Remove Adware with SpyHunter for Mac

If you prefer a hassle-free solution, SpyHunter for Mac can detect and eliminate adware efficiently.

Step 1: Download SpyHunter

Click the link below to download SpyHunter for Mac: Download SpyHunter Here.

Step 2: Install and Set Up SpyHunter

1. Open the downloaded .dmg file.
2. Drag SpyHunter into the Applications folder.
3. Launch SpyHunter and allow it to update its malware definitions.

Step 3: Run a Full System Scan

1. Open SpyHunter.
2. Click Start Scan.
3. Wait for the scan to complete and review the detected threats.
4. Click Fix Threats to remove any adware found on your system.

Step 4: Restart Your Mac

Once SpyHunter has completed the removal, restart your Mac to ensure all traces of adware are gone.

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Conclusion

Marmose.app may seem innocuous, but behind its facade lies a potent threat to your Mac’s performance and privacy. If you notice frequent pop-ups, slowdowns, or redirections, take them seriously. Removing this adware promptly using a trusted tool like SpyHunter is essential to restore system security.