PowerLane Mac

PowerLane

PowerLane is an ad-generating app that is deemed unwanted by experts because it takes over users’ browsers and forces them to reroute one’s traffic. PowerLane tampers with the settings of the affected browser in order to make its advertising activities more effective.

PowerLane
The PowerLane app will display pop up ads and notifications

The main goal of an app like this is to earn a profit through the application of several different online advertising tactics. The first one is the generation of various forms of paid advertisements. Clicking on such ads generates small amounts of income on a Pay-Per-Click basis. It normally doesn’t matter what browser you use (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, etc.) or if that browser has an ad-blocker. The unwanted ads and page-redirecting links would still keep on coming as long as the unwanted application stays active. In addition, you may notice changes in the search engine of the browser or a replacement of its homepage. This is also done in order to boost the number of ads that are shown on your screen.

PowerLane for Mac

PowerLane for Mac is a browser-hijacking type of software specifically designed to target and infect Mac browsers. PowerLane for Mac is programmed to spam the affected browser with paid ads and to redirect its user to some partnering sites that need a traffic boost.

Automatic page redirects are the second tactic used by many browser hijackers that allows them to make a profit. By adding some helper elements to the targeted browser, most apps of the browser hijacker family are able to automatically initiate page-redirects without the need for the users to interact with anything in their browsers. This allows the hijacker apps like PowerLane, ChillSearch, Search Marquis to draw more traffic and visits to the sites of their partners, who, in turn, pay commissions to the hijackers’ creators for the site-promoting service. In such a situation, the only ones who do not benefit in any way are the end-users, who are forced to endure and put up with the invasive advertising activities.

What is PowerLane?

PowerLane is a typical representative of the browser hijacker family – a category of browser-infecting software known for its unwanted page redirects. PowerLane is created with the goal to boost certain site’s traffic by getting as many users as possible redirected to them.

While the activities of most hijackers do not directly cause any lasting damage to the computer, it is highly inadvisable to keep an app like this on your Mac or to interact with any of the content it may bring to your screen. The reason for this lies in the risk of getting targeted by hackers, that create Ransomware, Trojans, and Spyware, after getting redirected by the hijacker to some unsafe website.

The PowerLane app

The PowerLane app is a small malware application known for its ability to aggressively advertise certain sites from within Mac browsers. The PowerLane app can introduce changes to the affected browser’s settings that allow it to show more ads and launch page-redirects.

The safest way to deal with this unwanted software and decrease the risk of getting attacked by Trojans, Ransomware, or other viruses is to use the next removal guide and remove the hijacker by following the steps present there. 

SUMMARY:

NamePowerLane
TypeBrowser Hijacker
Danger LevelMedium (nowhere near threats like Ransomware, but still a security risk)
Detection Tool

Remove PowerLane from Mac

Step1

The first thing you need to do is to Quit Safari (if it is opened). If you have trouble closing it normally, you may need to Force Quit Safari:

You can choose the Apple menu and click on Force Quit.

Alternatively you can simultaneously press (the Command key situated next to the space bar), Option (the key right next to it) and Escape (the key located at the upper left corner of your keyboard).

If you have done it right a dialog box titled Force Quit Applications will open up.

In this new dialog window select Safari, then press the Force Quit button, then confirm with Force Quit again.

Close the dialog box/window.

Step2

WARNING! READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING!

Start Activity Monitor by opening up Finder, then proceed to activity-monitor

Once there, look at all the processes: if you believe any of them are hijacking your results, or are part of the problem, highlight the process with your mouse, then click the “i” button at the top. This will open up the following box:

chromeinfo

Now click on Sample at the bottom:

chromesample

Do this for all processes you believe are part of the threat, and run any suspicious files in our online virus scanner, then delete the malicious files:

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    Step3

    The next step is to safely launch Safari again. Press and hold the Shift key while relaunching Safari. This will prevent Safari’s previously opened pages from loading again. Once Safari is opened up, you can release the Shift key.

    On the off chance that you are still having trouble with scripts interrupting the closing of unwanted pages in Safari, you may need to take some additional measures.

    First, Force Quit Safari again.

    Now if you are using a Wi-Fi connection turn it off by selecting Wi-Fi off in you Mac’s Menu. If you are using a cable internet (Ethernet connection), disconnect the Ethernet cable.

    Step4

    Re-Launch Safari but don’t forget to press and hold the Shift button while doing it, so no previous pages can be opened up. Now, Click on Preferences in the Safari menu,

    Preferences in Safari

    and then again on the Extensions tab,

    extensions in safari

    Select and Uninstall any extensions that you don’t recognize by clicking on the Uninstall button. If you are not sure and don’t want to take any risks you can safely uninstall all extensions, none are required for normal system operation.
    Step5

    The threat has likely infected all of your browsers. The instructions below need to be applied for all browsers you are using.

    Again select Preferences in the Safari Menu, but this time click on the Privacy tab,
    Privacy in Safari

    Now click on Remove All Website Data, confirm with Remove Now. Keep in mind that after you do this all stored website data will be deleted. You will need to sign-in again for all websites that require any form of authentication.

    Still in the Preferences menu, hit the General tab

    General Tab in Safari

    Check if your Homepage is the one you have selected, if not change it to whatever you prefer.
    Default Home Page

    Select the History menu this time, and click on Clear History. This way you will prevent accidentally opening a problematic web page again.

    firefox-512 How to Remove PowerLane From Firefox in OSX:

    Open Firefoxclick on mozilla menu (top right) ——-> Add-onsHit Extensions next.

    pic 6

    The problem should be lurking somewhere around here –  Remove it. Then Refresh Your Firefox Settings.


    chrome-logo-transparent-backgroundHow to Remove PowerLane From Chrome in OSX:

     Start Chrome, click chrome menu icon —–>More Tools —–> Extensions. There,  find the malware and  select  chrome-trash-icon.

    pic 8

     Click chrome menu icon again, and proceed to Settings —> Search, the fourth tab, select Manage Search Engines.  Delete everything but the search engines you normally use. After that Reset Your Chrome Settings.

    If the guide doesn’t help, download the anti-virus program we recommended or try our free online virus scanner. Also, you can always ask us in the comments for help!


    About the author

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    Brandon Skies

    Brandon is a researcher and content creator in the fields of cyber-security and virtual privacy. Years of experience enable him to provide readers with important information and adequate solutions for the latest software and malware problems.

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