Vantage Advisor
Vantage Advisor is a browser hijacker that specifically targets Mac computers and their browsing apps. Vantage Advisor integrates with the Safari, Chrome, Firefox or other main browser and spams it with various online ads.
Vantage Advisor is not a nasty computer infection and certainly does not have the malicious capabilities of a Trojan horse or Ransomware infection, but its intrusiveness and aggressive ad-generating behavior can really make you not want it on your machine. Computer specialists classify this application as browser hijacker. The moment it gets inside your system, Vantage Advisor attaches an ad-generating and page-redirecting component to your main browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari or any other browser you may have) and starts to display hundreds of ads, colorful banners, pop-ups, redirect links and other commercial messages right on your screen.
Vantage Advisor for Mac
Vantage Advisor for Mac is an invasive application that can modify the settings of your browser without your permission in order to generate profit for its developers. Vantage Advisor for Mac usually earns revenue by means of displaying various sponsored messages on your screen.
Most of these messages usually prompt you to click on them and to visit some sponsored websites or to purchase some questionable products or install some tools and applications. Besides, they are usually very hard to remove and tend to appear on every web page that you visit, even on sites that usually don’t contain any adverts. Many users just try to ignore these ads, but in the long run, they can take over the entire browser and may prevent you from browsing the web without being constantly interrupted by various promotional prompts. What’s more, if you click on these, there is absolutely no guarantee where the ads may redirect you to.
What is Vantage Advisor?
Vantage Advisor is not seen as a virus or malware, but it may still cause issues for you and your system. For instance, Vantage Advisor may show you links that may expose you to low-quality websites where you can get cheated or where your system may get attacked by some hidden viruses.
It is a known fact that threats like ransomware and Trojans are frequently getting spread via fake ads and misleading links and that’s why there is absolutely no reason to trust everything that an browser hijacker application like Feed.chunkapp.com can display. If not removed, such software will most likely keep on bombarding your desktop with lots of third-party commercials and obstruct your browsing experience. That’s why we suggest you uninstall it with the help of the instructions below.
The VantageAdvisor app
The VantageAdvisor app may find its way inside your computer mostly via the installation of free application bundles of different third-party applications. In these cases the VantageAdvisor app is usually included as an optional install in the bundle.
Other sources include free download links, spam emails, adult or torrent websites, pirated software, peer-to-peer file sharing sites as well as via other methods. However, you can prevent the browser hijacker invasion very effectively if you adhere to some basic security rules. For instance, whenever you download and install new applications, make sure you always read the EULA and check for any additional components (free, bonus, recommended installs) which may come along with the main setup package. These can usually be found under the Advanced or the Custom menu and can be disabled before you complete the installation process.
If you skip these options and accidentally install browser hijacker on your computer, this is not fatal because this software is unlikely to damage your system. However, it may trigger browsing disturbances and you may need some additional assistance to uninstall it in order to remove all the ad-generating components which might have been integrated with your browser. That’s why we suggest you follow the steps in the removal guide we’ve posted above or use a professional removal tool that can automatically handle the entire removal process of the annoying software.
SUMMARY:
| Name | Vantage Advisor |
| Type | Browser Hijacker |
| Danger Level | Medium (nowhere near threats like Ransomware, but still a security risk) |
| Detection Tool |
Remove Vantage Advisor Virus from Mac
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.
WARNING! READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING!
Start Activity Monitor by opening up Finder, then proceed to 
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:
Now click on Sample at the bottom:
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:
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.
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,
and then again on the Extensions tab,
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.
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,
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
Check if your Homepage is the one you have selected, if not change it to whatever you prefer.
Select the History menu this time, and click on Clear History. This way you will prevent accidentally opening a problematic web page again.
How to Remove Vantage Advisor From Firefox in OSX:
Open Firefox, click on 
(top right) ——-> Add-ons. Hit Extensions next.
The problem should be lurking somewhere around here – Remove it. Then Refresh Your Firefox Settings.
How to Remove Vantage Advisor From Chrome in OSX:
Start Chrome, click 
—–>More Tools —–> Extensions. There, find the malware and select 
.
Click 
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!
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