How to remove SNOWLIGHT (Mac)

What is SNOWLIGHT

SNOWLIGHT is a sophisticated malware designed to target macOS systems, acting primarily as a dropper to facilitate further infections. Leveraging its capabilities, it establishes a connection to a Command and Control (C&C) server to receive instructions and potentially deploy additional malicious payloads. This malware is notable for its ability to introduce threats such as the VShell RAT, which operates filelessly within system memory, making detection and removal challenging. Once embedded, SNOWLIGHT can lead to a cascade of security breaches, including unauthorized access, data theft, and the installation of additional malware. Users may not notice any immediate symptoms as the malware is engineered to operate stealthily, evading traditional detection methods. Its presence poses significant risks, including privacy invasions, financial loss, and identity theft, as it can harvest sensitive information and compromise system integrity. Due to its complex nature and potential for severe damage, immediate intervention with robust antivirus solutions like Combo Cleaner is crucial to mitigate its impact.

How SNOWLIGHT infected your system

SNOWLIGHT malware infiltrates Mac computers primarily through methods that exploit common vulnerabilities and user interactions. It often enters systems via malicious email attachments, deceptive online advertisements, or compromised software downloads, employing social engineering tactics to trick users into initiating the infection. Once on the system, SNOWLIGHT acts as a dropper, meaning it is designed to download and execute additional malicious payloads, such as the VShell Remote Access Trojan (RAT). This dropper communicates with a Command and Control (C&C) server to receive instructions, potentially modifying system environment variables and establishing persistence by setting up scheduled tasks. The initial stage of infection has been linked to malicious bash scripts that deliver multiple payloads, creating a robust infection chain that allows for further exploitation and data exfiltration. As a result, SNOWLIGHT can lead to severe privacy breaches, data theft, and system integrity compromises, highlighting the importance of vigilance and robust security measures.

Remove SNOWLIGHT from macOS manually

Removing SNOWLIGHT from macOS requires a systematic approach that involves a combination of built-in tools, safe computing practices, and sometimes third-party software. Here’s a comprehensive guide to identifying and removing viruses from your Mac, ensuring your system’s integrity and security.

Step 1: Disconnect from the Internet

1. Disconnect your Mac from the Internet. This prevents the virus from sending data to its creator or downloading more malicious software. Turn off Wi-Fi and unplug any Ethernet cables.

Step 2: Enter Safe Mode

2. Restart your Mac in Safe Mode. Safe Mode performs a check of your startup disk and restricts certain software from automatically loading or opening.
   • For Intel-based Macs: Restart your Mac and immediately press and hold the Shift key until you see the login window.
   • For Apple Silicon Macs: Turn off your Mac, press and hold the power button until you see the startup options window, select your startup disk, press and hold the Shift key, then click Continue in Safe Mode.

Step 3: Use Built-in Tools for Malware Removal

3. Use Finder to identify and remove suspicious applications.
   • Open Finder, go to the Applications folder, and look for any applications you don’t recognize or didn’t intentionally download.
   • Right-click the suspicious application and select Move to Trash, then empty the Trash.
4. Use macOS built-in malware removal tool (MRT). macOS automatically runs MRT in the background, but you can manually run a malware scan by updating your software.
   • Go to System Preferences > Software Update.
   • Install any available updates, as these often include the latest security improvements and malware definitions.

Step 4: Check and remove SNOWLIGHT from Login Items

Note: SNOWLIGHT may set up to start on macOS startup. Therefore, before starting the removal, perform these steps:

1. Open System Preferences, choose Users & Groups.
2. Choose your account (set up as Current User).
3. Click Login Items tab.
4. Find suspicious entries. Select it, and click the “-“ (minus) button to remove them.

Step 5: Check and remove SNOWLIGHT Malicious Device Profile

Important update: SNOWLIGHT can install malicious Device Profile called AdminPrefs or similarly on MacOS, that won’t allow users to make changes to browser search engine and homepage settings. Follow instructions below to remove this profile.

Remove SNOWLIGHT profile

1. Go to System Preferences and click on Profiles.
2. In the list of profiles on the left side, choose AdminPrefs or other profile and click on “-” button to remove it.
3. In your case it can be named differently, in this case remove all visible profiles. Check the picture below to see how it looks like.

Step 6: Reset Your Web Browsers

Reset Safari:

1. Start Safari on your Mac, click Safari to open drop-down menu and choose Preferences
2. Go to the Privacy section of Safari’s preferences.
3. Click Remove All Website Data button.
4. In the opened window, click Remove Now button to remove data stored by websites in Safari.
5. Go to the Advanced section of Safari’s preferences.
6. Click the Show Develop menu in menu bar option.
7. In the menu, click Develop and select Empty Caches from this menu.
8. Again, go to Safari menu and choose Clear History….
9. Choose to clear all history and click Clear History button.

Reset Google Chrome:

1. Start Google Chrome browser
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) chrome://settings.
3. Scroll down and find Show advanced settings link.
4. Click on it and scroll down to the bottom again.
5. Click Reset settings button and click Reset to confirm.

Reset Mozilla Firefox:

1. Start Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) about:support.
3. Click Refresh Firefox… button.
4. Click Refresh Firefox to confirm.

Step 7: Restore from a Backup

8. If the issue persists, consider restoring your Mac from a backup.
   • Use Time Machine or another backup system to restore your Mac to a state before it was infected.
   • Ensure the backup you choose predates the malware infection.

Prevention Tips

• Keep your macOS updated. Regularly check for and install macOS updates to ensure you have the latest security patches.
• Be cautious with downloads and attachments. Only download software from trusted sources like the Mac App Store or official websites.
• Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) where possible.
• Consider enabling the macOS firewall in System Preferences > Security & Privacy.
• Regularly back up your Mac using Time Machine or another backup solution to ensure you can recover your system if needed.

Following these steps should help you remove most viruses from your Mac. If you continue to experience issues, consider seeking help from Apple Support or a professional cybersecurity service.