Patext Mac is a browser hijacker that affects Mac users. It joins a list of Mac threats that have been annoying users across the globe.
It is easy to confuse Patext Mac with a more dangerous threat because this application can seemingly modify your browser’s settings without your permission. However, that is not precisely the case. Although browser hijackers are annoying apps, more often than not, they need your permission to be added to your system. Thus, if Patext Mac changed settings on Firefox, Chrome, or Safari, it happened because unsuspecting users enabled the app.
Why do such apps manage to trick users into installing them? That is because Patext Mac and other similar programs tend to come bundled with freeware. It means that users install it along with some other program they wanted to have, and they might not even notice that Patext Mac is there. Also, the browser hijacker could come through various pop-ups and browser redirects. A lone pop-up that asks you to “Allow notifications” could be enough to trigger the modifications that eventually change your default search engine and new tab settings.
When that happens, Patext Mac can start collecting data on your browsing habits. The app may find out your likes and preferences, and with that, it can generate custom commercial ads and show you all that when you browse the web. Annoying? Sure. Deadly? Not exactly. Unless you click any of those ads or interact with the content promoted by Patext Mac, sketchy third parties should not be able to reach you.
Nevertheless, it does not mean that you should keep Patext Mac or any other browser hijacker on your machine. Having these programs on board could easily lead to more pressing security issues, so it is best to nip the problem in the bud. Remove Patext Mac, and don’t forget to employ an anti-malware tool to check for other potential threats.
If you are still having trouble, consider contacting remote technical support options.
