'DiscoveryUnitd Will Damage Your Computer' Message

Mac users who encounter a prompt stating that 'DiscoveryUnitd Will Damage Your Computer' may be trying to install or already have a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program) installed on their computers. Indeed, the prompt is an automated response from the macOS that it has detected an application flagged as potentially unsafe. In this case, the message is related to the DiscoveryUnit application that has been observed to have adware functionality. 

It is quite common for users to not even know that a PUP has been installed on their computers so the macOS security prompt could come as a complete surprise. After all, PUPs do not rely on users download and installing them intentionally. Instead, they employ misleading tactics designed to hide the fact that the PUP is being installed from the attention of the user specifically.

Once deployed on the Mac system, DiscoveryUnit will initiate an intrusive ad campaign, generating monetary gains for its creators in the process. Various advertising materials will subsequently be delivered to the device leading to a severely diminished user experience. The advertisements might be displayed as pop-ups, banners, surveys, coupons, in-text links and more. While PUPs are generally harmless and incapable of causing any real damage to the system, engaging with the advertisements they generate should still be considered a security risk. Users could be redirected to various phishing or scam pages as well as domains distributing other PUPs. 

PUPs also are known for having data-collection capabilities. Typically, they siphon information related to the user's browsing habits such as visited websites and conducted searchers. Some PUPs could try to harvest information - payment and banking details, credit/debit card numbers, etc., that has been saved into the web browser. That is why users should follow the instructions in the macOS prompt and swiftly remove the PUP from their Mac computers.