ElementsCentral
Mac users should be on the lookout for yet another dubious application targeting them. Named ElementsCentral, it described itself as a convenient tool that will bring added improvement to the way users browse the Web by delivering faster and more accurate searches. However, the truth, as users will realize immediately is quite different. The main purpose of ElementsCentral is to generate monetary gains for its creators by running an intrusive advertising campaign on the affected Mac devices.
Applications such as ElementsCentral rarely rely on users to discover and then download them willingly. In the vast majority of cases, they employ deceptive distribution techniques that mask their installation process from the attention of the user. One such technique is called bundling. The application is packaged inside the installer of another more popular software product, as a preselected choice buried under the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings. The use of such underhanded tactics classifies these applications and ElementsCentral alongside them as PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs).
Once inside the Mac system, ElementsCentral will begin to generate various advertisements that could be delivered in several different forms - pop-ups, banners, coupons, in-text links and more. The advertisements usually contain misleading messages designed to entice users into clicking on them. However, doing so could expose the user to unforeseen security risks. Via forced redirects, users may be brought to unsafe pages such as phishing tactics or domains spreading malware threats.
In addition, nearly all PUPs are equipped with data-harvesting functionalities. While the PUP is present on the Mac, users risk having their browsing habits spied upon. The gathered information could include all clicked URLs, performed searches and visited websites. Certain device details - IP address, geolocation, ISP, etc. might also be collected. The most threatening PUPs are even capable of accessing information that has been saved in the browser, such as payment details or debit/credit card numbers.
