Glims Adware

Glims is an application that targets Apple users and is being classified as adware and a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program). As users rarely download PUPs willingly, these applications employ deceptive distribution methods that hide their installation process. Two examples of such dubious techniques are the so-called 'bundling' and being injected inside fake software installers/updaters.

Whenever the Glims Adware establishes its presence on the user's device, it will attempt to modify certain browser settings to run an intrusive advertising campaign. The unwanted advertisements could take all forms including pop-up windows, banners, surveys, and hyperlinks placed inside the viewed text and more. While adware and PUPs, in general, cannot cause any direct damage to the system they are installed on as that would go against their main goal, the advertisements they deliver should be considered as potential security risks.

After all, clicking on the advertising material could trigger a forced redirect leading to unsafe third-party websites. Users can be exposed to dedicate phishing pages, landing pages for technical support tactics, suspicious adult websites, domains spreading additional PUPs, or even websites delivering malware threats.

Another red flag that shouldn't be ignored is the common practice among PUPs to harvest data from the device and track the activities of the user. Information such as the browsing history, clicked URLs, search history, geolocation, and IP address of the device could be collected and then uploaded to a remote server.

It is recommended to clean the Glims Adware and all other PUPs from your device as soon as you notice the first signs of their presence, preferably with a professional anti-malware solution.