InitialSprint

Cybersecurity researchers have identified another intrusive application targeting Mac users. Named InitialSprint, this software product is equipped with the typical capabilities associated with adware. That shouldn't be a big surprise, as the researchers also confirmed that InitialSprint is part of the AdLoad family.

Adware applications are designed to generate monetary gains for their operators, via the delivery of intrusive and unwanted ads on users' devices. These PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs) are rarely distributed via the normal channels are users are extremely unlikely to willingly download and install them. Instead, PUPs are mostly spread via underhanded tactics, such as software bundles or even outright fake installers/updates.

Once deployed on the Mac, InitialSprint could impact the user experience on the device significantly. The advertisements generated by it could disrupt the normal activities of the users while promoting dubious and potentially unsafe destinations. To lure users into interacting with them, the advertisements might feature various clickbait or social-engineering tactics.

Users also should keep in mind that most PUPs are likely to have data-tracking routines. The intrusive applications could be spying on the browsing activities carried out on the Mac and transmitting the entire browsing history, search history, and clicked URLs. It is not uncommon for PUPs to also harvest numerous device details, and in some cases, even extract sensitive information, such as account or banking credentials from browsers' autofill data.