MacOS.HistoryCollector

HistoryCollector is a piece of adware typically found on macOS devices. Like any other adware package, HistoryCollector churns out countless ads by the hour, no matter how useful or relevant they may be. While adware programs are not inherently malicious, they often tend to not only land unnoticed on your device but also exude a rather intrusive behavior, and HistoryCollector hardly makes an exception.

The most recent HistoryCollector detections associate the program with machines running various macOS versions. While some AV solutions have given it the MAC.SpyAgent.1 moniker, it is still the same PUP. HistoryCollector was first detected in 2018 as an Apple Mac executable and has since remained in heavy circulation.

How exactly HistoryCollector lands on MacOS devices is not quite clear. It is unlikely to have come from Apple’s official App Store. Yet, it lands onto MacOS devices every now and then, bringing in all sorts of adverts, showing little regard for their perception. Oftentimes, such ads bring questionable value and unquestionable irritation to their recipients. So, how does HistoryCollector weave its way to so many targets? Researchers strongly speculate that it may be connected to Schlayer - a network of 1,000 or so websites distributing dozens of adware apps on MacOS devices by disguising those apps as fake Flash updates.

The best way to avoid HistoryCollector’s unwanted ads is to remove the application from your Mac. Before you do that, however, make sure to scan your computer thoroughly for any files associated with the adware, in every directory, as removing it from the Applications folder may not prove sufficient to uninstall the PUP. Sometimes, PUPs such as HistoryCollector may prove remarkably resilient to any removal attempts, which is why you may need to deploy a reputable piece of software to detect it.