SyncApp
PUPs or Potentially Unwanted Programs are deceptive applications that try to sneak themselves onto users' computers and devices without being noticed. To facilitate this nefarious goal, they rely on various questionable distribution techniques. For example, in a scheme called bundling the PUP might be injected as an already selected choice in the installation settings of another legitimate and far more desirable software product. If users do not specifically open the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' menus, they may not even notice the intruder application. SyncApp is exactly such a PUP.
Once inside the user's Mac, the application will begin to monetize its presence by acting as both adware and a browser hijacker. Users will be subjected to an influx of annoying and intrusive ads that might appear as pop-ups, banners, surveys, in-text links and more. The generated advertisement materials should be approached with caution. Users who engage with the advertisements risk being redirected to suspicious or even unsafe third-party websites.
At the same time, SyncApp will assume control over the installed web browser and force them to open a sponsored address. Typically, the browser hijacker app will target the homepage, new tab page, the default search engine or a combination of the three settings. The promoted address usually belongs to a fake search engine that cannot produce results on its own. The search queries of the users will instead be handled via a legitimate engine or carried through a redirect chain that could go through several dubious engines and ultimately deliver low-quality results filled with advertisements.
It is not advised to keep PUPs on your computers or mobile devices. These applications are known for having data-collection capabilities. They might be spying on users' browsing activities, harvesting numerous device details, and continuously transmitting them to a remote server. The operators of the specific PUP can then decide how to exploit the received data according to their own goals and needs.
