'ValidMemory Will Damage Your Computer' Message

The 'ValidMemory will damage your computer' message may be something that macOS users have be presented with suddenly when they start their computers. The warning prompt is part of the latest update released by Apple and is designed to target adware, browser hijackers, and other PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs). ValidMemory is exactly that application kind.

Users may not even know when ValidMemory was installed on their systems exactly. Indeed, the application relies on misleading marketing strategies designed to hide the fact that its installation process will be initialized. The most popular methods are bundling - the installation of the application is a pre-selected choice added as part of the installation process of another freeware program or as fake software updates.

While adware and browser hijackers are considered more of an annoyance than serious threats, they can still act as a gateway that will expose the user to additional security risks. The forced redirects and intrusive advertisements generated by these applications can lead to suspicious or outright compromised third-party websites. There, users can be subjected to phishing schemes or technical support tactics. Dubious domains tasked with propagating additional PUPs also are among the common redirect locations.

ValidMemory may have spread auto-launch files that act as a persistence mechanism across several folders on the user's device. Locations that have already been observed as to be employed by adware and browser hijacker applications include:

~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
/Library/Internet Plug-Ins