How to remove TodoSwift (Mac)

What is TodoSwift

TodoSwift is a sophisticated piece of malware classified as a dropper, specifically designed to infiltrate Mac systems and deliver additional malicious payloads. Once it infects a device, it stealthily downloads and executes a decoy PDF document to mask its true intent. This malware is known to be associated with the BlueNorOff unit of North Korea’s Lazarus Group, suggesting its use in targeted attacks, potentially for cyber espionage or financial gain. The real threat begins after the decoy document is displayed, as TodoSwift downloads and executes harmful files from attacker-controlled domains. This can lead to severe system infections, including ransomware, trojans, and cryptominers, posing risks such as data theft, financial loss, and identity fraud. Users might not notice any immediate symptoms, making it crucial to employ robust security measures to detect and eliminate such threats promptly. Regular system scans and cautious browsing habits are essential to preventing infections like TodoSwift.

How TodoSwift infected your system

TodoSwift, a sophisticated piece of macOS malware, primarily infiltrates systems through deceptive tactics such as phishing emails and malicious downloads. Often masquerading as legitimate files or software updates, it tricks users into executing the dropper, which then downloads a decoy PDF document from a trusted source like Google Drive. Once the decoy is displayed, the malware silently fetches and executes additional malicious payloads from attacker-controlled domains. This multi-stage infection process allows TodoSwift to bypass initial security controls, remaining under the radar while it sets up further malicious activities. Users can unknowingly compromise their systems by interacting with seemingly harmless emails or downloading software from unverified sources.

Remove TodoSwift from macOS manually

Removing TodoSwift from macOS requires a systematic approach that involves a combination of built-in tools, safe computing practices, and sometimes third-party software. Here’s a comprehensive guide to identifying and removing viruses from your Mac, ensuring your system’s integrity and security.

Step 1: Disconnect from the Internet

1. Disconnect your Mac from the Internet. This prevents the virus from sending data to its creator or downloading more malicious software. Turn off Wi-Fi and unplug any Ethernet cables.

Step 2: Enter Safe Mode

2. Restart your Mac in Safe Mode. Safe Mode performs a check of your startup disk and restricts certain software from automatically loading or opening.
   • For Intel-based Macs: Restart your Mac and immediately press and hold the Shift key until you see the login window.
   • For Apple Silicon Macs: Turn off your Mac, press and hold the power button until you see the startup options window, select your startup disk, press and hold the Shift key, then click Continue in Safe Mode.

Step 3: Use Built-in Tools for Malware Removal

3. Use Finder to identify and remove suspicious applications.
   • Open Finder, go to the Applications folder, and look for any applications you don’t recognize or didn’t intentionally download.
   • Right-click the suspicious application and select Move to Trash, then empty the Trash.
4. Use macOS built-in malware removal tool (MRT). macOS automatically runs MRT in the background, but you can manually run a malware scan by updating your software.
   • Go to System Preferences > Software Update.
   • Install any available updates, as these often include the latest security improvements and malware definitions.

Step 4: Check and remove TodoSwift from Login Items

Note: TodoSwift may set up to start on macOS startup. Therefore, before starting the removal, perform these steps:

1. Open System Preferences, choose Users & Groups.
2. Choose your account (set up as Current User).
3. Click Login Items tab.
4. Find suspicious entries. Select it, and click the “-“ (minus) button to remove them.

Step 5: Check and remove TodoSwift Malicious Device Profile

Important update: TodoSwift can install malicious Device Profile called AdminPrefs or similarly on MacOS, that won’t allow users to make changes to browser search engine and homepage settings. Follow instructions below to remove this profile.

Remove TodoSwift profile

1. Go to System Preferences and click on Profiles.
2. In the list of profiles on the left side, choose AdminPrefs or other profile and click on “-” button to remove it.
3. In your case it can be named differently, in this case remove all visible profiles. Check the picture below to see how it looks like.

Step 6: Reset Your Web Browsers

Reset Safari:

1. Start Safari on your Mac, click Safari to open drop-down menu and choose Preferences
2. Go to the Privacy section of Safari’s preferences.
3. Click Remove All Website Data button.
4. In the opened window, click Remove Now button to remove data stored by websites in Safari.
5. Go to the Advanced section of Safari’s preferences.
6. Click the Show Develop menu in menu bar option.
7. In the menu, click Develop and select Empty Caches from this menu.
8. Again, go to Safari menu and choose Clear History….
9. Choose to clear all history and click Clear History button.

Reset Google Chrome:

1. Start Google Chrome browser
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) chrome://settings.
3. Scroll down and find Show advanced settings link.
4. Click on it and scroll down to the bottom again.
5. Click Reset settings button and click Reset to confirm.

Reset Mozilla Firefox:

1. Start Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) about:support.
3. Click Refresh Firefox… button.
4. Click Refresh Firefox to confirm.

Step 7: Restore from a Backup

8. If the issue persists, consider restoring your Mac from a backup.
   • Use Time Machine or another backup system to restore your Mac to a state before it was infected.
   • Ensure the backup you choose predates the malware infection.

Prevention Tips

• Keep your macOS updated. Regularly check for and install macOS updates to ensure you have the latest security patches.
• Be cautious with downloads and attachments. Only download software from trusted sources like the Mac App Store or official websites.
• Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) where possible.
• Consider enabling the macOS firewall in System Preferences > Security & Privacy.
• Regularly back up your Mac using Time Machine or another backup solution to ensure you can recover your system if needed.

Following these steps should help you remove most viruses from your Mac. If you continue to experience issues, consider seeking help from Apple Support or a professional cybersecurity service.