What is Y2Mate and how to remove Y2Mate virus
What is Y2mate?
Y2mate, launched in late 2016, is an app and web application that allows users to download YouTube videos so they can watch them offline, which YouTube does not natively support. Although YouTube has videos on just about every topic imaginable, sometimes needing an internet connection to watch them can be annoying. This is where Y2mate comes in handy.
Is Y2mate safe?
The answer to the question “Is Y2mate safe?” is both yes and no. Although Y2mate is a virus-free tool, some ads and pop-ups on the platform potentially do not have the same level of reliability. Such ads and pop-ups could potentially lead users to unsafe websites.
Installation of PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs) and download attacks (when malicious software downloads automatically) occur frequently on sites with ads and pop-ups similar to Y2mate. This could potentially pose a significant risk to users.
How was Y2mate installed on my Mac?
When using Y2mate, you will be prompted to enable notifications, a web browser feature designed to help you stay informed about emails, messages, and news articles. Y2mate uses this feature to send advertisements to users. This is bad because the advertisements frequently link to potentially dangerous software such as adware. Therefore, clicking on advertisements might lead to infection of your Mac.
If you think your Mac is already infected, keep reading to find out what you can do to fix it and prevent future infections.
What precautions are available to prevent the Y2mate virus?
If possible, you should avoid downloading videos with Y2mate. However, if it is necessary to use the service, you can take certain precautions:
1. Use a professional ad blocker. AdBlock One is the best free ad blocker for Chrome and Safari.
2. Do not click any advertisements while using Y2mate.
3. When using Y2mate website, if a new tab appears, check the URL and close the tab if it is not directly related to Y2mate.
4. Check Y2mate file names before downloading. Many download links will appear, attempting to trick you into installing PUPs and viruses instead of downloading your video. Before saving, make sure the name of the file to download matches the name of the video you want to download.
5. Do not allow Y2mate to send you notifications.
How to turn off Y2mate notifications?
If you regularly use multiple web browsers, you will need to disable Y2mate notifications on all of them. The steps to follow differ slightly from browser to browser, but below are instructions for Safari and Chrome.
Safari
- Open Safari.
- Click Safari > Preferences > Websites.
- In the sidebar, scroll down and click Notifications.
- Select Y2mate and click Remove.
Google Chrome
- Open Chrome.
- Click Chrome > Preferences > Security & Privacy > Site Settings.
- Scroll down to Notifications and click on it.
-
Under “Allow to send notifications”, click on the three dots next to Y2mate > Remove.
After disabling notifications from Y2mate, it is a good idea to scan your computer with a professional cleaning tool like Antivirus One to scan for adware or other malware. Although Y2mate seems harmless at first glance, prevention is better than cure.
Let us know if you have any questions about Y2mate in the comments.
