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"libecomlodr.dylib will damage your computer" popup removal from Mac

Find out how to fix the libecomlodr.dylib popup warning issue on Mac and get an idea of the possible malicious implications of this annoying activity.

The benefits of every new macOS version release aren’t restricted to bug fixes and improvements. It’s also about extra perks and features that add up to the awesomeness of the user experience. The latest 10.15.4 iteration of the much-spoken-of Catalina build is just like that. It introduces, among other things, the option to share iCloud Drive folders, a streamlined Apple Music lyrics view, and fancier methods to duplicate tabs in Safari. However, as it often happens, the operating system tweak isn’t flawless at the early stage of its implementation. One of the issues Mac users are encountering is the emergence of popup alerts that say, “libecomlodr.dylib will damage your computer”. These dialogs additionally include a recommendation to move the item to the Trash. The problem wouldn’t be such a brain-teaser if the “Move to Trash” button actually did what it says. Instead, the error message just keeps reappearing regardless and the users are stuck in a loop of popups.

The issue is about popups saying ‘libecomlodr.dylib will damage your computer

Upon initial look-through, it appears that the recent macOS Catalina update has changed the mechanism for flagging applications, processes, and files as suspicious or clearly harmful. This would explain the alerts blaming potential system malfunctions on the mysterious libecomlodr.dylib entity. The question arising at this point is, what kind of an item is causing the noxious alerts. A little bit of research reveals that libecomlodr.dylib is a component of Symantec Endpoint Protection for Mac. This is a popular security product by Broadcom Inc. that combines antimalware, firewall, and intrusion prevention functionality under the same hood. It can be deployed on desktop computers and servers alike and is often leveraged to safeguard enterprise networks against breaches and virus attacks. According to the vendor, if something goes wrong with the suite, the customers are advised to use a tool called GatherSymantecInfo that amasses the entirety of diagnostic data to facilitate troubleshooting. The artifact under scrutiny – libecomlodr.dylib – is one of the entries shown in this report alongside definfo.dat and usage.dat items.

With that said, it seems odd that a legit element of a reputable security solution raises a red flag. Some users argue that “libecomlodr.dylib will damage your computer” popup warnings are false positives. This could make sense, given that macOS Catalina has a controversial track record of overreacting to numerous apps, including benign ones. If a Symantec product is currently installed on a Mac and the alerts are making a mess of the user’s computing routine, one of the repair options is to check the application for updates and apply them if available. If this method doesn’t apply due to missing updates, another way to take care of the nuisance is to uninstall the security program and then install it from scratch if it’s needed. In many cases, businesses require that their employees have the Endpoint Protection solution installed on their company-issued Macs. One more technique worth trying is to go to the “/usr/local/lib” directory, spot the file in question, and send it to the Trash from there. If none of this works, chances are that the issue is in a completely different area.

The irksome popups reporting libecomlodr.dylib as a potential threat could as well be a consequence of Mac malware activity. The purpose of such alerts is to pressure the user into downloading more viruses or clicking on the button that’s some sort of an authorization request in disguise. This way, cybercriminals might be trying to distribute information-stealing Trojans or adware that will modify the browser settings to make the victims visit malicious websites over and over. If this scenario is the case, it’s recommended to use the following series of malware cleanup steps that will help eradicate the threat and stop the "* will damage your computer" Mac warnings from popping up.

“Libecomlodr.dylib will damage your computer” popup manual removal for Mac

The steps listed below will walk you through the removal of this malicious application. Be sure to follow the instructions in the order specified.

1. Open up the Utilities folder as shown below

Open up the Utilities

2. Locate the Activity Monitor icon on the screen and double-click on it

Locate the Activity Monitor

3. Under Activity Monitor, find a suspicious process you don’t recognize, select it and click Quit Process

4. A dialog should pop up, asking if you are sure you would like to quit the troublemaking process. Select the Force Quit option

5. Click the Go button again, but this time select Applications on the list. Find a dubious entry on the interface, right-click on it and select Move to Trash. If user password is required, go ahead and enter it

Applications

6. Now go to Apple Menu and pick the System Preferences option

Pick the System Preferences

7. Select Accounts and click the Login Items button. The system will come up with the list of the items that launch when the box is started up. Locate a potentially unwanted object there and click on the “-“ button

Get rid of Libecomlodr.dylib virus in web browser on Mac

To begin with, the web browser settings taken over by the Libecomlodr.dylib virus should be restored to their default values. Although this will clear most of your customizations, web surfing history, and all temporary data stored by websites, the malicious interference should be terminated likewise. The overview of the steps for completing this procedure is as follows:

  1. Remove Libecomlodr.dylib virus from Safari
    • Open the browser and go to Safari menu. Select Preferences in the drop-down list.

      Go to Preferences in Safari

    • Once the Preferences screen appears, click on the Advanced tab and enable the option saying “Show Develop menu in menu bar”.

      Advanced tab under Safari Preferences

    • Now that the Develop entry has been added to the Safari menu, expand it and click on Empty Caches.

      Empty Caches in Safari

    • Now select History in the Safari menu and click on Clear History in the drop-down list.

      Clear history in Safari

    • Safari will display a dialog asking you to specify the period of time this action will apply to. Select all history to ensure a maximum effect. Click on the Clear History button to confirm and exit.

      Select all history to clear

    • Go back to the Safari Preferences and hit the Privacy tab at the top. Find the option that says Manage Website Data and click on it.

      Manage Website Data option under Privacy tab

    • The browser will display a follow-up screen listing the websites that have stored data about your Internet activities. This dialog additionally includes a brief description of what the removal does: you may be logged out of some services and encounter other changes of website behavior after the procedure. If you’re okay with that, go ahead and click on the Remove All button.

      Confirmation dialog

    • Restart Safari
  2. Remove Libecomlodr.dylib in Google Chrome
    • Open Chrome, click the Customize and control Google Chrome (⁝) icon in the top right-hand part of the window, and select Settings in the drop-down

      Chrome Settings

    • When on the Settings pane, select Advanced
    • Scroll down to the Reset settings section.

      Reset settings in Chrome on Mac

    • Confirm the Chrome reset on a dialog that will pop up. When the procedure is completed, relaunch the browser and check it for malware activity.

      Here’s how to reset settings in Chrome on Mac

  3. Remove Libecomlodr.dylib from Mozilla Firefox
    • Open Firefox and go to Help – Troubleshooting Information (or type about:support in the URL bar and press Enter).

      Open Firefox and go to Help

      Select Troubleshooting Information

    • When on the Troubleshooting Information screen, click on the Refresh Firefox button.

      Refresh Firefox on Mac

    • Confirm the intended changes and restart Firefox.

Use automatic tool to uninstall libecomlodr.dylib popup virus from your Mac

The Mac maintenance and security app called Combo Cleaner is a one-stop tool to detect and remove Libecomlodr.dylib virus. This technique has substantial benefits over manual cleanup, because the utility gets hourly virus definition updates and can accurately spot even the newest Mac infections.

Furthermore, the automatic solution will find the core files of the malware deep down the system structure, which might otherwise be a challenge to locate. Here’s a walkthrough to sort out the Libecomlodr.dylib issue using Combo Cleaner:

  1. Download Combo Cleaner installer. When done, double-click the combocleaner.dmg file and follow the prompts to install the tool onto your Mac.

    Download Combo Cleaner

    By downloading any applications recommended on this website you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. The free scanner checks whether your Mac is infected. To get rid of malware, you need to purchase the Premium version of Combo Cleaner.

  2. Open the app from your Launchpad and let it run an update of the malware signature database to make sure it can identify the latest threats.
  3. Click the Start Combo Scan button to check your Mac for malicious activity as well as performance issues.

    Combo Cleaner Mac scan progress

  4. Examine the scan results. If the report says “No Threats”, then you are on the right track with the manual cleaning and can safely proceed to tidy up the web browser that may continue to act up due to the after-effects of the malware attack (see instructions above).

    Combo Cleaner scan report – no threats found

  5. In case Combo Cleaner has detected malicious code, click the Remove Selected Items button and have the utility remove Libecomlodr.dylib threat along with any other viruses, PUPs (potentially unwanted programs), or junk files that don’t belong on your Mac.

    Combo Cleaner – threats found

  6. Once you have made doubly sure that the malicious app is uninstalled, the browser-level troubleshooting might still be on your to-do list. If your preferred browser is affected, resort to the previous section of this tutorial to revert to hassle-free web surfing.
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