Hotspot Shield keeps being added to the startup items list on OS X

[AlphaGamer46]

Hi.

 

So, I don't like any startup items on my Mac but Hotspot Shield keeps on adding itself to the startup items list, even after I take it off.

 

It's getting real annoying, can someone help me stop it?

 

Thanks, Alpha.

[Guest]

I'm guessing you're disabling it in system settings.

There's a setting in the hotspot shield software (of the mobile version at least) under 'general settings' labeled 'start on boot' disabling which should do the trick.

[Naeaes]

Don't know about OSX but in WIndows this would be done with a separate program or script. To hide it better it's usually not itself in startup programs but somewhere entirely different and set to run according to Windows Task Scheduler rules. As in:

- Windows logs in

- Task Scheduler runs as it should

- a rule in there (on login, run this script and run it once every minute after that forever)

- The script copies a shortcut for Hotspot Shield from a hidden place to the Startup Folder

 

So however often you remove the shortcut from the startup folder, it'll be copied right back in there on every login and usually, like in my example, within a minute on being logged in after being removed. This is how legit stuff like antiviruses do it just so a virus can't simply kill the antivirus task, but it's an easy trick for illicit stuff too. I'm a complete moron when it comes to OSX, but maybe there's something similar to Task Scheduler in it? Turns out there is. It's called Automator. 

Also, nothing prevents from there being again a separate program that recreates the Task Scheduler rule if it's removed... When it comes to legit and paid programs, there's usually a setting built in them to disable all this. Have you taken a look in Hotspot Shield menus?

[AlphaGamer46]

59 minutes ago, Svinsparbriivu said:

I'm guessing you're disabling it in system settings.

There's a setting in the hotspot shield software (of the mobile version at least) under 'general settings' labeled 'start on boot' disabling which should do the trick.

Hi, yeah, I thought I did but it was enabled in the settings. Turned it off straight away.

48 minutes ago, Naeaes said:

Don't know about OSX but in WIndows this would be done with a separate program or script. To hide it better it's usually not itself in startup programs but somewhere entirely different and set to run according to Windows Task Scheduler rules. As in:

- Windows logs in

- Task Scheduler runs as it should

- a rule in there (on login, run this script and run it once every minute after that forever)

- The script copies a shortcut for Hotspot Shield from a hidden place to the Startup Folder

 

So however often you remove the shortcut from the startup folder, it'll be copied right back in there on every login and usually, like in my example, within a minute on being logged in after being removed. This is how legit stuff like antiviruses do it just so a virus can't simply kill the antivirus task, but it's an easy trick for illicit stuff too. I'm a complete moron when it comes to OSX, but maybe there's something similar to Task Scheduler in it? Turns out there is. It's called Automator. 

Also, nothing prevents from there being again a separate program that recreates the Task Scheduler rule if it's removed... When it comes to legit and paid programs, there's usually a setting built in them to disable all this. Have you taken a look in Hotspot Shield menus?

Yeah, I just turned it off in the settings.

 

Thanks guys, will let you guys know if it works.