Earlier this afternoon, reports of a browser-based trojan infecting Mac OS X users started sprouting up around the internet. The malware installs itself as a plugin on browsers like Safari, Chrome, and Firefox. Now that we're all aware, you can avoid getting infected by taking some simple precautions. But what if Yontoo is already blowing up your browser with ads?

Thankfully, avoiding Yontoo is fairly easy. The trojan -- originally found by Russian researchers at Doctor Web -- gets into your browser after you click on a prompt to install a plugin on movie trailers, media players, or claims of "quicker" download times. After you've hit install, Trojan.Yontoo.1 generally installs a bogus program like "Twit Tube," and starts directing a barrage of web ads in your direction. 

So, here's a good piece of advice: don't install questionable stuff from shady places. Like your mom used to say, "If you don't know where it came from, don't eat it."

But if by chance you were unlucky enough to get infected with Yontoo, there's still a simple way out. CNET has posted a step-by-step guide on how to de-Yontoo your browser. Essentially, you just need to eradicate the plugin. 

Remember that myth how Macs are never targets for viruses and malware? Wouldn't it be great if that was actually true? According to Symantec, there's a Windows version of Yontoo as well, focused on Facebook ads. 

Follow this article's author, Matt Clark, on Twitter.

Image Source: Doctor Web