How to Get Rid of Malware on Mac

Although Macs come with built-in security software and are less vulnerable than Windows computers, they can be infected with malware, which can interfere with your device’s performance or may potentially steal your sensitive data. But luckily, there are a lot of ways to get rid of malware on Mac, and you can also use malware removal Mac apps to scan your computer.

What Is Malware?

It’s any intrusive software that can do harm to your computer’s system, by taking partial control over a device’s operations. Malware can encrypt, steal, or delete your data, interfere with core computer functions, and spy on your online activity without your permission.

There are different types of malware that you can encounter on your Mac and each of them has its own methods of attack:

• Trojans disguise themselves as legitimate software
• Spyware hides in the background and steals your sensitive data
• Keyloggers track everything users do on their computers
• PUPs or potentially unwanted programs
• The botnet can make your Mac a part of a network of infected computers that are controlled by an attacker
• Ransomware may lock your Mac and your files to make you pay a ransom
• A rootkit can obtain administrator-level access to your Mac’s system

How to Tell if Your Mac Is Infected

You can commonly get malware by downloading fake apps or updates or by opening email attachments. But how can you determine that your device has viruses? There are some common warning signs you should be aware of.

• Your Mac suddenly starts to slow down
• Your device often reboots or apps start for no reason
• You see lots of annoying ads
• Your browser settings suddenly change and suspicious updates are installed automatically

How to Remove Malware from Mac

Keep in mind that malware is constantly evolving, so it’s better to regularly use scanning tools to monitor the possible threats. And once you identify the sources of infection, you can manually remove a malicious program from your Mac.

Check Activity Monitor

Activity Monitor can tell you what programs are using your system’s resources, so you can use it to detect malware if you know well what you are looking for. But you should remember that Activity Monitor is not a malware removal tool. You should open this program and locate the suspicious app in the Processes. When you find it, you need to click the “x” button to quit the process. After that, you have to move the problematic app to the Trash folder and immediately click Empty Trash.

Check Login Items

These are apps that operate in the background, and they can house adware or spyware that often sneaks inside the bootup process. Here is what you should do to detect it.

• Click the Apple log in the menu bar
• Go to System Preferences
• Select Users & Groups
• Choose Login Items tab

You will be able to see all your Mac’s login items. When you find suspicious apps, you have to disable them using the “- “button. Then you need to restart your device to enable the changes.

H3: Remove Malware from Browser Extensions

Don’t miss this step in the clean-up process because adware especially loves to attach to your browsers. You can remove extensions in the Safari browser if you open the main menu, go to Safari Preferences, and click Extensions. Then you need to locate the adware and uninstall it. And you should also clear the cache.

If you use Chrome, you should launch it and select Window in the top menu bar. Then select Extensions and disable those that you consider suspicious.