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In recent events, more than 30,000 Mac computers have been infected with the latest malware named – Silver Sparrow. To keep your data and device both protected from any such malware attacks, you must have a reliable Anti Malware solution on your Mac. We recommend using Systweak Anti Malware as it keeps updating its database to keep your system protected against such malware outbreak.
Read More:Review: Systweak Anti-Malware For Mac
There's no denying 2020 will go down as a virus year, but this doesn't mean your systems are spared. According to a recent security report, they are still at risk; Mac's have outpaced Windows PCs in the number of threats. This means Mac machines are at a greater risk now. So, if your Mac is running slow or you see unwanted advertisements within your browser, chances of your system being infected are there. Don't panic; there are things that you can do to clean an infected Mac.
Getting rid of a virus or malware on a Mac. Many Mac users think they can't get viruses, spyware, worms, or other malware. This isn't true, even though there are fewer viruses and malware targeting Macs than there are for Windows PCs and laptops. We've got an in-depth guide to Mac security, but we'll give you a quick rundown here. CleanMyMac detects thousands of malware threats, including viruses, adware, spyware, ransomware, cryptocurrency miners, and more. The app's database is regularly updated to keep all those '-wares' away from your Mac. Here's how to remove malware from your Mac: Download CleanMyMac X — it's free to download. Click Malware Removal tab. You may have heard that Mac systems don't get attacked by viruses. But that is just incorrect information. Sure, your Mac's do have a built-in protection and better security, but it is important to understand that they are not exempt from virus or malware. Best Overall: Malwarebytes. Great independent testing scores. Available for Windows. All versions of OS X since 10.6.7 have been able to detect known Mac malware in downloaded files, and to block insecure web plugins. This feature is transparent to the user.
What is Mac Malware?
First thing first, Mac malware and virus are not the same. Malware is a code or software written to do nasty things like deleting files, encrypting data, or infecting a system with ransomware, among other things like adware, spyware, etc. It is more complicated and dangerous than the virus.
Common types of malware you can encounter on Mac are:
Spyware and keyloggers – steal the user's personal information.
Backdoor infections – remotely take control of your computer.
Botnet – alters Mac into a shadow bot.
PUP –potentially unwanted program source of adware
Ransomware – locks the system asking the user to pay the ransom.
Rootkit – penetrates admin privileges.
So, how to know if your Mac is infected and how to remove malware from Mac? Answers to these questions can be found below.
Signs of Mac Being Infected
When the following signs are witnesses on your Mac, there's a high probability of your system being infected:
- Performance of your mac slows down suddenly
- You see advertisement pop-ups now and then
- Unknown app icon appears on the desktop
- Default search engine, the home page is being replaced
- Redirections to a fake page
- Warning pop-ups and unwanted app downloads
- Mac restarts without any warning and takes time to boot
How Does The Mac Get Infect?
There are 5 typical gateways responsible for infecting Mac with malware. They are as follows:
- Fake Flash player update
- Torrent download
- .Doc attachment
- Camera access request
- 'Your Mac is Infected scam.'
How To Remove Malware From Mac?
There are different ways to clean malware from Mac. First, we will remove malware from login items, followed by uninstalling unwanted apps and learning about the best and automatic way to clean malware.
1. Deleting Mac Malware from Login Items
Most malware or adware sneaks into the system through the startup process. Therefore, it is essential to prevent this from happening.
1. Click the Apple icon > System Preferences
2. Hit the Users & Groups section.
3. Select your username > click Login Items tab.
4. Check the list of login items. If you find any suspicious app, select and click '—. '
5. Reboot Mac to save the changes.
Since Mac malware can hide behind a legitimate file, there's a possibility that you won't find any suspicious app. Therefore, to make sure they don't sit in our Mac, we will need to check the web browsers.
Note: Most Mac malware like adware, scareware, spyware, and others insert in web browsers.
2. Clearing Mac malware from web browsers
1. Press Q + Command to quit the web browser
2. Launch Finder > Downloads > check all the downloaded installation files > if you find a suspicious app > select right-click > Move to Trash.
3. Besides this, if you know which app is infected, half the battle is already won. To get rid of it, open
4. Check all the listed apps. If any app looks suspicious > select it > click the X icon and Force Quit.
5. Afterward, open the Applications folder.
6. Find the problematic app > select it > right-click > Move to Trash.
7. Next, Empty Trash
This simple method will help get rid of malware from Mac. But it's still incomplete as there might be some leftovers present on your Mac. To remove these traces, you can use an antimalware app like Systweak Anti-Malware or can follow the manual steps explained below:
1. Quit any unwanted app
2. Launch Finder > Go > Go to Folder > type users/shared/
3. Delete Slimi files and folders.
Uninstall malicious extensions on Safari, Chrome, and Firefox
Browser extensions again are the most used carrier for adware, spyware, etc. Therefore, it is important to check all the extensions and uninstall the malicious ones. To do so, follow the steps below:
Safari:
Clean Mac Of Malware Free
1. Launch Safari > Preferences > General
2. Check the Homepage and ensure it is the one that you want to open
3. Next, head to Security and checkmark Block pop-up windows
4. Afterward, head to go to Extensions > look for unknown extensions and uninstall them
Chrome:
1. Launch Chrome > Preferences > Advanced
2. Scroll down > Reset settings
3. Restore settings to defaults > confirm RESET SETTINGS
Free Mac Malware Removal
4. Head back to Advance > Privacy and security > content settings
5. Find Popups and Ads > Block.
3. Delete Slimi files and folders.
Uninstall malicious extensions on Safari, Chrome, and Firefox
Browser extensions again are the most used carrier for adware, spyware, etc. Therefore, it is important to check all the extensions and uninstall the malicious ones. To do so, follow the steps below:
Safari:
Clean Mac Of Malware Free
1. Launch Safari > Preferences > General
2. Check the Homepage and ensure it is the one that you want to open
3. Next, head to Security and checkmark Block pop-up windows
4. Afterward, head to go to Extensions > look for unknown extensions and uninstall them
Chrome:
1. Launch Chrome > Preferences > Advanced
2. Scroll down > Reset settings
3. Restore settings to defaults > confirm RESET SETTINGS
Free Mac Malware Removal
4. Head back to Advance > Privacy and security > content settings
5. Find Popups and Ads > Block.
Firefox:
1. Launch Firefox > type about: support in the address bar
2. Click Refresh Firefox
3. Next, run Firefox in Safe Mode and restart with Add-ons Disabled.
4. Firefox > Preferences > Privacy & Security.
5. Navigate to Security and checkmark the three options (Block dangerous and deceptive content/Block dangerous download/Warn you about unwanted and uncommon software)
How to Automatically Clear Malware from Mac Using Systweak Anti-Malware
Getting rid of something that you are not aware of is not easy. Luckily using Systweak Anti-Malware, you can scan your Mac for vulnerabilities and remove suspicious files. Offered by Systweak with a company with a reputation of 19+ years, Systweak Anti-Malware is the best security tool for Mac and a one-stop solution to fix malware infections. The tool helps remove adware, virus, spyware, ransomware, and other threats. Moreover, the app's database is regularly updated, and it even scans login items for infections.
Here's how to use Systweak Anti-Malware and clean malware from Mac.
1. Download, install and launch Systweak Anti-Malware
2. Click the Scan tab and select Deep Scan > click Deep Scan to perform scanning
3. Wait for the scan to finish. Once done, click Fix Now
4. This will help quarantine all the infected files and remove malware from Mac.
In addition to this, if you want to schedule scanning, click the Preferences tab > Schedule > set the time and day > Apply. Now Systweak Anti-Malware will run at the specified time, and you will be protected from malware on Mac. This robust security tool works flawlessly and keeps your Mac guarded against the latest and old threats. To stay protected, we suggest using it once every month. However, if you are not comfortable using a third-party tool, you can use the manual steps explained above to clean malware. Do let us know which steps you picked and why in the comments section. We'd love to hear from you.
A phishing scam has targeted Mac users by redirecting them from legitimate websites to fake websites which tell them that their computer is infected with a virus. The user is then offered Mac Defender 'anti-virus' software to solve the issue.
This 'anti-virus' software is malware (i.e. malicious software). Its ultimate goal is to get the user's credit card information which may be used for fraudulent purposes.
The most common names for this malware are MacDefender, MacProtector and MacSecurity.
Apple released a free software update (Security Update 2011-003) that will automatically find and remove Mac Defender malware and its known variants.
The Resolution section below also provides step-by-step instructions on how to avoid or manually remove this malware.
Resolution
How to avoid installing this malware
If any notifications about viruses or security software appear, quit Safari or any other browser that you are using. If a normal attempt at quitting the browser doesn't work, then Force Quit the browser.
In some cases, your browser may automatically download and launch the installer for this malicious software. If this happens, cancel the installation process; do not enter your administrator password. Delete the installer immediately using the steps below.
- Go into the Downloads folder, or your preferred download location.
- Drag the installer to the Trash.
- Empty the Trash.
How to remove this malware
If the malware has been installed, we recommend the following actions:
- Do not provide your credit card information under any circumstances.
- Use the Removal Steps below.
Removal steps
- Move or close the Scan Window.
- Go to the Utilities folder in the Applications folder and launch Activity Monitor.
- Choose All Processes from the pop up menu in the upper right corner of the window.
- Under the Process Name column, look for the name of the app and click to select it; common app names include: MacDefender, MacSecurity or MacProtector.
- Click the Quit Process button in the upper left corner of the window and select Quit.
- Quit Activity Monitor application.
- Open the Applications folder.
- Locate the app ex. MacDefender, MacSecurity, MacProtector or other name.
- Drag to Trash, and empty Trash.
Malware also installs a login item in your account in System Preferences. Removal of the login item is not necessary, but you can remove it by following the steps below.
- Open System Preferences, select Accounts, then Login Items
- Select the name of the app you removed in the steps above ex. MacDefender, MacSecurity, MacProtector
- Click the minus button
Use the steps in the 'How to avoid installing this malware' section above to remove the installer from the download location.
Clean Mac Of Malware
Note: Apple provides security updates for the Mac exclusively through Software Update and the Apple Support Downloads site. User should exercise caution any time they are asked to enter sensitive personal information online.