If you think Windows is the most susceptible to viruses, and your favorite MacBook is fully virus-protected, then we’re in a hurry to warn you, that’s not true. Yes, viruses are rarer here than on Windows, but they also exist on Macs .
But you are not helpless in the face of malware attacks. There are many ways to improve your protection. And if you are the losers few whose Mac computers are unintentionally exposed to annoying and dangerous viruses, then you have come to the right place.
This article will help you understand everything and react to a virus on your Mac.
What is malware?
The term “virus” is a short term for malicious programs that can take many forms. For example, a virus can be a special program developed by hackers that has been installed on your computer without your knowledge. Once infected, all files and documents will be blocked and in order to access them you will have to pay, in some cases, a substantial sum to the cybercriminal.
The other type of malware is adware . The adware is installed when you click on a regular advertisement (on a website or when you receive an email) and install the malware on your computer. Once installed, it can collect information including your bank details. One of the most problematic aspects of this type of malware is that it is often disguised as a cleaner or antivirus app , which is usually expected to remove malware on your Mac. It is therefore essential to identify and remove viruses quickly.
On Windows there are many free but also paid cleaning software . And while Macs are known to be much less sensitive, it is still quite possible that they may be infected with malware.
How to check if your Mac is infected with the virus?
If your computer has become slower and the number of pop-ups keeps increasing, your Mac is probably infected with malware. While it’s still rare to find a real virus on a Macintosh like the latest EvilQuest , there are plenty of malicious programs that can slow it down.
Here is a list of actions to take regularly to ensure your protection:
- Check your disk space
- Check launch programs
- Restart your computer
- Perform available updates
- Control activities
- Remove browser extensions
- Run Disk Utility
- Remove unnecessary apps
- Run a full and in-depth virus scan
What can you do if your macOS computer is infected with adware?
The most important thing to remember is that you never have to pay to remove malware . You should try the following steps:
- Immediately close your web browser. The combination of Command and Q keys is a convenient way to close the web browser when your Mac is infected with malware.
- Go to Finder to remove any unrecognized apps and drag and drop files and folders to the Trash. You can also completely clean the Recycle Bin after performing this task.
- Open the Utility folder with Command, Shift, and U keys to check if malware is installed on your Mac .
- If you find that malware is installed on your Mac, first exit Activity Monitor and then drag the app to the Trash.
How to protect your Mac from viruses?
No operating system or computer is completely immune to malware. Especially since the phenomenon has been amplifying for many years , so that new jobs dedicated to cybersecurity are appearing.
At your level and to guarantee your own IT security , we recommend that you follow a few basic rules that will allow you to protect yourself in most cases:
- Avoid visiting unfamiliar and untrustworthy sites.
- Do not download files or install applications from unsecured sites.
- Do not download and open attachments of spam messages.
- Regularly back up your files.
- Apply the latest operating system updates
- The same principle applies to antivirus software: look only to reputable suppliers.
It’s also a good idea to ensure that your Mac only allows downloading of apps from developers you trust . To check if your configuration is correct, perform the following steps:
- click System Preferences > Security & Privacy and General .
- Check that the option under “ Allow app downloads ” is set to “ Mac App Store and Identified Developers or just Mac Developers ”.
Photo by Muhammed Abiodun on Unsplash
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