How To Scan Mac For Malware And Virus

BitDefender, a big name in antivirus software, offers an excellent free option Mac users that includes full system scans and the latest virus and malware definitions. It's Apple's option of choice. Apple computers can get viruses and malware just like PCs can. While iMacs, MacBooks, Mac Minis, and iPhones may not be as frequent targets as Windows computers, all have their fair share of threats. Adware, spyware, ransomware, and hardware and software vulnerabilities are some of the problems now affecting Macs, and not just PCs.

1. Malware Scan For Mac
2. How To Scan Mac For Malware And Virus
3. Online Virus Scan For Mac

Fileless Detection

Xprotect was added to scan for malware and viruses that may be embedded within the file downloaded from the internet. If the file is found to be infected, you will be informed so, and you should move it to the Trash. By taking your Mac's warnings seriously, you could keep it malware and virus-free. Download Malwarebytes for your computer or mobile device. Whether you need cybersecurity for your home or your business, there's a version of Malwarebytes for you. Try our free virus scan and malware.

• Most Mac malware is protected against through Apple continuously providing protection, but if you are worried that you are transferring files to Windows machines and that you may transfer a Windows virus or malware in those files then you should download an anti malware program like ClamXav for example.
• Figuring out how to fix viruses on your Mac can be an incredibly time-consuming process. Instead, take advantage of a free Mac virus cleaner. Some malware requires an expert's touch, and you'll find the Mac virus help you need with Avast Security for Mac. It's the easiest, fastest, and most effective solution for complete virus removal.

Find and block malicious software hidden outside of files.

Custom Scan Options

Choose the extent of the scan - quick, full, or custom.

Broad Compatibility

Use our stand-alone, browser-independent application to avoid compatibility concerns.

Smart Scan

Get the latest protection with reduced download times.

Review and Restore

Check and compare scan results and recover files.

Enhanced Detection and Cleanup

Deal with sophisticated threats – even rootkits – on all your home network devices.

HouseCall for Windows

With threats changing more rapidly than ever before, and hackers now attacking all sorts of devices, many security companies have trouble keeping up. HouseCall can quickly find new threats on your computer for free without getting in the way of your existing security software.

HouseCall for Mac

As threats become harder to detect and harder to clean, your Mac needs protection more than ever before. You can count on HouseCall to keep malicious files off your Mac and stop them from spreading.

HouseCall for Mobile

The free HouseCall mobile app not only finds security threats lurking on your Android device, but also provides a free 30-day trial of the premium features available in Trend Micro Mobile Security.

While you may have heard that Macs don't get viruses, this just isn't true. Lately, it's becoming more and more common for Macs to be affected by malware, as the potential payoff is generally larger than on PCs and very few Macs have an installed protection in place.

Maybe you've noticed that your Mac is running slower in the last little while, or you can hear its fan working overtime — all these could indicate a virus that has infiltrated your computer's defenses and is running somewhere in the background.

Don't panic yet! It could be that a virus is not as malicious as you think. Also, you can be sure get rid of it quickly and efficiently by the time you finish this article.

How to scan your Mac for viruses online?

Truth is there are lots of ads and websites that promise free online virus scan and removal for Mac. But most of them are ironically also affiliated with malware players trying to get into your Mac for their malicious purposes and make things even worse. There are a few ways to substitute online virus scan that macOS needs, and protect your Mac so no malware can get in.

1. Update your software

As searching for 'online virus scan Mac' doesn't help much, the first thing to do to really protect your Mac is update to the latest version of macOS as well as turn on auto-updates for all your apps. The latest versions of software include all the necessary security patches known to developers, so it's a good starting place.

Malware Scan For Mac

1. Check the App Store for software updates and install them.
2. In System Preferences > Software Update, check the box to 'Automatically keep my Mac up to date.'
3. Click Advanced and select all the options there.

How To Scan Mac For Virus Freeware

2. Back up your Mac

Another precaution against viruses you can take is backing up your documents. For instance, you can use your Mac's built-in Time Machine utility to save your backup to an external hard drive. That way, frequent backups will allow you to restore recent versions of your documents should they get deleted or encrypted by a virus.

1. Connect an external hard drive.
2. Go to System Preferences > Select Backup Disk and turn it on.
3. Choose Back Up Automatically.

3. Turn on Mac's built-in protection

If you've ever got a warning on your computer asking whether you're sure you want to download something, you've seen File Quarantine in action. It lets you decline to download an item in case you don't completely trust the source it's coming from.

Another built-in utility Gatekeeper checks that there's an electronic signature from an approved Mac supplier on any item you attempt to download. So making sure it's turned on is a great way to protect yourself from downloading something malicious.

1. Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy.
2. Under 'Allow apps downloaded from,' ensure that 'App Store and identified developers' or 'App Store' and not 'Anywhere' is selected.
3. From macOS Mojave onwards, the 'Anywhere' option is no longer available to increase security. That's why updating your macOS is crucial.

4. Examine your Disk Utility

Navigating to Disk Utility will give you a sense of what's taking up space on your hard drive. You can also click on First Aid to run a scan of the hard drive and repair any errors. Make a note of the types of things taking up space, especially if any category is unusually large — this would be a good one to target directly or to check on later to see if it became smaller through the measures you are undertaking.

5. Clean up your hard drive

Unused apps, redundant copies of documents, and old media files — getting rid of these is likely to help with deleting any existing viruses and also free up space and speed up your Mac at the same time.

In general, cleaning up your computer will improve your day-to-day experience and ultimately mean you won't have to buy a new one too soon, saving you money.

1. Launch the Applications folder (Cmd + Shift + A).
2. Go through the list and uninstall any programs you're no longer using.
3. Then check your Documents, Pictures, Movies, and Music folders for files you haven't been using in a long time.
4. Empty the Trash when you're done.

How To Scan Mac For Virus Free

Here is an ultimate tutorial on how to clean up your hard drive.

It's easy to forget about keeping your files tidy (sort of like your apartment), so periodic cleanups are a must.

6. Check if your email has been compromised

You daily hear that millions of user emails have been leaked due to careless policies of Facebook or other corporations. Could your account be one of those? The security expert Troy Hunt created a website that allows to see if your email has been hacked.

Check out this website https://haveibeenpwned.com/

You can even get a cue as to which company leaked your email.

7. Encrypt your Mac

It might come as a surprise but files on your Mac are easily readable to anyone who can gain an unauthorized access. They will be able to read your documents, apps, messages, etc. To prevent this, you need to turn on Mac's built-in encryption engine called FileVault.

1. Go System Preferences > Security & Privacy.
2. Turn On FileVault and wait for the encryption to finish. Done!

8. Protect and optimize your Mac in one click

Free Apple Virus Scan

If you have the time and are willing to be methodical about the cleanups you need to do and how often you need to do them — ideally once a month — you can go through the above checklist every time.

However, why not save some time and make sure you do it the right way. The truth is there is no online virus scan macOS would be happy about, but there definitely is some pro software like CleanMyMac X that can do it better. It's fast, automatic, and vigilant — saving you time and doing a more thorough and complete job of taking care of your Mac than you can.

To scan your Mac for viruses:

1. Grab a copy of CleanMyMac X (the free version is available here)
2. Go to Malware Removal tool and click Scan.
3. Wait for results and process as instructed.

Here's how the scanning process looks:

Once CleanMyMac X has finished the scanning process, it will show you all the found threats. These may include adware, spyware, viruses, cryptocurrency miners, and more. Some of these apps will try to sneak into your Launch Agents and other protected system folders. For such cases CleanMyMac has a real-time monitor that detects any attempts for unauthorized access from malware apps.

How To Check If Mac Is Virus Free

After you finish scanning for malware, don't forget to perform additional scans for Optimization, Maintenance, Junk, and an overall Smart Scan. In each case, CleanMyMac X takes care of all the tasks necessary to protect and optimize your Mac. Repeat the process every week or so and you are set.

CleanMyMac X is notarized by Apple which confirms its safe status for using on Mac computers.

Mac Malware Removal

You've just learned a few ways to check your Mac for viruses. Hopefully, they will encourage you to study the built-in protection layers of your Mac. In case you did find malware on your Mac, that's not the end of the world as we've shown you some antidotes you can try.
Stay tuned for more Mac tips!

Did you ever think viruses, malware, or adware would affect your Mac someday? It is a question I sent out to a group of normal Mac users a few weeks ago. But the result that I got back was unexpected. The most common answer I received was: 'I have not even thought about that.', 'No computer virus on Mac.', or 'macOS isn't afraid of viruses or hacker attacks.' Many members consistently affirm that macOS is a closed system, and does not get viruses or any malicious programs. These users do not really care about downloads and use any antivirus or internet security for Mac.

Unfortunately, that is not entirely correct. I cannot deny that Apple was doing very well in the security field to protect macOS. They are developing and adding many new features to fight against viruses and malware. But nothing is perfect, and there are still undiscovered security flaws that hackers may exploit. Many dangerous Mac viruses and malware have been discovered in the past, which you might not know about yet, such as Leap, Flashback, Krowi, or Eleanor.

• Leap was a Trojan-worm and used Apple iChat to spread in 2006. iChat is an instant messaging application that was first released by Apple in August 2002. It was discontinued in February 2012 and replaced by Messages. Once Leap installed, it recently infected opened Mac apps and made them unusable.
• Krowi was malware that was packaged in most free and cracked versions of Apple iWork 2009 and Adobe Photoshop for Mac. Once installed, it connected to a specific remote server and waited for commands to action. Hellrts was also another malware with the same function, packed in pirated versions of Apple iPhoto in 2010. Both malicious programs planted backdoors into Mac computers, allowing hackers to access without passwords.
• Intego discovered Flashback malware in September 2011, and so far, it has 14 variants. By exploiting a Java vulnerability, this malware accessed the user's Mac computer when they clicked into a malicious link. The first version of Flashback came inside a modified Adobe Flash installer, while the latest version pretended to be a Software Update prompt. Flashback harvests users' information like usernames, passwords, and other data.
• CrescentCore was Mac malware disguised as an Adobe Flash Player installer. It was even displayed in Google Search results and available to download from several websites. Instead of installing Adobe Flash player as the user expected, this malicious application installed either an app called Advanced Mac Cleaner, a LaunchAgent file, or a Safari extension. CrescentCore easily bypassed Apple's Gatekeeper because a known developer signed it. It is the best example to show you a case that macOS could not prevent all sorts of bad apps.
• CookieMiner focuses on the cryptocurrency field and uses your Mac computer to mine a variety of assets. It also steals login credentials to gain access to your cryptocurrency wallets or exchange accounts. Besides, CookieMiner accesses backups of text messages in iTunes to obtain critical information to bypass two-factor authentication. If you are working in this field, be aware of this malware and similar apps. Ensure that you have enabled two-factor authentication on every account with software or even hardware.
• Discovered by Bitdefender researchers, Eleanor ('EasyDoc Converter.app') was designed as a 'drag and drop' file converter application but had no real functionality. Instead, it quietly installed a backdoor into your Mac system. This backdoor grants full access to macOS operating system, shell execution, file explorer, sends emails, webcam image, video capture, and much more. I would recommend you only download Mac apps from trusted sources. If you can't trust any websites, then the Mac App Store is the right place to go. In that case, you should also only allow apps from the Mac App Store and identified developers to run on your Mac computer.

Luckily, most of the discovered Mac viruses and malware don't cause widespread disaster. It's time to change your mind, cease an age-old belief that your Mac doesn't get viruses and malware. The truth is that Microsoft's Windows operating system takes roughly 77% of the market, which makes it a better piece of cake to attackers. Meanwhile, Apple's macOS operating system makes up about 16% of the share, according to the statistics in October 2019. But who knows, it's never too late to protect your Mac computer.

What Is The Difference Between Malware And Virus?

What is malware? What is a virus? Is malware the same as a virus?

You have probably heard about 'malware' and 'virus' before, and I'm sure both terms are frequently mentioned around you. They are often used interchangeably in many aspects. However, malware and virus are technically different.

What is malware?

Simply put, malware is a combination of 'software' and 'malicious' parts. It implies that this type of program is quite harmful and designed to serve malicious intent. Malware could be present on your computer, smartphone, tablet, or even on your website. Depending on the purpose, attack pattern, or target, malware can categorize into a specific category.

Types of Malware

How many types of malware do you know? It depends on how we categorize them. From computers to smartphones and smart TVs, from websites to email and instant message applications, there is malware for everything. But basically, malware is categorized under these common categories:

• Worm

This is a standalone program that can self-replicate and spread across the entire network. Worms spread from one device to another by exploiting vulnerabilities in the infected system. It also spreads through an attachment in your email, often camouflaged as a legit file. Robert Tappan Morris created the first worm called the Morris worm in 1988 to highlight security flaws. Regrettably, it replicated itself rapidly and spread across the Internet.

• Trojan

Trojans are a type of virus that can camouflage as a safe program or hide in another program. Therefore, most users open them without a doubt. In most cases, trojans can camouflage as a file or program that users incredibly desire and can't resist. It can't self-replicate, so it needs a transport device to spread from one system to another. The primary purpose of trojans is to collect the personal and financial details of users and then steal their money. It can be programmed to control and take over the resources of an extensive host system or network.

• Ransomware

Ransomware is an advanced type of malware and works as its name. It infects your computer and encrypts all crucial files and then demands users to pay a ransom to get those files back. Sometimes, your computer screen might show a pop-up warning that says it has locked your computer. You can access it only after paying a specific fee. The more the cryptocurrency market grows, the more ransomware appears (*). Bitcoin, in particular, or other cryptocurrencies, is the best payment method that attackers prefer because it ensures anonymity.

Note: This is a subjective opinion of the author and does not reflect the entire cryptocurrency field.

• Adware

Adware is software to support advertising and display advertisements on users' computers or smartphones without permission. It forces users to view ads involuntarily. Adware is programmed to collect users' cookies and behaviors and then display related ads. The most annoying thing is that it attacks you with tons of pop-ups. The creator writes this kind of malicious program to generate revenue from the advertising network.

• Spyware

This sort of malware spies on you and track all activities, gathering all sensitive information and vulnerabilities for a future attack. It is hard to detect spyware based on symptoms because it's hidden deeply and doesn't create any weird activity. Sometimes, attackers may use spyware as a keylogger, which is intentionally installed in an organization to monitor all activities of employees.

• Fileless Malware

Unlike all common malware, fileless malware is a type of malicious software that uses legitimate programs to infect users' computers. It does not download any file onto a victim's computer and leaves no footprint. Because it hides in trusted programs, fileless malware runs in the computer's memory, making it challenging to detect and remove. There are also claims that it is 'undetectable,' but this is not accurate. Many people have said this because this sort of malware is almost invisible under the radar of antivirus, malware removal application, and other traditional security solutions. For those reasons, it has been very useful in evading defenses. The Ponemon Institute claims that fileless attacks have a success rate ten times higher than file-based attacks.

In July 2018, researchers discovered a fileless malware called Operation RogueRobi. Hiding in Microsoft Excel Web Query files in email attachments, it makes victim computers run PowerShell command scripts and grant access to the system to attackers. Because of using PowerShell, a trusted part of the Microsoft platform, this kind of attack typically does not trigger any security alert.

• Scareware

Also known as deception software, scareware often redirects gullible users to weird websites and prompts that a severe virus or malware has infected their computer. In turn, this malware recommends users purchase malware removal tools or malware blockers by giving away credit card details. This trick is sophisticated and makes users panic, and they have no hesitation in buying the offered software. However, what they download turns out to be malware, intended to gather the victim's sensitive data. Fraudsters also send out emails massively to distribute scareware and then fool users into purchasing worthless services.

What is a virus?

A virus is a distinctive form of malware and quite similar to a worm, trojan, ransomware, adware, spyware, or scareware. In other words, you can call a virus malware, but not the opposite. Viruses spread by embedding themselves to legitimate files and programs. It spreads through multiple methods, including infected websites, USB flash drives, over the local network, and emails. Victims activate viruses by launching infected files or programs. They can also insert executable code in the 'autorun.inf' file and automatically run when users plug in a USB flash drive. Once activated, viruses may modify files and applications, disable system functions, remove or encrypt files. They can also replicate themselves and try to spread to other computers to increase the infection zone.

How To Scan Mac For Malware And Virus

Type of viruses

Hackers, attackers have made many different types of viruses to serve different purposes. To categorize, these are the four most common types:

• File infectors viruses

Flash drive will not show up on mac. A file infector virus can burrow and embed itself into an executable file and spread through a network. It can also overwrite a computer's operating system or even reformat a drive.

• Macro viruses

Macro viruses are written in the same macro language that uses macros-supported programs, such as Microsoft Word or Excel. Attackers embed harmful code in the macros that are associated with documents or spreadsheets - and cause a series of continuous actions to run automatically when the victim opened those files. Macro viruses often stay in malicious attachments and spread through emails. The more users share infected documents and spreadsheets, the more viruses spread. Besides, there are a few variants that are capable of accessing victims' email accounts and send out copies of infected files to all users' contacts. It is an effective method to increase the affected zone. This sort of virus focuses on a specific application so that it can run on any operating system, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.

• Overwrite viruses

The primary purpose of the overwrite viruses is to demolish targeted files, sensitive data, or even the entire system. After launching in victims' computers, this virus starts overwriting all targeted files with its code. Moreover, it can embed a new code in files or apps and use them to distribute more viruses to other connected systems. Unlike ransomware, where users have a chance to get essential data back by paying a ransom to attackers, overwrite viruses destroy everything, making the files unusable.

• Polymorphic viruses

Polymorphic viruses can create modified, and encrypted versions of themselves to evade detection but retain the same feature and purpose after every infection. To make it undetectable, it encrypts its codes and uses a different encryption key on each version. It can also alter its decryption routine every time. By using sophisticated mutation engines, polymorphic viruses generate billions of decryption routines, which make them even tougher to detect. It looks like you are facing a person that can clone itself limitlessly with different faces and personalities. This way, traditional security tools may not easily detect it. Polymorphic viruses often spread through the use of other malware, infected sites, or email spam.

Whether it is a virus or malware, both can cause considerable damage and take a significant time for debugging. However, both need to be handled very differently. Let me show you how to find out whether your Mac has a virus or malware.

How Do You Know If Your Mac Computer Has A Virus Or Malware?

Regardless of being infected by viruses or malware, several different symptoms will appear on your Mac computer. It could be a sudden pop-up with a warning message, seeing odd things on the screen, your Mac slows down, or it often takes too much CPU or RAM resources.

Here are several signs that your macOS computer probably has a virus or malware:

• Your Mac computer starts running very slow and takes so long to open an application. Sometimes, it doesn't open at all.
• While using apps, it's lagging much more than it usually does.
• Apps suddenly run on their own.
• Found an unfamiliar app on your Mac that you've never installed.
• Randomly displays odd things on your Mac screen.
• Randomly displays advertisement pop-ups.
• Found a strange toolbar on your web browser.
• Visit a familiar website but see a strange interface.

If you see one or more of these signs, it does not necessarily mean a virus or malware has infected your Mac computer. It is a sign that you should consider checking. It is well-worth getting to the root of the issue. You can find a Mac antivirus or malware removal tool and start to scan and clean any malicious files and programs.

Online Virus Scan For Mac

How To Scan Your Mac For Viruses, Malware And Clean Them Out

What should you do if your Mac infected a virus or malware? The first step I would recommend is to find an antivirus or anti-malware for Mac.

But which one?

You can use search engines like Google.com to find more details on your Mac's symptoms. But be aware that you shouldn't download whatever you see at the top of the search results. Many attackers try to put their websites in front of the search results and offer fake antivirus software. So, instead of downloading and fixing the problem, you make it worse.

Hold on! Why don't you take a look at recommended antivirus, anti-malware software from me first? I have prepared a shortlist of three useful tools to help you fight Mac viruses and malware. If this list isn't enough for you, then {here is the extended version with many trusted free antivirus and malware removal tools for Mac}.

Besides, I have also used {CleanMyMac X***} to scan my Mac for malware several times. It comes with a real-time malware monitor that can detect and remove thousands of threats, including worms, trojans, ransomware, adware, spyware, and much more. You can use this application to scan and remove temporary files on your Mac computer. Unfortunately, it's a premium application and requires paying a certain amount of money to use.

Avast Security for Mac

This is one of the most personal security suites that's effective and free for non-commercial users. It provides the necessary tools to do full-system malware scans or other specific tasks. Users can also 'drag and drop' one or multiple files to scan for viruses and malware. Besides, they can select a particular external hard drive or attached volumes to diagnose.

The application's interface is straightforward with a navigational pane on the left. It also offers a real-time graph that provides activities information to users and can check the overall macOS computer stats instantly. Besides the free security suite, Avast offers Avast Premium Security for $59.99 per year at their homepage. If you would like to purchase it, I would suggest you get this premium version from Amazon.com. It's much cheaper, and you only need to pay $24.99 per year.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac

This started as an adware removal tool for Mac and has now become a full-fledged tool to fight against most types of malware. The basic feature of this tool is to detect and remove malicious and unwanted programs. There are also four more helpful features, including proactively preventing and blocking malicious apps, creating schedule scans, updating databases, and blocking apps from untrusted developers. However, you can only use four additional features in 14 days as a trial program in the free version. To use them more and get live protection, you need to pay $40 for a year and use it on one device. There is also an exclusive offer from Amazon.com at the same price, but the time is longer (18 months) and for two devices.

Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac

You can quickly perform a deep scan of your entire Mac computer or target a specific location with this virus scanner. It can also scan critical locations, such as the entire system library or Mac's launch agents. In the interface, users can select four distinct scanning options, as well as 'View Quarantine' and 'Update' buttons. This antivirus automatically checks and downloads updates hourly from Bitdefender's data to protect your Mac better. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is available from the Apple Mac App Store. For premium versions of antivirus software or internet security from Bitdefender, take a look at Amazon.com, the price starts at $15.

Ultimately, relying on antivirus or anti-malware software alone will never be enough. You should always back up your Mac computer with Time Machine. Do not download files and applications from questionable sources. Do not overrule Apple Gatekeeper's warnings if you are not sure. Do not click on links or attachments in emails from unknown senders. Do not listen to suspicious websites prompting you to install Adobe Flash Player or any other applications.

So, here is everything I would like to share. Let's find suitable antivirus software for you to protect your Mac computer. If you have a better method to detect and remove viruses and malware out of macOS, let me know. I will review the information and update this article. The ultimate purpose is to make it a useful resource.

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