How To Remove MacBook Viruses, Spyware & Adware

Removing Viruses, Spyware And Adware From Your Mac

Are you worried your MacBook has a virus, spyware or adware installed on it? A common myth in the computer industry is that Apple products "can't get a virus".

This is a great PR move for Apple but hurts the consumer as it simply isn't true. The truth is that as Apple has gained market share in the consumer computing industry, creators of malicious programs have taken notice and begun to direct their efforts at the OSX, macOS and iOS systems. While it is true that there are more types of viruses, adware and general spam directed at the Windows operating system, it is naive to think that you are 100% safe just by virtue of owning an Apple computer.

If you've begun to notice odd behavior, slow load times and irritating popups or redirections when browsing the web then you may be the victim of a malicious program. Your MacBook can become infected by browsing unsafe websites, downloading unsafe files or clicking unsafe links. We'll discuss how to best keep yourself safe and remove any existing types of virus or malware on your machine.

Identifying MacBook Viruses and Malware

Malware (a catch-all term for malicious programs running on a computer) can drastically reduce the power and efficiency of your machine. Often time, these programs will run processes in the background that perform a multitude of tasks. It can be anything from copying keystrokes or sensitive data to turning your computer into a "zombie" node. The end result is that it steals processing power away from the core functions of your computer and can leave you with a machine that has drastically reduced performance.

If you've noticed that your computer is running slower than it normally does, this can be a sign that you've accidentally installed a malicious program. Another symptom of infection is odd behavior. Specifically, popups, when you do not expect them or redirection while using your internet browser, can indicate that you have malware installed as well. Redirection can occur when malware takes over your default search engine and forces your search queries to redirect to advertisements installed by the malware creator.

You should be aware that viruses and malware on your MacBook can hide in various places. This means they can be background processes, in your browser, from a file you may have downloaded, and more. It is important to search everywhere possible for lurking threats as these programs can be exceptionally well-hid from the average user. It will not be as obvious as opening up Activity Monitor and removing a running process.

For the best way to check if your MacBook has a virus, spyware or adware installed, we recommend using CleanMyMacX. This piece of software will scan your computer and check for any malicious programs that may have been installed and are hiding in background processes.

If you want, you can read more about CleanMyMac X here.

Removing Viruses and Malware From Your Mac

If you have identified that you do have a MacBook infected with a virus, spyware or adware programs, you will want to clean your system as soon as possible. You should also make sure to stop using sensitive websites, programs or data until your computer is clean. These programs can track keystrokes and consequently are able to capture sensitive data. This means you should definitely avoid logging in to your online banking website, sending emails or entering any passwords or personal information on your computer.

In order to clean your system, you need a comprehensive solution. Again, we recommend using CleanMyMacX to identify and contain any threat on your system. We've found this software to be one of the best in finding and removing malicious programs on Mac computers.

It is important to note that viruses, malware and adware can exist on external devices as well. If you use an external hard drive, USB drive or SD card with your MacBook, you will need to scan those peripherals as well. They often can be the host for viruses and malware and many people neglect to scan these devices for problems. CleanMyDrive 2 (made by the same company as CleanMyMac) offers this capability to scan any external drive you have connected to your MacBook.

These two programs together provide an extremely comprehensive solution to finding and removing viruses, spyware and adware from your MacBook. This is a free utility you can use to ensure that you are 100% protected against viruses and malware.

Repairing The Damage

Unfortunately, viruses and malware on your computer can leave lasting damage even when removed. For this reason, we recommend you backup all your files before attempting to remove any threats found on your system. In addition to this, we recommend your follow these steps to fully repair your computer:

• Reinstall any major programs (web browser, email clients, utility programs) that you use frequently
• Remove any toolbars, plugins or add-ons from your web browser, unless they are from a trusted third party such as Google or Apple
• Remove any untrusted applications you have downloaded from the App Store
• Change your password to both your computer and any online services you have recently visited
• Enable 2-factor authentication for any service that supports it
• Remove any applications or files you no longer need as they may be a potential vector for viruses and malware

Staying Secure

By now, you should have a clean system and removed any viruses on your MacBook. But it is just as important to stay secure in the future and prevent this from happening again. It is highly recommended your continue to scan your computer with CleanMyMacX every few days or weeks. This can keep you safe from any threats that come up in the future.

It is also important to practice safe browsing habits. Do not visit websites you do not trust and do not download files form sources you do not trust. If you want to download a file but are unsure of how safe it is, use a tool such as VirusTotal which will scan the file before you download it and alert you if any malware or viruses are found in it.

Always remember to keep your browser up to date and install Apple security updates as soon as they roll out. With these strategies, you should be able to keep your MacBook free from any viruses, spyware and adware.