How to Check for Malware on Mac – Signs Of Malware on Mac

August 25, 2022

Mac devices are susceptible to viruses and other malware so it’s important you learn how to check for Malware on Mac. When you use antivirus software for your device, it can help you protect it against malware.

However, it’s important you know how to Scan for Malware on Mac. This article is going to give you a detailed guide on this topic. Read on!

How to Check for Malware on Mac

Having Malware on your device can be quite frustrating. This malicious software intends to control your device, and collect personal information and even financial information. You may be concerned about your Mac having viruses and other malware.

This article will give you a guide on Scanning Macbook for Viruses. In addition to this, you will learn how to remove any virus you find on your device. Don’t know How to Search for Malware on Mac? If your answer is yes, this article has got you covered.

What is Malware on Mac?

Sometimes, you may receive a notification on your Mac stating that the content you are about to download contains suspicious malware. So, what is a Malware? Malware is simply a group of malicious software.

This includes trojan horses, viruses, worms, trojan horses, and other programs that can harm your device. Most times, your device gets affected by this malicious software when you download items from websites, emails, and messages.

How to Find Viruses on Mac

Although Apple integrates built-in security into its computer and mac, it’s necessary you carry out a manual malware detection on your Mac. The Process for Checking Viruses on Mac is quite long but it has been broken down for easier understanding in this section of the article. Below are the steps on how to successfully run a Malware check on your device.

Check the List of Installed Apps on Your Mac

You should make it a regular routine to check your Mac for installed apps. Ensure the apps installed on your device are actually downloaded by you. To do this, follow the steps below:

Power on your Mac device.
Tap on the application folder on your device to open it.
Scroll through the app list on your device and delete the ones you don’t want on your device. To delete the app, click on “Control + Program” and choose “Move to Bin”.
Lastly, empty the trash on your device to completely remove the apps from your device.

If you can’t remember installing an app, you shouldn’t leave it on your device. Go through the app list and delete the ones that are no longer in use.

Clear the Downloads Folder on your Mac

Sometimes, a pop-up may appear on your screen when rowing the internet. This pop-up sometimes downloads files and applications without your permission. Having known this, you need to visit the downloads file on your mac and delete any item you did not download yourself.

When you visit the downloads folder, move the files you need to a new folder and permanently delete the folders you no longer need.

Clear all Suspicious Login Items

After clearing your download folder, you can go ahead to check your login items. To do this, follow the steps below:

Switch on your device on and tap on the Apple icon from the menu bar.
Scroll down to “System Preferences” and click on it.
Choose “Users and Groups”.
Select “Login Items”.
Click on the lock icon at the bottom left corner of your screen.
The suspicious login items will be displayed on your screen, check all the boxes next to them.

Having done this, you can delete them by clicking on the minus sign. Also, confirm the deletion by clicking on the lock icon again.

Scan through your Browser Extensions

If you have extensions installed on your web browser, you need to check them properly to ensure that they do not contain malware. Harmful extensions on your web browser can spread malware and slow down your device.

To check the extensions on your device, open the web browser on your device and scan through the installed extensions. Remove any extension that looks suspicious.

Check Viruses on Mac with Antivirus

There are some apps you can use to scan your Mac for viruses. Some of them even offer free services. One of these apps is Malwarebytes which offers a 14-day limited free trial. When you download any antivirus app, run a Macbook scan for viruses on your device to check for malware.

Signs Of Malware on Mac

How do you know if your Mac has been infected by malware? There are many tell-tale signs to find out. Some viruses can stay on your device for long without you finding out while some become noticeable in just a matter of days. Here are some signs of Malware:

When your Mac runs slow, it may be a sign that it is affected by viruses. This is because the software runs slowly in the background affecting the device.
Annoying ads popping up on your device is also a sign that your device has been affected.
Also, noticing new toolbars in your device that you did not install can be an indicator that there is malware.

If you notice any of these symptoms on your device, it does not automatically mean it has been infected. You can still run a scan to confirm your suspicion.

How to Identify Malware in Activity Monitor

You can also use the Activity monitor to Check Viruses on Mac. The activity monitor helps you to detect if an app of task is using a lot of resources. To do this, follow the steps below:

Go to Applications on your Mac.
Tap on “Utilities” and choose “Activity Monitor”.
You can search for an app using the search field at the top of the screen.
Also, go through the list of apps and take note of the ones with high CPU and memory usage.
If you consider any app with suspicious activity, you can carry out a google search for it to confirm it is not malware.
Click on the delete button at the top of your screen to get rid of any suspicious app.

Having done this, you can delete the empty to trash folder to completely get rid of malicious software.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my Mac Has a Virus?

There are many signs that indicate your Mac has been attacked by a virus. If your mac runs slow or crashes unexpectedly, you should be suspicious of malware. Other signs of Malware on your device include pop-up windows, extra toolbars, applications on your device, etc.

However, you don’t have to conclude with these signs that your device has been infected. You need to run a Mac Malware Scan.

What do I Do if my Mac has a Virus?

When you have detected a virus on your Mac. The first action to take is to go offline. Turn off your internet connection or disconnect any ethernet cable you use. Also, use safe mode for your device and don’t type any login password until the virus has been removed.

How do I Prevent Malware from Getting into My Mac?

To stop malware from attacking your device, you should be careful with fake files. Do not open any document on your device until you are sure of what it is. Also, avoid fake updates and system tools.

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