How To Clean Your Mac From Malware?

The chances are if you suspect your Mac is infected with malware it probably is. Malware is on the rise in Mac computers with nefarious types writing code to affect the shiny new chips that are found in the latest Macs released to the market. Once thought to be in the domain of Windows computers, Macs are being attacked specifically with an average threat of 11 per number of Macs in the last year. Windows machines have seen 5.8.

Malware takes many forms, and it is essential that you clean malware from your Mac as soon as you think you have it. Left unchecked it can do serious damage to your device and to you outside of computing. Some forms steal your data including financial information.

Where Does Malware Come From

Malware can come from many different places. Generally, it installs if you are tricked into downloading it. Phishing is another way it can get onto your system. Common signs to watch are:

• Unsafe links or email attachments.
• Camera access request.
• Fake Flash player or other app updates.
• Torrent download.
• “Your Mac is infected” scam.
• Software bundle. Here, the malware is bundled into another software download.

The golden rule is prevention rather than cure, so watch out for the above and don’t act on warning messages from unknown sources.

Signs You Have Malware on Your System

There are common signs that you have malware on your system. Different types of malware are designed to affect different systems and as such manifests themselves differently. If you have any of the following, you may well have it.

• Drop-in Mac performance.
• Freezing constantly.
• Web pages have a gazillion ads.
• Your Mac reboots for no reason.
• Your browser installs updates that seem suspicious or puts extensions on it as it feels like it.
• Apps are installed that you didn’t install.

Anything like this is a call for you to take action.

What is Malware?

So what is malware? Malware is a broad term for unwanted intrusions and normally looks like:

• PUP – This is an acronym for potentially unwanted programs. Normally it is put there by potentially unwanted nefarious types! PUP is the most common malware manifestation.
• Trojan horse – This malware is cleverly designed as official software only it isn’t. Bad things follow.
• Botnet – This turns your Mac into a shadow bot doing things that only shadow bots would do.
• Rootkit – This takes your admin privileges allowing nefarious types to do who knows what.
• Download managers – Once you have one of these babies they start downloading anything they want to your Mac.
• Backdoor infections – They seize your Mac and start controlling it.
• Ransomware – Here, the malware takes over and locks you out of your device and is normally only released after you pay a King’s ransom to the nefarious guy who put it on your device.
• Spyware and keyloggers – These are designed to hack into your Mac and steal your personal data.

So you know what it is, how do you clean malware from your Mac?

Use a Good Malware Remover

Arguably the most effective and time-efficient way is to use a malware remover tool. Here, you get what you pay for and it is always best to go premium to get a good one. Ensure it works in real-time and protects your Mac 24/7.

If you want to clean malware manually, do the following in the first instance.

Check Activity Monitor

Always useful Activity Monitor can help you track down and purge malicious apps from your system providing you know which one is the culprit. So:

• Activity Monitor and use Processes to find the app.
• Close it using the ‘X’ button.
• Go to Applications.
• Drag the app to Trash and empty Trash.
• Check Library files for remains of the app and drag to and empty Trash when you find them.

It is good practice to search your Downloads folder for .DMG malware infected files and repeat the drag and delete to Trash process.

Login Items

Another place to clean malware from is your login items. Spyware and adware often can be found lurking here ready to pounce. So:

• Apple Menu, System Preferences, Users & Groups.
• Select your username.
• Login Items tab and click the ‘-‘ against any suspicious apps.

Reboot to allow the changes to come into effect. This prevents these apps from starting when you switch on your device.

Block Pop-up Ads

Blocking pop-up ads even if you have no issues is good practice. Pop-ups spoil the computing experience and as we have seen can trick you into installing malware. To block them is browser specific.

Safari

• Safari Preferences, Website tab.
• Scroll to Pop-up Windows in the sidebar.
• From the list of websites choose whether you want to block or allow pop-ups.

Chrome

• Settings(three-dots), Privacy and Security.
• Site Settings, Pop-ups and redirects.
• Pop-up tab and choose to block them.

As an extra precaution ensure your homepage is a trusted site.

Extensions

As we are well into our browsers let’s clean malware-infected extensions. Again, this is browser specific.

Safari

1. Safar Preferences, Extensions tab.
2. Scan the list of your extensions and uninstall ones you didn’t put there or don’t recognise.

Chrome

• Launch Chrome and type Chrome://extensions in the address bar.
• Scan your extensions removing ones you don’t recognise or you feel are a bit dodgy.

For both Safari and Chrome ensure you reset the browsers.

Launch Agents and Daemons

Launch Agents and Daemons folders contain useful little programs that help your Mac device run smoothly. Sadly, they are often a target of malware, especially trojan horses. As such, they launch automatically and do their nefarious doings on your Mac.

So:

• Finder, Go, Go to Folder.
• Type /Library/LaunchDaemons
• Take a good lock at the files in PLIST and delete any you suspect or know to be dodgy. Don’t forget to reboot.

It is good practice to do the same for the following locations:

• /Library/LaunchAgents
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents

Switch User Account

If you find you still have malware on your device you may want to consider switching user accounts and performing a full system clean-up. It is a drastic way to clean malware but is effective.

So:

• Create a new user account.
• Clean up your system.
• Restore your Mac using Time Machine to a point before your device was exhibiting strange behaviour.
• Update all software including macOS.

That should do it.

For more information see Apple Support.