While it is widely considered that Macs are safe from malware, they can actually be susceptible to computer viruses that can greatly threaten the security of the person who is using it. Malware attacks are becoming increasingly more common and more clever, with people getting tricked into downloading malicious software or programs without even realising, even if they are very computer savvy. While getting malware on your Mac is a pain, it isn’t the be-all and end-all and can be fixed in no time at all. Here we take a look at how this can be done. Let us know what you think of the list of tips below.
What is Malware?
Malware is essentially software that has been designed to infiltrate your system without consent. It usually is created with malicious intent to steal things such as your data or your bank details in order to benefit the hacker.
How can Malware make its way onto my device?
There are a number of ways that malware can make its way onto your device. The most common way is if you click a link that puts cookies onto your computer. You might click something on a browser, or it could be through an email or direct message. These can be disguised to look innocent and easy to mistake for something legitimate making it all the more tricky to spot.
How can I get rid of malware on my Mac?
While getting malware onto your system is easy, luckily enough it’s not too difficult to get rid of it either.
First you need to check what malware is on your Mac. You can do this by checking your Activity Monitor which will show you what’s running on your Mac and if anything is taking up too much storage or looks suspicious. If you spot anything that doesn’t look right, write down the name of it or take a photo and search for it on Google. This can soon tell you whether it is real or not. 7
You will need to disconnect yourself from the internet in order to prevent you from sending any more data or information to hackers. This can also help it stop spreading further such as to other connections of yours.
You then should enter “safe mode” on your Mac which should help to keep you protected further. To enter safe mode, restart your Mac, press and hold the Shift key, then release it when you see the login window. If you think your Mac has been infiltrated, it’s vital you don’t log in as you might give hackers your passwords that they could use going forward.
Once you’ve done this, run a malware scanner that can remove the majority of malware. You should then verify your browser by heading to your internet and checking the homepage and connections are all as they should be. If so, simply clear your cache to be sure. If not, head to your “settings” option on your web browser, select the dropdown “search engine” and verify this as your homepage default option.
These are just a few ways you can identify and remove malware from your Mac.
