How To Remove Malware and Viruses From Your Mac

Difference Between Malware and a Virus

The terms malware and virus are often used interchangeably. However, they are different and it’s important to be aware of those differences.

Malware is essentially malicious software. It’s the umbrella term to describe any program/code that is created with bad intentions, and inflicted on computers, servers, or a network.

A virus is a type of malware, of which there are many different types. The distinct quality that makes something a virus, like with real-life viruses, is that it self-replicates and copies in order for it to spread elsewhere.

How to spot that you have malware

There are some symptoms that can indicate that you have malicious software on your Mac. First and foremost, your Mac may be slowing down, which can be caused by crypto mining malware (among others). Pop-up ads, unwarranted changes to your search engine or homepage, as well as random security messages are all also symptoms.

How to remove malware

Below are the key ways to go about removing malware and viruses.

Anti-virus software

So, the automated approach is the most economical in regards to time and efficiency. Of course, there are lots of poor anti-virus software out there, so check some Mac reviews before downloading. This can pre-emptively stop malware before it infects your device, but it can also scan the entire Mac at a click of a button.

Turn WiFi off and boot into safe mode

Firstly, malware tends to be at its most dangerous when it’s online – feeding back information on your data and such. So, the first thing to do is turn off WiFi/unplug the ethernet cable to disconnect from the internet.

Next, you can boot into safe mode for extra caution. If on an Intel Mac, hold Shift when the Mac is turning on and then take your finger off once the login window appears. If you’re on an M1 Mac, turn off the Mac, hold the power button down for 10 seconds, release when you see the startup window, then choose the startup disc and hold shift. When asked, click Continue in Safe Mode and then release Shift.

Manually check for malicious programs

So, you can check for malicious programs in places such as Applications and Downloads, where a program you never voluntarily downloaded may be residing. If you find one, send it to the Trash and empty the Trash soon after.

You can also find the names of potential programs in your Activity Monitor and Login Items. Not only should you close down the program and turn it off as a Login Item, but search for its name in the Mac to find its associated files and delete them.

Browser hijackers

Another common piece of malware is termed adware, in which your browser is hijacked to give you adverts and steal your data. You can remove it via the methods above, but it’s also important to go to the browser and disable any suspicious extensions – this is the most important step, as hijackers often download other extensions against your will which can have scary implications.

After removing the virus and the extensions, change your homepage and default search engine back to normal. Do these steps on all browsers, not just Safari.