#HOW DO I CHECK MAC FOR VIRUSES INSTALL#
#HOW DO I CHECK MAC FOR VIRUSES WINDOWS#

There are several anti virus applications to choose from and here is just a small selection, some of which are free:

#HOW DO I CHECK MAC FOR VIRUSES INSTALL#

However, the Mac is slowly gaining malware and it is recommended that you install antivirus security software in macOS.

#HOW DO I CHECK MAC FOR VIRUSES WINDOWS#

Antivirus software for macOSД¬ompared to Windows computers, Apple Macs suffer from very little malware and it is still possible to use one on a day to day basis without any security software. Uninstall extensions you don't use or look suspcious. Keep Chrome extensions to a minimum and only install common ones that many people use and recommend. Chrome, which a lof of people use on Macs, could be compromised by a bad extension. Safari is not likely to be a problem because all extensions install from the App Store, which is tightly controlled. Check browser extensionsД®xtensions in web browsers can spy on your internet activities, access the content of any pages you view, and even change the content or display ads. Look for non-Apple files and don't delete anything you are not sure about. The /System/Library folder contains a large number of essential macOS files, which should be ignored. Go back to the root of the disk and open System and there is a third Library folder (/System/Library), which is mainly for macOS system items. Double click it to open it.ДЄs before, check the following folders for odd items that should not be there: LaunchAgents, LaunchDaemons, StartupItems and Application Support. In the Finder sidebar on the left, select the drive in the Locations section to display the root (the top level) and there is another Library folder (/Library), which is for all users. There are more Library folders on the Mac's drive. As before, only delete items you know should not be there. It is not used to start apps, but apps use it to store data and you might be able to spot a folder created by an app you don't need or use.

There is another folder in Library called Application Support. Search for items at Google or Bing to find out what they are. If you don't know what something is, leave it alone because it may be important to software you rely on. It is possible that PUPs and adware could be loading through through them.Дelete any item you know for sure should not be there. These are common places apps use to automatically start when you log in to your Mac and they should be checked for unwanted items. This is your personal library folder that contains your personal settings and app data. Special folders you need to know aboutД¬lick the desktop to make sure Finder is selected and then click the Go menu, hold down the Option/Alt key and click Library in the menu.

Select anything suspicous and click the minus button. A PUP could be loading when you log in and hiding in the background, displaying adverts every now and then. You are not going to find hardcore malware in such an obvious place as this, but it is still worth looking. Click Users & Groups and then select the Startup Items tab. After all, if it didn't start, it wouldn't be a problem would it? So when looking for problem apps, good places to look are where startup programs are stored.Д¬lick the Apple menu and select System Preferences. Malware, adware and spyware is designed to run automatically when the Mac starts up. After all, that is what the Mac mostly gets and serious infections or really bad malware is rare on the Mac. Hopefully, it will be sufficient to locate and remove less serious forms of malware, adware and PUPs.

There are certain places where software can ensure it is run every time you start your Mac and here I look at the obvious locations. I don't want to get too technical and here I will just look at the basics of seeing what is starting when you log into your Mac. Where do you start looking if you suspect that adware or something worse has infected your computer? Really nasty viruses, Trojans and other malware are rare on the Mac, but adware is more common and many people are irritated by adverts showing when they are not wanted. Remember the Flashback worm that infected 600,000 Macs a few years ago? It could happen again. There have been many cases of malicious software infecting Apple Macs and there is a chance that your computer could already be compromised. Could your your Mac part of a malware botnet? Is there adware or spyware on it? Where do you start looking for PUPs (potentially unwanted programs)? Let's look at the basics of security.

How do i check mac for viruses