The Best Mac Antivirus Protection for 2020 Despite what you may have heard, your Apple computer is not immune to malware. We test the top contenders to identify those offering the best Mac. The free version of Sophos Home gives you virus protection for three Windows PCs - using the company's high-scoring anti-malware tool - plus a 30-day trial of the company's malware-removal tool. Even Macs Need Antivirus Protection. The myth that Macs don’t suffer malware attacks has been.
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how to get rid of malware on macComputer viruses hold a sweet spot between boring, everyday occurrences, dating back to the 70s, and dramatic, science fiction fueled monsters that will haunt us in our new information-driven world.
One may ask, “Do you need antivirus to protect your Mac?” The reality is, all computers, even Macs, are vulnerable to malware (short for malicious software). While Apple takes a lot of security precautions, how secure your Mac is depends on your knowledge of how to check for viruses and how to remove them.
Whether you want to know how to remove virus from MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, or iMac, learning to keep your information safe first is necessary and easy, with a few tips from the professionals.
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How to scan your Mac for a virus
Why checking your Mac for viruses is important? If a computer virus was the only thing to watch out for, this world would be a simpler place. Malware, adware, spyware, malicious files, worms, trojans, phishing software, you name it, you should check for it. The old way of thinking was that because there are more PCs than Macs in the world, the “virus people” would focus on them instead of Macs. But, we’re not in the 2000s anymore. In fact, in 2018, Apple moved to the fourth position in global laptop shipments. This means, Macs are no longer shiny white boxes that are meant for fun and entertainment.
Not only do we run our businesses off Apple devices and different versions of macOS but we also store family photographs, send out sensitive info — and, thanks to cloud computing, each device is synchronized. Unfortunately, this means your Mac could be a far juicier target than the PC sitting in some corner cubicle.
Know what a Mac virus is
Most of us are familiar with recognizing what a virus looks like thanks to its atrocious design and alarming vocabulary. However, not all viruses take the shock-and-scare approach to getting on your Mac. The latest adware could look like an Adobe Flash Player installer, but is, of course, fake. Not only does it trick you into thinking it's something as normal as Flash, but the installed adware then pretends to be a virus scanner. It shows you bogus problems and encourages you to fix them by giving over sensitive information.
Other forms of viruses could look like Microsoft Office files (e.g. Excel sheets, Word documents), Adobe Photoshop add-ons, as well as music and movie files that you get from BitTorrent or other file sharing programs. But the most common file format that a virus takes is a .dmg file, because it was created by Apple itself to help install good software on your computer. Your task in securing your Mac is to look out for .dmg files showing up when you’re trying to install something. If you’re ever trying to download something you know is supposed to be an image, music, movie, or document, but you get a .dmg file instead — that is as red as a red flag gets in terms of viruses. Do yourself a favor and delete that file immediately.
Keep Mac virus sources in mind
When it comes to having your Mac infected by a virus, we probably expect the attack to come from a stranger. Truth be told, a lot of viruses come from our friends, family, and colleagues, who unfortunately became the primary victim and are now unintentionally passing their viruses to you.
A popular malware virus of 2017 was embedded into a Word document — a Mac Word file, not a PC one. In 2018, Apple discovered flaws in their Intel processor chips that could lead to two kinds of very ambitious strains of Mac viruses too. It’s wild to think that even iPads and iPhones can contract malware.
How to check for malware
In an ideal world, scanning for viruses and the other methods for malware removal should be automatic and happen nearly continuously. In reality, you can consider yourself reasonably safe if you scan your Mac close to once a week. Fortunately, there are quite a few ways to make sure you are as protected as possible.
A good start to scan your Mac for viruses is to see whether you have applications installed that you don’t recognize:
- Go to the Applications folder via Go > Applications in Finder or using the shortcut Shift + Command + A.
- Scroll through the list and delete any unknown applications.
- Then empty the trash.
The second step you should do is check for browser hijackers and adware extensions:
- Go to Safari > Preferences. See what the Homepage URL is currently set to and correct if needed.
- Then proceed to the Extensions tab and uninstall any you don’t recognize, as they could spy on you, save your private data, and redirect you to their malicious websites.
How to run a Mac virus scanner and stop viruses from stealing your information
It’s a common misconception that viruses only happen to people who are gullible, ignorant, or technologically illiterate. The stigma is that hackers prey on people, when in reality, they prey on behavior.
Our basic assumption with Macs is that we expect Apple and our applications to have done all the security work for us. In truth, every user has to adjust their own behavior when using their Mac.
Do you use public WiFi? Consider getting a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt the connection between your laptop and the external network. Shimo is a great VPN manager app that will help you here. While using it, raw information (whether sensitive or not) can’t be fed to any malicious programs lurking on your Mac, and hackers on the same network won’t be able to decode anything you’re working on.
Speaking of encryption, Macs using OS X Lion or later come with the option to encrypt their hard drives using FileVault 2. Although encryption won’t prevent viruses from entering your computer (for that, you’ll need a scanner), it would still be very helpful in stopping viruses from stealing your information. To turn on FileVault:
- Go to System Preferences
- Select Security & Privacy
- Navigate to the FileVault tab
- Choose Turn On FileVault
Keep your Mac secure and virus-free
Trademark signs of something being wrong with your Mac: slow processing memory, a bloated disk space, intense CPU usage, and network speed lag. Unfortunately, viruses don’t live in an easy-to-find location like your computer’s desktop. They can be embedded within an application, most notably, your favorite web browser, where it’s easier for them to view what you’re viewing and track what you’re typing. If you kept on seeing weird websites taking over your search bar, it's a sign that your browser has been hijacked. Other applications can get corrupted or infected too, especially if they have particularly weak security systems. Another example could be an email app you use or an open-source application that is behind on their patch upgrades. Check out how to get rid of malware on mac.
If you think one of your applications is infected, a typical knee-jerk reaction would be to delete the whole thing and redownload it. Often, this will do the trick, but there are simpler solutions available. Clearing the application's cache should always be your first step, and, if there are optional hidden files, consider removing them as well.
Scan your Mac for viruses with CMM X
Run an instant malware scan to identify and remove suspicious files from your Mac. There’s no tool that can do it better than CleanMyMac X.
To remove any application’s cache and get rid of Mac malware from the Library folder:
Can You Test For Viruses
- Use the shortcut Shift + Command + G to Go to Folder
- Type ~/Library/Caches and choose Go
- Delete any particular files inside the folder
If you are unsure about deleting cache files manually, use an app like CleanMyMac X:
- Launch CleanMyMac
- Go to System Junk and click Scan
- When the scan is complete, choose Review Details
- Select User Cache Files and pick the caches you’d like to delete
- Click Clean
In addition, CleanMyMac now features a Malware Removal function, using which should become your weekly habit.
- In CleanMyMac, choose the Malware Removal tab
- Click Scan
- Follow the instructions given. Hopefully it should say your Mac is clean most of the time.
Unfortunately, not all viruses are easy-to-understand files that just sit on your computer. Sometimes they are root certificates that intercept your passwords and messages, and send a copy to hackers. To effectively secure yourself from this, only download apps with valid developer certificates. Which ones are those? It’s hard to know but Apple built a feature that could help you here.
- Go to System Preferences
- Select Security & Privacy
- In the Allow apps downloaded from: select App Store and identified developers
You are well on your way to being protected from malware now. But, the truth is, simply avoiding viruses is not enough. You need to be proactive — it’s time to get a virus scanner.
Check viruses like a pro
If you want complete Mac security, there is no better tool than CleanMyMac X, which can effortlessly scan for all the latest viruses, malware, spyware, and more. Just launch the app on the regular basis and click the Smart Scan option to inspect your Mac for any suspicious activity, besides other suggested features for optimization and cleaning out old files.
Checking Mac For Viruses
Remove viruses from Mac completely
Using a tool like CleanMyMac makes getting rid of viruses, of all shapes and formats, very easy. After the scan, it tells you what it’s found and gives you the option to remove it completely right then and there. Additionally, it will give you all kinds of other great options on how to optimize your Mac’s performance.
As mentioned above, hackers who want to steal your information don’t target you specifically, they target your behavior. So, with this in mind, change your behavior when it comes to using your Mac in potentially unsafe ways. Recognize that viruses come and go, all the time, and across many different file formats. If you get a virus, you’re not ruined.
Arm your computer with encryption tools (like FileVault and a VPN), so that your information can’t be stolen. Practice a healthy dose of skepticism when downloading files. But, most importantly, get professional apps that bring you the most results, like CleanMyMac or Shimo — all of which are available on Setapp for your to try free. So get a scan now and see what it says.
Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.
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Updated: January 8, 2020 Home » Computer and Internet Security » Basic Security And How To Tutorials
As a kid, we’ve all been there and done that – that is downloading pirated software from torrent sites with cracks, be it antivirus, games or Microsoft Office software. Little did we know, hackers knew the reason you download an antivirus program is because you do not have a security software installed therefore you are vulnerable, and the best way to infect your Windows computer is to include a ‘disabled’ antivirus with a trojan horse.
Alternative 2020 Article ➤ 5 Free Antivirus With 60+ Multi-Engines – The Best Antivirus Protection
Comodo Leak Tests used to be a very reliable and popular penetration test tools, unfortunately, they’ve decided to discontinue the product. Even if you decided to come clean and purchase a genuine antivirus, sometimes it might be too late, this is because the virus is to integrated into your system that will disable all new antivirus during installation, rendering them useless while you think you are well protected. One way to find out if your antivirus is working is to simulate an actual ‘harmless’ virus attack.
↓ 01 – RanSim | Free Ransomware Simulator Tool
How vulnerable is your network against ransomware attacks? Bad guys are constantly coming out with new versions of ransomware strains to evade detection. Is your network effective in blocking ransomware when employees fall for social engineering attacks? KnowBe4’s Ransomware Simulator “RanSim” gives you a quick look at the effectiveness of your existing network protection. RanSim will simulate 10 ransomware infection scenarios and show you if a workstation is vulnerable to infection.
- 100% harmless simulation of a real ransomware infection
- Does not use any of your own files
- Tests 10 types of infection scenarios
- Just download the install and run it
↓ 02 – SpyShelter Security Test Tool | Test Windows Security
Security Test Tool presented on this page is a non-malicious application which can be used on live systems. It does not require installation.
This tool simulates few methods used by sophisticated malware to steal your data. It will not damage your system files, and all captured data is stored locally on your PC until the moment you close the application. Test your security software and find out if it protects you against information-stealing malware. This Security Test Tool consists of 6 separate modules:
- Keylogging test
- Webcam capturing test
- Test Keystroke Encryption
- Screen capturing test
- Clipboard capturing test
- Sound recording test
- System protection test (Registry access, writing file to startup folder, service registering)
↓ 03 – WICAR | Test Browser Security
The wicar.org website was designed to test the correct operation your anti-virus / anti-malware software. The name “WICAR” is derived from the industry standard EICAR anti-virus test file, which is a non-dangerous file that all anti-virus products flag as a real virus and quarantine or act upon as such. By being able to execute a test virus program safely, the end user or network administrator can ensure that the anti-virus software is correctly operating (without utilising a real virus which may damage the system should the anti-virus software fail to function).
The Test Malware! page contains widely abused browser exploits you may safely click on, to test your defences. Donations to assist with the operational and hosting costs are welcome.
↓ 04 – TESTmyAV | Test Ransomware & Malware
This site contains 100+ real malicious and extremely damaging malware. Get your hands on fresh malware for testing your antivirus software and maybe mutate it yourself with a packer. On TestMyAV.com we’ve got plenty of malware for you to use in your testing. Just go to the malware page and start there. You can also source malware from many other places on the Internet and from your local email spam folders. Whatever you use, you’ll need to handle it carefully to make sure you don’t accidentally infect a machine or let it be scanned prematurely before you’ve started the proper testing.
↓ 05 – EICAR | Simple Antivirus Test
This test file has been provided to EICAR for distribution as the “EICAR Standard Anti-Virus Test File”, and it satisfies all the criteria listed above. It is safe to pass around, because it is not a virus, and does not include any fragments of viral code. Most products react to it as if it were a virus (though they typically report it with an obvious name, such as “EICAR-AV-Test”).
↓ 06 – ShieldUp | Test Windows DNS & Router UPnP Exposure
Without your knowledge or explicit permission, the Windows networking technology which connects your computer to the Internet may be offering some or all of your computer’s data to the entire world at this very moment! Many Internet connection IP addresses are associated with a DNS machine name. (But yours is not.) The presence of “Reverse DNS”, which allows the machine name to be retrieved from the IP address, can represent a privacy and possible security concern for Internet consumers since it may uniquely and persistently identify your Internet account — and therefore you — and may disclose other information, such as your geographic location.
↓ 07 – FortiGuard | Test Downloadable Zip Compression
Are you protected? It’s about more than just malware these days – attackers bypass antivirus and other detection methods by concealing code with different file types and compressions. Are you at risk? Find out with this easy test. Attackers get past security measures by hiding malware deep within compressed files. Unfortunately, most network security solutions are regularly fooled by this technique because they can’t analyze a file compressed with any format other than ZIP. There are a number of legitimate compression formats commonly used and easily opened by typical end users on most operating systems other than ZIP, such as:
- TAR.GZ – compression which dominates the world of Linux
- 7Z – a fast compression format growing in popularity
- CAB – a standard Windows installer package compression format
↓ 08 – IKARUS Security | Downloadable EICAR Test Files
EICAR test virus is not a real virus. The file contains a legitimate DOS program that was written by the European Institute for Computer Anti-Virus Research. When run, it prints the message “EICAR-STANDARD-ANTIVIRUS-TEST-FILE!”. Test viruses are built for testing and observing the features and reactions of your anti-malware solution when a virus is found.
Download the test file to your computer. Unless your network security solution won’t stop the download of the test virus, your local anti-virus software should notify you when you try to save or execute the file. The EICAR test virus is the only standardized way to watch anti-virus-programs doing their job, and therefore probably all of them will detect and name the file. Nevertheless, this says nothing about detection rates and protective performance of the tested software. If the EICAR test file is not detected by your malware scanner, we recommend looking for the reason because it might be caused by malfunctions.
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