The The myth that no viruses can come into Apple That's it: a fairy tale. Macs, like Windows computers, are also susceptible to the virus infection software it's cruel, though it's true that on a smaller scale than PCs and Android devices.
The apple company has built many security systems that protect devices initially, such as Gatekeeper and Xprotect. However, you won't lose anything by giving your Mac an extra layer of protection against antivirus installations, such as Norton Security either Kaspersky Internet Security.
Here are a few security measures to prevent your Mac from being infected or, once infected, to remove the content altogether. malware from your computer or laptop. We showed you how Find out if your Apple computer might be vulnerable and how to clean up viruses from Mac.
How to Know if your Mac is Infected: Symptoms and Diagnosis
We know that your Mac or MacBook is the most wanted in this world and that you will want to protect it for the rest of your days. That's why there's nothing wrong with having a little bit of information about what can shorten your life: germs.
Like us, Macs also have symptoms when they are "sick." It's good to know them, as this will help us to identify diseases malware very quickly and we can solve the problem quickly.
Here are some clues that may make you suspect that your computer is infected:
- Your Mac is slower than usual – even if you're only doing basic tasks – and it looks like the background program is working that slows down.
- You see that your web browser has a new toolbar – often, we guarantee it will make your search or purchase easier. online– don't install.
- When you search for the search engine you are using, you are redirected to a completely customized page or the results appear on the page that mimics the engine you are looking for.
- All websites are full of ads, even the most unusual ones such as Wikipedia.
- You try to visit some of your favorite websites as you always did but you are directed to one of those pages spam.
- Pop-up windows appear with ads as well spam always, even if you don't use the Internet or use a system that you can communicate with.
Any of these symptoms can indicate whether or not the virus has infected your computer. If you come across any of the above points, you can quickly assume that your Mac is infected, just straighten it.
In addition, there may be other reasons why you experience them. For example, slowing down on a Mac It can be created by a hard drive without space, a cache full of temporary files or because it's been a long time since it started.
On the other hand, most fully licensed programs show windows pop up announcing their products. When this happens, it is as annoying and upsetting as it can be, it will not be considered adware.
When it comes to finding out that a virus has infected your Mac or MacBook, you may be tempted to contact your Google account. Now, above all, do not install the original system that ensures you can fix it.
Certainly has been malware hidden antivirus. Unfortunately, there is an alarming rate software Download from the Internet that just wants to earn you money or infect your Mac even more, as is the case with Mac Defender.
Developers of these programs make Google results stand out and stand out software legally. In addition, the familiar looking interface is often deceptive and efficient, making it easy to fall into the trap.
How to know if your Mac is infected: This is how harmful viruses act
Viruses, malwareand on the horizon and fishing They have many ways to access the Mac. Next, we summarize the most common ways this can happen, which can help you find out if your Mac is infected.
- Software evil
- Files are fake
- Files are authentic with malware
- Update or false system tools
- False technical assistance
Software evil
He software Mal has many ways to get inside your computer, whether you downloaded it yourself and thought it was a legitimate program, or because it reached you via email or instant messaging.
As we mentioned before, i malware It takes some kind of actual application, like a virus scanner to find out if your Mac is infected. Watch carefully as long as you don't download the program on its official website.
That's why, before downloading anything, we recommend that you check the list first again reviews from professional applications such as Macworld Spain. You can also seek advice from someone you know who has had a similar problem.
Files are fake
Viruses are also often hidden away as Word files, PDF documents or images that, when opened in vain or curiously, eventually get into your computer or laptop. So it's best to open those files that we know what they are.
We have to be careful, because these files can come from our computer without having to see them again, hopefully with our own, we open them without suspecting what's behind.
The creators of malware They use a very simple procedure: change the extension of the infected file. Although it's not often that difficult to detect when it's a false extension, the truth is that it's a very good plan to introduce the virus to a Mac.
Files are authentic with malware
Another way for viruses to infect a computer is by using a bug or hole in your browser's security system or programs such as a Word Type processor or a PDF viewer such as Adobe Reader.
In these cases, a suspicious document or webpage contains malware it is not possible to detect what goes into your computer without you noticing or causing a breach in the system that compromises the security of your Mac.
Update or false system tools
This edition malware It is presented to us in the form of a true refresher with a warning in a false dialog box from our computer while looking at the Internet.
False Renewal of plug-in Adobe Flash Player, as well as optimization of system or antivirus applications.
False technical assistance
Have you ever received a call recently from Apple & # 39; s technical firm – or Microsoft – confirming that they think your computer might be infected? This is now the first warning signal.
But if you also pay for the other steps you need to take to get rid of the antimicrobial, immediately lock the phone: it's a trap. It will open the door for them to put theirs together at the same time malware on your computer
How does Apple protect your Mac or MacBook?
In recent years, the existence of malware and a virus in Apple products, though otherwise described as an epidemic, because the percentage of infected Macs is very small.
Now, that doesn't mean that your Mac or MacBook is your goal hackers, they promote inappropriate content and develop new strategies every day to infect as many devices as possible.
Given this, Apple has created invisible security barriers that can protect your Mac in the first place. Among them, File Quarantine or Gatekeeper is visible – depending on which operating system you are running – along with Xprotect.
File Quarantine or Gatekeeper
This Apple security program is designed in such a way that, if you try to open the program for the first time after downloading, you will always receive a notification stating where it came from or when it was downloaded.
Next, you have to manually accept that the file is opened, except for those applications found in the App app, which Mac always looks to be trusted when coming directly from Apple.
However, if the programmer doesn't put his digital signature on it – provided by Apple -, your Mac will automatically block it and prevent it from being turned on.
From section & # 39;Security and Privacy& # 39; From the & # 39; panelSystem Preferences& # 39; You can configure your computer to also open unknown developer applications, but you have to be very careful.
Xprotect
Apple is also installing on its computers and laptops a scanner that will be able to automatically detect when a file is infected with malware that you know and will block it as a precaution.
It will often do with older types of software legal, such as Java or i plug-in Flash, because in many cases these apps are at risk of being attacked from malware.
In this sense, when you open a file for the first time, Xprotect will uninstall it and if it detects malicious content, a warning appears to warn you that this file contains a virus. The only option you'll have at that time is to transfer it to the trash.
Over time, this Apple safety feature proved to be very effective in preventing the spread of malware. In addition, it is one of those that has so few Macs viral infiltration.
What to do before infection: How to remove malware on a free Mac
After finding out that your Mac or MacBook has been successfully infected, without any security programs built into your Apple device, it's time to get rid of that content permanently malware.
To do this, there are 10 simple steps we must follow that we introduce below and will improve separately:
- Protect your banking information
- Do not enter passwords
- Don't connect to the Internet
- Use Monitoring Function
- Turn off the Mac and restore the backup
- Download virus scanner
- Clear the cache
- Open the folder & # 39; Downloads & # 39;
- Change passwords
- Reinstall macOS
Step 1. Protect your bank account information
Assuming that a particular file or program has been entered on your Mac, the first thing you should do, of course, is to permanently delete it: transfer it to the trash first and then finally dump it.
But that is not enough if you have entered your bank card details when you discovered the virus. If this is your case, you should contact your bank immediately and explain the situation.
You may get your money back, but the important thing here is to make sure that your bank account is not in danger.
Step 2. Do not enter passwords
If you find that your Mac is infected, do not re-enter your password or passwords in case they use a boxing key hidden – everything is there malware– Record your keys and remember them.
In addition, many malicious programs also take screenshots from time to time without your noticing. That is why we recommend not copying and pasting document passwords or choosing the & # 39; Show Password & # 39;
Step 3. Don't connect to the Internet
To the extent possible, try not to use the Internet. To disconnect your computer from the network, click the Wi-Fi icon in the top bar of your screen and select & # 39; Disable Wi-Fi & # 39 ;, or unplug the Ethernet cable when using the cable route.
We recommend re-connecting to the Internet only when you are certain that this virus has been permanently deleted. That will protect the hackers They can access multiple files on your computer.
Of course, if you need to install a virus cleaning tool on your Mac, you have to do it from the Internet. Once downloaded, disconnect the Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable again.
Step 4. Use the Monitoring Function
If you are sure you have just installed malware unintentionally, for a malicious update or a program that has been installed on another, you should use Activity Monitor.
1. Note the name of the infected application.
2. Force exit the application by right-clicking on the icon and selecting & # 39;Force exit & # 39;, or using the shortcut while pressing the & # 39;The command& # 39; And & # 39;Q.& # 39 ;.
3. Then open the & # 39; folderResources& # 39; In the & # 39;Applications& # 39; Also choose the program & # 39;Career Monitoring& # 39 ;.
4. Use the search bar in the top right corner to search for an infected application.
5. When you've found it, select it, click the icon in the form of a & # 39;X& # 39; That you will see in the upper left and confirm the action by clicking & # 39;Force exit& # 39 ;.
Unfortunately, many developers are malware They are aware of this trick and are trying to adapt the process using the most abstract code, making it difficult to find.
Step 5. Turn off the Mac and restore the backup
If you can, turn off your Mac as soon as you think the computer is infected. After that, back up your recent and past infection, which you can recover from your Time Machine.
After restoring backup, be careful not to reopen the virus or file system or connect any external storage device – such as USB sticks – that you have connected to your computer while it is still being infected.
To clean out infected storage devices from viruses, scan using antivirus from a Windows computer. Despite being malware designed for Mac, you can remove it with PC.
Step 6. Download the virus scanner
You may not have a backup stored or that, for some reason, you can't find. In this case, download the free Bitdefender Virus Scanner from the Mac App Store or, preferably, the full version of Bitdefender Antivirus.
Once you have uninstalled and installed the scanner, open the program and click the & # 39;Update Definitions& # 39; Updating bug descriptions. After that, click the & # 39;Deep scan& # 39; In-depth Mac scanning.
You will only need to follow the on-screen instructions to allow the antivirus to access your computer's hard drive or laptop.
Step 7. Clear the cache
Following the previous step, you should clear the cache of your web browsers. The procedures are also individual and often are the same. The only thing that will vary will be the name of the options.
In Safari, open the & # 39; tabHistory& # 39; From the top bar of the screen and click on the option & # 39;Clear history& # 39 ;. In a new window, select & # 39;All historyFrom the drop down menu and confirm the action by clicking & # 39;Clear history& # 39 ;.
Similarly, in Google Chrome, open the & # 39;HistoryFrom the top bar and click & # 39;Clear history& # 39 ;. On the new page, click the three horizontal bar icon and select & # 39;Clear browsing data& # 39 ;.
Optionally & # 39;The origin of the timesSelected, confirm the action by clicking the & # 39;Clear browsing data& # 39 ;.
Step 8. Remove the folder & # 39; Downloads & # 39;
As a precaution, we recommend moving all files to your & # 39;Download& # 39; It's going to trash. Then remove the trash by clicking the & # 39;That's not all& # 39 ;.
Step 9. Change passwords
Once you are sure that your Mac is free of the virus again, change all your passwords, without exception. That includes passwords you use for web pages, cloud services, applications, and more.
As we mentioned in the first step, it would be wise to inform your bank of what has happened so that you can be advised on what to do right now. Usually, they will give you extra precaution and give you new access codes.
Step 10. Reinstall macOS
Once you have completed all the previous steps, and if you are not yet sure that you have been able to completely disable your computer, the last option you have is to re-install your macOS.
To do this, you will be interested in consulting with ours tutorial on how to format the Mac in its factory settings and maybe this is another one how to update it in macOS High Sierra version.
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