As Macs are gaining popularity, and more people are preferring Apple products in general, cybercriminals are also turning their sights on macOS, working to create types of malware for Mac that would get past its native security systems.
Fileless malware is the latest type of malicious software posing a threat to computer systems around the world. Security reports show fileless malware attacks have increased by 888% in recent years and that trend is expected to continue.
Although Mac’s security features are always evolving, digital criminals are getting more sophisticated at developing malware that can find vulnerabilities even in the most well-protected systems.
Below is a complete guide to the best malware removal tools and techniques that will help keep your Mac clean and secure.
What is malware?
Malware is any malicious program meant for infecting your device and making the private data on it vulnerable to cybercriminals. Since malware is a broader term covering any malicious software regardless of how it works, don’t confuse it with a virus, which is a more specific type of malware that self-replicates by inserting its code into other programs.
There are a few other common types of malware like worms, trojans, ransomware, and spyware that can be used for anything from simply monitoring keystrokes and collecting data to manipulating your device’s processing power and network access, or mining cryptocurrency without your knowledge.
A new type of malware that has been getting used more over the last years is fileless malware. It can be any of the above types, but it doesn’t rely on traditional distribution methods like downloading and installing files. Instead, it takes advantage of vulnerabilities in existing programs to infect a device.
Signs your Mac might be infected with malware
One of the most dangerous things about malware in general and its fileless variants is that it can be very difficult to detect. So before getting into how to remove malware from your device, here’s a list of the most common signs that’ll alert you of a possible malware Mac infection:
- Slow Mac performance or persistent overheating
- A sudden change of your browser homepage
- An abundance of pop-ups and other intrusive ads
- Lots of freezing and restarting within your Mac apps
- Inability to open files or drives
- Unexpected browser redirects
Remove malware on Mac and more
Use Setapp apps to scan Mac for malware and remove it in a flash, plus try 240 other practical utilities for any and all your Apple device needs.
Try freeHow to detect and remove malware from Mac
Since malware is constantly evolving, the most effective solution might be to find the best malware removal tools once and forever stop worrying about your device’s safety. A bit more time-consuming method is getting familiar with all possible ways to check for malware Mac and removing it manually.
The easiest way to scan and get rid of malware on Mac
On top of our solutions list is using a reliable tool to scan Mac for malware and efficiently remove it before it causes any trouble to the operating system.
CleanMyMac X is an app that keeps tabs on your macOS and offers routine cleaning service to make sure your Mac’s performance is always at its peak. One of CleanMyMac X’s top tools is malware detection and removal through its Protection module that can neutralize virus threats with just a few clicks.
Here’s how to get rid of malware for Mac using CleanMyMac X:
- Launch the app
- Select Malware Removal from the left panel
- Click Scan
A neat list of potentially dangerous items will be presented to you within seconds and CleanMyMac X will offer to remove any or all of them. Since CleanMyMac X’s developers are constantly updating the app’s knowledge graphs for malware, there are very few chances any type of malicious software will ever get past it.
Is there a way to scan for malware on Mac?
Macs come equipped with built-in protective and preventive tools like XProtect and Activity Monitor. Apple maintains a database of virus signatures and XProtect uses it to detect and stop malicious programs from running.
While XProtect is automatically enabled and working in the background, it remains a passive security feature, since it can’t run a scan of your Mac on demand if you notice something suspicious. Plus, Apple isn’t a dedicated security company, so its library of existing malware isn’t updated as often as CleanMyMac X’s, for example.
If you want to manually scan Mac for malware, you can use Activity Monitor. Here’s how:
- Go to Finder ➙ Utilities ➙ Activity Monitor
- Click on the CPU tab
- Sort %CPU from high to low and check the processes and apps
Keep in mind that using Activity Monitor as a malware detection tool is useful when you know what process or app you’re looking for, but if you do find malware, it won’t help you remove it.
Find malware in login items
Login items are programs and apps that launch automatically when you start up or log in to your Mac. Most of them are actually useful and you do want them to run in the background, but some can be less necessary or worse, be a source of malware.
Here’s how to remove malware by locating it in login items:
- Go to the Apple menu ➙ System Settings
- Click on General and select Login Items
- Check the list and click the munis (-) button next to remove any suspicious items
Note: Some login items like LaunchAgents and LaunchDaemons won’t appear on this list and you may need to look further to find them.
If you’d prefer an automatic way to scan Mac for malware through login items, you can use CleanMyMac X’s Optimization module and view a complete list of items, including agents and daemons. Check and manage all login items from one clean panel with options to quickly disable or remove any of them!
Uninstall unknown apps
Checking and decluttering your Mac’s Applications folder is not just good for spotting suspicious additions, but also for keeping your device clean and fast. To uninstall unknown or unused apps, simply drag them to the Trash folder and then empty it.
Be mindful, however, that this action won’t remove hidden files associated with the app. Meanwhile those remaining files might be the ones containing malware for Mac. To remove those, you need to dig deeper into the operating system, or simply use CleanMyMac X’s Uninstaller module.
Here’s how to get rid of malware by uninstalling unknown apps:
- Launch CleanMyMac X
- Click on Uninstaller under Applications
- Scroll through the list of your unused apps and check mark the ones you want to remove completely
- Click Uninstall
CleanMyMac X also features a Leftovers module that discovers and offers to remove those hidden files that are often left behind. Plus, you have the option to segment apps by developer, making it easier to view and remove those you no longer need.
Remove malware from browsing extensions
Browser extensions are software modules for customizing a web browser with interface modifications, cookie management, ad blocking, personalized scripting, and styling of web pages. Browser extensions run when a browser is being used and since they’re so popular, they’ve become places where malware tends to hide and operate.
Here’s how to remove malware Mac through browser extensions:
- Chrome. Open Chrome and go to Window, then click Extensions. Disable and remove suspicious extensions from this page.
- Safari. Open the browser, click on the menu and select Settings. Select the Extensions tab and click Uninstall next to any suspicious ones.
- Firefox. Click on the three horizontal lines in the browser toolbar and select “Add-ons and themes.” Then click Extensions, check the list, and select to Remove the ones you find suspicious.
Secure the internet
A virtual private network, or VPN, protects your online activities by masking your IP address and encrypting data through the entire process. Instead of sending information directly from your IP address, the VPN server’s IP address is the one associated with your online activity.
Using a VPN can help you access geo-restricted content, improve your network connection, and establish utmost security, protecting you from cyberattacks. For example, try ClearVPN.
ClearVPN is an intuitive tool to help you personalize and protect your browsing experience, while having to waste no time tweaking VPN settings. All you have to do is open the app, decide what VPN tool you need, and you’re connected in a click! Apart from simplified international browsing, ClearVPN provides secure access to your online activities and never stores, shares, or collects your personal info, IP address, or any other data.
Another good method for protecting your data online and beyond is using two-factor authentication. You can easily add an extra layer of protection to each of your online accounts using an app like Step Two.
Step Two features a minimalist and straight to the point interface with powerful features like time-based one-time passwords (TOTP), QR codes, secret keys, Safari autofill, iCloud backups, and a variety of customization options!
Boot into Safe Mode
Safe Mode, or a safe boot, is a way to start your Mac with only essential programs running. This method can help you identify whether issues you’re experiencing are caused by software that loads on your Mac’s startup. So if malware is set to load automatically, Safe Mode will prevent it from loading, making it easier to identify and remove.
Here’s how to scan Mac for malware using Safe Mode:
- Restart your Mac
- Press and hold down Shift on startup
- Release the Shift key once you see the Apple logo
Check agents and daemons
Agents and daemons are part of those hidden Login Items that you won’t see on the generic list. Both agents and daemons run on startup like all Login Items, the difference is, agents are restricted to operating within apps, while daemons run on a system-wide level.
It’s important to remember about agents and daemons and check for them when you’re trying to remove malware for Mac, as they’re perfect malware hiding spots, because they operate so deep in your device’s system.
Here’s how to get rid of malware by checking LaunchDaemons and LaunchAgents:
- Open Finder ➙ Go ➙ Go to folder
- Type and check /System/Library/LaunchDaemons for native macOS processes
- Type and check /Library/LaunchDaemons for installed third-party apps
- Type and check /Library/LaunchAgents for all user accounts
- Type and check ~/Library/LaunchAgents for a specific user account
- Type and check /System/Library/LaunchAgents for macOS only
How to protect your Mac from malware
Regularly scanning your Mac for malware, keeping macOS up to date, being cautious with the software you download, installing a VPN to secure your browsing, and using the best malware removal tools like CleanMyMac X will help protect your Mac for years of use.
If you notice your Mac showing symptoms of malware repeatedly, it could be a sign that there are issues with its security settings like Gatekeeper. In this case, you’ll need a reliable app to cover those macOS security pitfalls. For example, try Pareto Security.
Pareto Security is a robust utility that will check your device to see if you’ve utilized all its native security solutions and let you know what can be improved. Conveniently operating from your Mac’s menu bar, Pareto Security will identify settings that aren’t set to their most secure options and alert you in time to protect your Mac from malware.
How to get rid of malware once and for all
If your Mac gets infected, you now know how to remove malware manually, but you can also save some essential tools to help you prevent and secure your Mac against viruses. Let CleanMyMac X run maintenance checks on your device, while Pareto Security and Step Two will improve its security settings. Plus, ClearVPN is here to safeguard you on the web.
Get a seven-day trial of Setapp to try these apps — CleanMyMac X, Pareto Security, Step Two, and ClearVPN for free, along with over 240 other essential utilities for your macOS and iOS devices.
以上是如何從Mac掃描和刪除惡意軟件的詳細內容。更多資訊請關注PHP中文網其他相關文章!

Mac 塢欄優化指南:僅顯示正在運行的應用程序 Mac 的塢欄是系統核心,您可以從中啟動訪達、廢紙簍、最近使用的應用、活躍應用和書籤應用,甚至可以添加“文稿”和“下載”等文件夾。默認情況下,Mac 塢欄會顯示十幾個蘋果自帶的應用程序。大多數用戶還會添加更多應用,卻很少刪除任何應用,導致塢欄雜亂無章,難以有效使用。 本文將介紹幾種方法,幫助您整理和清理 Mac 塢欄,只需幾分鐘即可完成。 方法一:手動整理塢欄 您可以手動移除未使用的應用程序,只保留常用的應用程序。 移除應用程序: 右鍵點擊應用程

在當今的數字世界中,保護您的在線隱私至關重要。 本指南詳細介紹瞭如何在Mac上刪除瀏覽歷史記錄,增強您的在線安全性以及阻止不需要的廣告和跟踪器。 我們將介紹手動方法和有效的自動機

在黑暗環境中工作時,反轉Mac屏幕顏色可以有效緩解眼睛疲勞,同時也能幫助視力障礙人士改善使用體驗。此功能還可以提高對比度,或幫助色覺缺陷人士區分顏色。 您可以輕鬆地在Mac屏幕的反轉顏色和原始顏色之間切換,方法如下: 如何在Mac上反轉顯示顏色 您可以通過“系統偏好設置”反轉Mac屏幕顏色。 點擊Mac菜單,然後依次選擇“系統偏好設置”>“輔助功能”>“顯示”,勾選“反轉顏色”選項: 根據您的屏幕需求,您可能只需要使用深色模式。 要在Mac上啟用深色模式,請打開“系統偏好設置”&g

即使Mac或F鍵上的功能鍵永遠是Apple鍵盤的主要內容,但如今,似乎更少的人在使用它們,甚至知道它們的用途。是時候解決這個問題了! Mac功能鍵並不是最通用的

iPad打印指南:輕鬆打印您的文件和照片 隨著iPad搭載M1芯片、5G網絡、改進的端口和強大的生產力功能,越來越多的人選擇用iPad替代Mac,減輕背包負擔。或者,您可能使用iPad作為工作空間的擴展。 無論哪種方式,您可能都需要學習如何從iPad打印。主要有兩種方法。最簡單的方法是使用Apple的原生打印技術AirPrint打印機進行打印。但如果您的打印機不支持AirPrint,也不用擔心,我們將解釋如何在沒有AirPrint的情況下從iPad打印。我們還將解答諸如“什麼是AirPrint打

無論您是立即共享還是創建備份,將照片從iPhone轉移到Mac都是輕而易舉的。 本指南探討了幾種方法,可滿足不同的需求和偏好。 管理iPhone的存儲空間,確保Photo Photo Saf

本指南提供了一種快速簡便的方法,可以將iMovie視頻轉換為Mac上的MP4格式。 我們將使用替代應用程序直接從Imovie出口,並解決常見問題。 以下是不同方法的比較: 應用程式

M1 Mac 數據保護指南:應對 SSD 故障及外部 SSD 問題 存儲設備故障是令人沮喪的噩夢,珍貴的 Mac 數據可能瞬間消失!尤其對於搭載 M1 芯片的 Mac,內部 SSD 故障會導致無法啟動系統,風險不容忽視。本文將指導您備份和恢復寶貴數據,並解決外部 SSD 問題。 M1 Mac 無法從外部驅動器啟動的原因 搭載 Apple 矽芯片的 Mac 無法在內部 SSD 故障的情況下啟動 macOS。這是由於新的安全策略徹底改變了 M1 Mac 的啟動和恢復流程,該策略基於所謂的“1 Tr


熱AI工具

Undresser.AI Undress
人工智慧驅動的應用程序,用於創建逼真的裸體照片

AI Clothes Remover
用於從照片中去除衣服的線上人工智慧工具。

Undress AI Tool
免費脫衣圖片

Clothoff.io
AI脫衣器

AI Hentai Generator
免費產生 AI 無盡。

熱門文章

熱工具

ZendStudio 13.5.1 Mac
強大的PHP整合開發環境

Atom編輯器mac版下載
最受歡迎的的開源編輯器

Safe Exam Browser
Safe Exam Browser是一個安全的瀏覽器環境,安全地進行線上考試。該軟體將任何電腦變成一個安全的工作站。它控制對任何實用工具的訪問,並防止學生使用未經授權的資源。

SublimeText3 Linux新版
SublimeText3 Linux最新版

SublimeText3漢化版
中文版,非常好用