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Viruses and malicious software (malware) can infiltrate a user's Mac through various unauthorized channels. Once inside the system, viruses can cause a range of system errors, leading to discomfort and even the theft of personal user data.
Refer to Mytour's article below to identify signs of Mac infection by viruses and malware, and learn effective methods to eradicate them from your Mac.
1. Signs of Mac Infected with Viruses and Malware
Before delving into the steps to eliminate viruses and malware on Mac, let's explore some signs that your Mac may be infected with viruses and malware:
- Mac behaving abnormally, not as expected.
- The device starts operating slowly without apparent reasons.
2. How to Eradicate Viruses and Malware on Mac
Here are some methods to eliminate viruses and malware on your Mac:
Method 1: Remove Browser Extensions
One of the most common forms of malicious software is distributed as browser extension. Refer to the steps below to delete unwanted browser extensions and simultaneously eradicate viruses and malware on your Mac.
On Safari browser:
Step 1: Open the Safari browser.
Step 2: Click on the Safari menu in the menu bar, select Preferences.
Step 3: Click on the Extensions tab, and a list of installed extensions on Safari will appear. Locate any suspicious extensions, click Uninstall to remove the extension.
On Chrome browser:
Step 1: Open the Chrome browser on your Mac.
Step 2: Click on the Chrome menu, select Preferences.
Step 3: Click on the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner of the browser window.
Step 4: Hover over More Tools, select Extensions from the menu. Locate any suspicious extensions, then click Remove to delete the extension.
On Firefox browser:
Step 1: Open the Firefox browser.
Step 2: Click on Tools in the menu bar.
Step 3: Select Extensions on the left sidebar.
Step 4: Check the extensions and click Remove to delete any suspicious extensions.
Method 2: Uninstalling Applications
Viruses and malicious software can disguise themselves in various forms, even as different software or pretend to be security applications.
If, unfortunately, you accidentally download and install software or applications disguised as viruses or malware, you need to uninstall that application immediately. Follow the steps below:
Step 1: Access the Applications folder, find the app, then drag and drop it into the Trash.
Step 2: Access the -/Library folder, locate the Application Support folder, find files related to the app, then drag and drop these files into the Trash.
Step 3: Search in other folders within the -/Library directory, especially the Launch Agents and Launch Daemons folders, and delete all files related to that application.
However, this step needs to be performed with caution, as it may accidentally delete files from legitimate applications, leading to potential system errors.
Step 4: Repeat the steps in step 3 with the Library folder on Mac.
Another method to uninstall applications on Mac:
Step 1: Download and install CleanMyMac X on your machine.
Download CleanMyMac for Mac to your machine and install it here.
Step 2: On the application window, click on Uninstaller.
Step 3: Check the box next to the application name.
Step 4: Click Uninstall.
CleanMyMac will thoroughly erase all traces of the application, including files you might have overlooked when manually uninstalling the app.
Method 3: Use Anti-virus and Anti-malware Tools
While the above methods work effectively, in some cases, we may need specialized applications and software to scan and completely eliminate viruses and malware on Mac.
There are numerous free antivirus and malware removal tools available, but not all of them are equally effective. Some of these tools may even serve as a hiding place for viruses and malware. Mytour recommends using CleanMyMac X to scan and eradicate viruses at the root on Mac.
The software can identify thousands of software threats, including adware, spyware, ransomware, worms, and even cryptocurrency mining tools. When something suspicious is detected, CleanMyMac will promptly remove it.
Follow the steps below to scan your system with CleanMyMac X:
Step 1: Download and install CleanMyMac X on your machine, then launch the application.
Step 2: Click on the Malware Removal tab.
Step 3: Click on Scan to initiate the system scan.
Step 4:Click on Remove to eliminate viruses and malware.
Method 4: If the above methods are unavailable
If you've tried all the methods but they are unsuccessful in completely removing viruses and malware from your Mac, the next solution is to restore your device from a Time Machine backup.
The advantage of restoring from a Time Machine backup is that we can easily boot into the recovery partition and select the backup state before the Mac was infected with viruses or malware. The downside is that any settings, ... made afterward will be erased.
If desired, you can manually copy files from your Mac to another hard drive or cloud storage service before performing the restore, and then copy these files back. However, if any of these files contain viruses, the risk of viruses and malware 'reappearing' on your Mac is high.
Follow the steps below to restore from a Time Machine backup:
Step 1: Ensure you are connected to the Time Machine backup drive.
Step 2: Restart your Mac, press and hold Command + R until the Apple logo appears. In the macOS Utilities window, select Restore from a Time Machine Backup, then click Continue.
Step 3: Choose the most recent backup before your Mac was infected with viruses or malware.
At this point, your Mac will revert to its previous state, functioning correctly and stably.
If there is no Time Machine backup, the last resort for you is to reinstall macOS. Note that this method will erase all your settings and data.
If you have a recent backup of your data before your Mac was infected with a virus, you can use this data once the process of reinstalling Mac is complete. If not, Mytour recommends you back up important files and data, but first use antivirus tools to scan and ensure the files are 'safe.'
To perform a clean macOS installation, we need to create a Bootable USB drive. Refer to Mytour's article on clean macOS installation for guidance on how to do this.
After creating the Bootable USB drive, connect it to your Mac, then access System Preferences, choose Startup Disk, and select the USB drive you just plugged into your Mac. Restart your Mac, press and hold Command + R, and follow the steps below:
Step 1: In the macOS Utilities window, select Reinstall a new copy of macOS, then click Continue => Continue on the next window.
Step 2: Agree to the terms and conditions, then select the internal hard drive on your Mac.
Step 3: Click on Install and wait for your Mac to restart.
Step 4: Now, your Mac will return to its factory state.
Step 5: Proceed to set up your Mac and copy back the files from the backup, ensuring these files are free from viruses and malware.
This article from Mytour has just guided you on how to eliminate viruses and malware on Mac. If you have any questions or need clarification, readers can leave their comments below the article. If you are using Windows, consider downloading one of the professional antivirus software to protect your device.
