ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

How to get rid of a virus on an infected Mac computer, and protect your Mac from getting infected again

There are several steps you can take to get rid of a virus on an infected Mac computer and get it back up to speed.

Macbook Air
  • If you've identified which programs on your Mac are malicious, you can use the Activity Monitor to check for and remove any malware that may be active.
  • Stopping a virus altogether involves searching your Mac pretty thoroughly to ensure all traces of the virus are gone.
  • You should use malware-scanning software to help identify and eliminate viruses.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .

We all know the signs: Sudden reboots. Frozen screens. Pop-ups that just won't stop. Mysterious extensions showing up in your browser.

Getting a virus on your Mac is never fun, especially when it starts interfering with your computer's performance.

But there are ways to stop it in its tracks and get rid of it. And, perhaps best of all, those methods are free.

ADVERTISEMENT

To help identify malicious programs, you should consider first usingmalware-detection software like Clean My Mac X or Malwearbytes to scan your computer.

Once you've identified likely sources of infection, there are a few ways you could go about manually removing programs or extensions to help get your Mac back up to speed.

ADVERTISEMENT

1. Go to your Launchpad (the rocket ship icon in your bottom toolbar).

2. Search for the activity monitor and click to open it. It may be located by default in a folder labeled "Other."

3. If you know which programs are malicious, find them in the CPU tab of your activity monitor and stop them from running by clicking the 'x' in the top-left area of the window.

ADVERTISEMENT

1. Open your Finder.

2. Toggle over to "Applications."

ADVERTISEMENT

3. Look for any apps you don't recognize, or any that have exhibited malicious behavior (e.g. opening unprompted and unexpectedly).

4. Drag any such apps to the Trash icon (located in the bottom toolbar of your screen).

5. Empty the trash by clicking on the icon and selecting "Empty" (located in the top-right corner of the window).

Safari

ADVERTISEMENT

1. Launch the browser.

2. In the top toolbar, click "Safari" and then "Safari Extensions."

3. Look for suspicious extensions and uninstall those.

Chrome

ADVERTISEMENT

1. Launch the browser.

2. Click the three stacked dots in the top-right corner of the screen.

3. Hover over "More Tools" and then click "Extensions."

4. Look through your extensions and "Remove" any you don't recognize.

Firefox

ADVERTISEMENT

1. Launch the browser.

2. In the top-right corner, click the three vertical lines and choose "Add Ons."

3. Toggle over to the extensions tab and get rid of any that you aren't familiar with.

You may also want to change your browser's homepage and search engine preferences if the virus has impacted those areas.

ADVERTISEMENT

This is another area where viruses can hide within your Mac . Here's how to find yours and get rid of any extra ones:

1. Click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of the screen and then select "System Preferences."

2. Tap "Users & Groups" and toggle over to "Login Items."

ADVERTISEMENT

3. Untick the box next to any login items that you don't recognize.

  • Even if you go through all of the above steps, it's still a good idea to once again run a malware-detection software like Clean My Mac X or Malwearbytes both are free and will give you peace of mind when it comes to your computer's health.
  • If you're still worried about having a virus, you may want to create a new user profile on your Mac . Many viruses are user-specific, rather than device-specific.
  • For those who use Time Machine, one other thing to consider is restoring an old version of your computer to wipe out all traces of the virus. It's relatively quick and easy, but you'll lose any changes that have been made since the last backup .
  • And, as a last resort (or for those who have access to Apple's technical support), calling in a professional can be a good idea.

Be sure to look out for virus-friendly websites and files, and avoid them by doing things like leaving spam emails unopened and only downloading from trusted, known sources

ADVERTISEMENT

Installing a security system on your Mac is also a good idea to prevent malware from infecting your computer in the future. Another positive step to take is keeping your Mac updated , so that new software patches can be applied, leaving your computer less vulnerable to bad characters.

And, as always, be sure to back up your Mac so that, even in the event of a virus, your data and media are protected.

ADVERTISEMENT

See Also:

SEE ALSO: The best budget laptops you can buy

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

Here's everything to know about being a virgin on your wedding night

Here's everything to know about being a virgin on your wedding night

7 do's and don’ts of the Holy month of Ramadan

7 do's and don’ts of the Holy month of Ramadan

Top 5 sweetest celebrity mother-child relationships that stand out for us

Top 5 sweetest celebrity mother-child relationships that stand out for us

International Women's Day: 5 Nigerian female celebrities championing women’s rights

International Women's Day: 5 Nigerian female celebrities championing women’s rights

Top 5 female directors in Nollywood

Top 5 female directors in Nollywood

6 things that will break a Muslim's fast during Ramadan

6 things that will break a Muslim's fast during Ramadan

5 benefits of fasting during Ramadan

5 benefits of fasting during Ramadan

5 reasons Easter was more fun when we were children

5 reasons Easter was more fun when we were children

Dos and don’ts of supporting Muslims during Ramadan

Dos and don’ts of supporting Muslims during Ramadan

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT