How to Check for Malware on Mac (Step-by-Step Guide)

Key Takeaways

• You can utilize built-in tools like the Activity Monitor to investigate performance issues, but a dedicated virus scan remains the best way to uncover and remove hidden threats.
• Identifying malware on your Mac early prevents data theft, and you must immediately remove malware to restore your system's integrity.
• While Apple designs strong defenses, modern and evasive Mac malware still poses a significant risk, so you should run regular scans to protect your personal information.

Macs can certainly get malware, and we'll show you how you can check for malware on a Mac safely and efficiently. You'll discover the main signs of a malware infection, methods you can use to scan for them, steps to take to remove malware, and strategies you can implement to prevent them altogether.

Most of these checks only take a few minutes, so you won't need to spend hours trying to figure out how it works.

Signs Your Mac Might Have Malware

You'll often notice several distinct warning signals when your computer is compromised, and these indicators shouldn't be ignored:

• Mac is running slower than usual. Your system might suddenly run significantly slower than you're used to in regular situations.
• Unexpected pop-ups or ads. You might start to notice unexpected pop-ups or intrusive ads appearing constantly.
• Browser redirects or homepage changes. These anomalies often indicate that malware on your Mac is actively affecting your web traffic.
• Unknown apps or Login Items. You might also stumble across unauthorized apps or unfamiliar Login Items that you've never intentionally installed on your computer.
• Overheating or high CPU usage. Overheating issues and exceptionally high CPU usage frequently point toward malicious processes running in the background.
• Fake security warnings or scareware pop-ups. If you see alarming web messages claiming your Mac is infected, don't click them. Instead, close your browser and run a dedicated malware scan to investigate it.

How to Check for Malware on Mac

There are two main ways you can scan for malware on your Mac device: check using built-in macOS tools, or run a malware scan with a dedicated virus scanner.

Check Using Built-In macOS Tools

Apple provides several native methods, and you can:

• Leverage the Activity Monitor to spot suspicious processes hoarding your system resources.
• Review your Login Items to identify and delete unknown startup applications that launch secretly in the background.
• Conduct a thorough browser extensions review, because suspicious extensions frequently operate as intrusive spyware or adware.
• Boot your computer into Safe Mode to prevent third-party software from loading, stopping active malware in its tracks so you can safely find and delete the malicious files.

If these are not enough, you may need to rely on dedicated malware software to fix the issues for you.

Run a Malware Scan

While manual checks provide helpful insights, a dedicated virus scanner remains the most reliable option for detecting threats. To effectively secure your computer, you need to open your chosen security software and select the option to perform scans across your entire storage drive.

The anti-malware software examines your files, applications, and active memory, comparing them against vast databases of known Mac viruses. Once the virus scan finishes, the application will present a detailed report, and you must decide whether to quarantine or permanently remove the detected malware from your device.

What to Do If Malware Is Found

If the anti-malware tools detect malicious software, you should immediately quarantine the isolated items or completely remove the malware to prevent further damage. After dealing with the threat, it's recommended to restart your device and run scans again to guarantee that no malicious items remain.

Furthermore, it could be beneficial to check and delete any unwanted browser extensions and associated infected files from your system folders. You should also change your passwords if you suspect that keyloggers captured your credentials, but do so from a different, uninfected device.

Otherwise, you can wait until you're absolutely certain the malware is fully removed from your Mac.

As an absolute last resort, you might need to completely wipe your drive and reinstall macOS if the Mac virus deeply corrupts your operating system.

How to Prevent Malware on Mac

It's best to maintain healthy, proactive habits as your best defense against any cyber threats:

• Keep macOS and apps updated. To maintain strong Mac security, you must consistently update your macOS and all your installed applications to the latest available versions.
• Download apps only from trusted sources. You should only download software from trusted sources like the App Store, as unknown sources may contain malware.
• Avoid suspicious email links and pop-ups. Clicking on tempting links from suspicious emails and pop-ups is a sure way of getting issues with malware.
• Use a reputable malware scanner. Install a reputable malware scanner that operates in the background to automatically scan incoming downloads and block malicious activity.
• Enable basic macOS security settings. Always enable basic macOS protections like Gatekeeper to effectively thwart unverified software from running, and use FileVault to encrypt your drive in case your device is ever physically lost or stolen.

Conclusion

To sum up, combining native protection methods like the Activity Monitor with specialized third-party tools is the absolute safest way to identify and remove malware effectively. We strongly encourage you to perform regular checks and perform scans proactively, so you'll catch a potential malware infection before it causes irreparable damage.

Ultimately, Macs remain highly secure devices when maintained properly, and remaining alert against Mac viruses ensures your computer stays completely protected.

Can Macs get malware or viruses?

Yes, Apple computers are susceptible to cyber threats, and Mac malware has grown increasingly sophisticated over the last few years. While the built-in defenses handle many basic threats, complex Mac malware can still bypass these barriers and compromise your privacy.

How do I know if my Mac has malware?

You might observe severe slowdowns in performance, unexpected pop-ups or ads, browser redirections, and more. If you frequently encounter unexpected crashes or discover unauthorized apps running in the background, you likely have malware on your Mac.

Does macOS automatically check for malware?

Yes, Apple's systems work silently in the background to automatically scan your downloaded applications for known malicious signatures. It does, however, often miss zero-day exploits, so you'll still need supplementary tools to reliably remove malware from your system.

Can I check my Mac for malware without antivirus software?

You can use the Activity Monitor to manually check for malicious background processes, and inspecting your startup items helps identify persistent threats. Finding deeply hidden infected files manually, however, is incredibly difficult, and you'll eventually need specialized software to remove malware.

How often should I scan my Mac for malware?

We highly recommend that you perform a quick virus scan at least once a week, and you should schedule comprehensive deep scans on a monthly basis. If you frequently download third-party software or visit high-risk websites, you should run virus scans more often to immediately detect and remove malware.