Apple Macs offer a high level of security, mainly thanks to Apple’s endless effort to tighten the grip on its operating system. However, there are exceptions to everything. If you have recently noticed that your Mac is acting weird, there is a good chance that your Mac is malware-infected.
In reality, Macs are not something that’s vulnerable to malware attacks and ransomware. However, keep in mind that no computer operating system is immune to viruses and that’s no different with Apple’s macOS. There are a lot of types of malware attacks out there and many of them may go undetected by security scanners on your computer.
If you are planning to spend some cash on anti-virus programs or third-party apps to protect your Mac, don’t do it because we have something cool to show you. macOS includes a built-in tool that allows you to remove malware on your Mac for free, but it may be unknown to many folks.
In this article, we will go through the steps to remove malware from your Mac for free. Before proceeding with our step-by-step guide, there are a couple of things you need to know about malware.
First, what is malware?
Malware is a type of malicious software that tries to infect your computer or smartphone. A malware attack aims to extract your personal information, like bank details, passwords, and more. Besides, a malware-infected computer may prevent its owner from accessing their device. There could be any reason for why your Mac is malware-infected, ranging from spyware to ad pop-ups.
When a malware app or software goes into your computer, it starts to collect your information in an attempt to send them to hackers for different purposes. If you just stand there and do nothing, your precious information will fall into the wrong hands.
The perception that anti-malware software can protect your computer against malware attacks still persists these days. In fact, there are a lot of anti-malware programs out there, but not all of them are worth your attention. Lots of malware is hidden in the form of anti-virus programs. Those programs secretly gather your information and send them to nefarious individuals out there.
So, what is the difference between viruses and malware?
Malware is different from viruses. A virus refers a type of malicious software that tries to infect your computer. Viruses tend to damage your computer or mobile device, remove files, and use up your computer’s memory. Anything could be a virus, ranging from email attachments to shared files.
How to remove malware from your computer
macOS allows you to remove any app or program that contains malicious software without paying some cash. If you need help, you can check out our steps below.
Assuming that you are now browsing the web and that website suggests that you now have malicious software on your machine.
Step one: First off, close the web browser (you can force quit it by using keyboard combination Command + Q)
Step two: Next up, head to the Downloads folder on your Mac and drag any unspecified file into the Trash
Step three: Now just simply empty the trash to complete the task.
If you want to remove a malware-infected app or program on your Mac, follow our steps below:
Step one: If you are now in the app, close it and then open the Utilities folder on your Mac
Step two: Next up, open Activity Monitor and then select the All Processes tab
Step three: Locate the app you wish to remove and hit Quit Process. After that, head to your Applications folder, find that app and drag it to the Trash. (Make sure that you empty the Trash).
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Got any issues during the process? Let us know in the comments below.
