Ask most Mac users about antivirus for Mac and they’ll tell you that macOS doesn’t get viruses and so there’s no need to worry about it. Sadly, that’s not quite true. While there’s been no serious outbreak or epidemic of Mac viruses in the wild, macOS has been hit by malware quite a few times. Just recently Meltdown and Spectre malware exploited flaws in Intel chips and affected Macs. While malware and viruses aren’t the same thing, the steps taken to combat them are similar enough that we’re going to use both terms interchangeably. Technically, a virus is a bit of code that infects your system and can cause all sorts of havoc. Hello Reddit, I just got a new 15inch MacBook Pro w/ retina. My question is should I get some type of antivirus software? The guys at the Apple Store didn't recommend anything but as a former PC user I'm having a hard time surfing the Internet without some kind of protection. This new Mac user appreciates the advise:). Malware is a much wider term used to describe anything malicious that finds its way onto your Mac from apps you download think they were something else and which steal data, to code that arrives on your Mac because you clicked on a link on a website and which shows you adverts or threatens to hack your computer if you don’t pay up. How do I know if my Mac has a virus? Viruses display a number of different symptoms, depending on the kind of malware they are. It could be that your Mac starts behaving strangely and displaying odd things on screen. Or you may see a message telling you that your Mac is infected and that you should call a premium rate number to get rid of it. If you see that, don’t call the number. Here are a few signs that your Mac has a virus: • Your Mac suddenly starts running very slowly or applications lag much more than they usually do. • You see adverts pop up on your Mac randomly. • Websites you visit show strange adverts that are unconnected with anything you’ve browsed or searched for. • You find a piece of software, like, say a browser toolbar that you didn’t install. • Websites that don’t normally show adverts have banners on them. If your Mac displays one or more of these symptoms, it doesn’t necessarily mean it has a virus or has been infected with malware. It’s a sign that it might do, however. And it’s well worth getting to the root of the problem. You can do that by installing an antivirus program and using it to scan your Mac. It will alert you if it detects any any known viruses or malware. What do I do if my Mac gets a virus? We’ve covered that in detail in a separate article. In summary, here’s what you should and shouldn’t do. Don’t google your symptoms and then download whatever comes at the top of the search listings. One common host for malware is fake antivirus software, and often the websites that house these apps are optimized for the very symptoms they cause. ![]() So instead of downloading a solution, you make the problem worse. If you want to scan your Mac for malware, try using It can detect thousands of threats, including adware, worms, spyware, ransomware, and more. If CleanMyMac finds something suspicious, it will offer the immediate removal. How can I protect my Mac from viruses? Clear your browser cache If the malware has come from a website you downloaded, you don’t want any traces of the site or and files it’s deposited left on your Mac. You can quickly and easily clear the browser cache for Safari and Chrome using. Tip: CleanMyMac can also remove extensions for those two browsers — extensions are sometimes infected and if you get a virus it may have come from one of those. Make sure your Mac’s firewall is switched on • Go to System Preferences and click on the Security & Privacy pane. • Choose the Firewall tab. • If the green light next to the word Firewall is showing, your firewall is on. If it’s not, click Turn On Firewall. • Click on Firewall Options and check the Enable Stealth Mode box. Use a VPN Keeping your firewall on will help protect your Mac, but it won’t keep out every piece of malware. If you regularly use your Mac on a public Wi-Fi network, you should consider using a VPN tool. By connecting your Mac to a VPN, you create a secure tunnel between your Mac and websites you visit, and your data is encrypted. If the Wi-Fi network is compromised, your data and your Mac will be safe. Don’t click the link Email messages are a very common distribution medium for malware. Never click a link in an email unless you’re certain you know who the message is from.
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