Remove and Prevent Malware on Your Mac [Effective ways]

We all know that Windows is notoriously known for all the malware and malicious software that can affect a Windows PC. There are several different antivirus and anti-malware programs that prevent these Windows PC from getting affected. I have seen people arguing about Windows vs. Mac topics online and one point that many people who are favoring Macs make is that Mac doesn’t get any virus or a malware. This is not entirely true.

There are several malware and viruses that can affect Mac users too, but the occurrence is way too less as compared to Windows. But what can one do if they get some type of malware on their Mac?

This is exactly what the post is about. In this post we will list some effective ways to remove and prevent malware on a Mac.

Remove and prevent malware on a Mac

Having an adware  probably one of the most common problems that people face. These unwanted adware come bundled with software that you download and they can totally ruin your internet browsing experience. The most common symptom of an adware on a Mac (or any system for that matter) is that your computer will be flooded with ads all over the places. You will see ads before navigating to a website or even while watching a video online. This can be disturbing and frustrating at the same time.

Interestingly, Apple has their own guide for getting rid of adware but it is too long to follow and you need to perform too many manual actions. It is better to use an adware removal tool which will remove the adware for you.

Enter Malwarebytes for Mac.

Malwarebytes is a well-known tool for removing both malware as well as adware on both Windows as well as Mac based computers. You can use Malwarebytes for Mac for scanning and removing the adware or any sort of malware that might be installed on your Mac without any knowledge.

• Head over to the Mac page for Malwarebytes and download the setup file.
• Double click the setup file and start the setup, install it by dragging the Malwarebytes icon to the Applications folder.

• Start the Malwarebytes program by going to launchpad and clicking on it. You will be asked to agree to the terms & conditions. Just go over the T&C and read it before agreeing (as if you are going to read it 😉 ).
• After the program as been setup, you will notice that you are provided with 3 options.
• Click on Scan and this will scan the whole Mac system for you and it will check if your Mac is having any adware or malware.

You will be able to remove any adware or malware using Malwarebytes for Mac if there are any present in your Mac. But what about those extensions and add-ons in your browsers that totally take over your browsing experience?

We have a solution for that as well.

Remove malicious extensions & add-ons from Browsers

Safari

If you are facing problems in Safari browser on your Mac, then it is really easy to solve. Just follow the process below and you will get rid of these extensions in no time.

• Open Safari and look at the top navigation bar.
• Click on Safari > Preferences.

• You will see that a new window opens up. Browse to the Extensions tab.
• You will now see all the extensions that are installed for Safari.
• Look for the unwanted extensions that you didn’t install and click on Uninstall.

The extension will be uninstalled.

Google Chrome

If you are facing problems on Google Chrome, then this section is useful for you. Just follow the steps listed below.

• Click on the Customize & Control Google Chrome icon on the top right corner of the Google Chrome Window.
• Now go to More Tools > Extensions.

• You will be directed to a new window where you will be able to see all the extensions that are available on Google Chrome.
• Now browse the list of extensions shown here and remove the unwanted ones.

Firefox

If your default browser is Firefox, then the process again will be different. Follow the steps mentioned below.

• Check the navigation bar and click on Tools > Add-ons.

• This will open the Mozilla Firefox’s add-ons manager where you will be able to see the installed add-ons.
• Now just go through the list of add-ons that are installed and remove the unwanted ones.

Stay Safe – Verdict

There are a lot of malicious programs that are ready to infect your Mac as soon as you install them. Many of these are disguised under the name of anti-viruses and can affect your Mac in a negative manner. You need to stay away from programs like MacDefender, MacProtector, MacSecurity etc. and always check some reviews online before installing anything on your Mac.