The Mac operating system is equipped with high-security protocols. Although Mac devices are less prone to virus attacks as compared to Windows devices, the risk remains. Despite the security measures many users have reported viruses and malware attacks on their Mac devices. If you are one of the users who suspect that their Mac is not functioning properly due to a virus attack, you are at the right place. The article explains how to check your Mac device for viruses. Also, the measures to protect and clean your Mac from MacVirus. 

What is a MacVirus?

The cyber threats (worms, trojan attacks, etc) on your Mac are commonly referred to as MacVirus. The virus can pretend to be useful software for your device. Once you download the software, it gets access to your data. This data can be your contacts, saved passwords, bank information, or other important information. The virus can dig deep into your system and use it to attack unauthorized websites. Being harmful to this extent it’s better to identify and remove the virus from your Mac (if any) as soon as possible. 

Signs your Mac has a Virus:

The list of signs that indicate your Mac is infected with the MacVirus is given below. These signs can help you identify if your Mac has a virus and needs your attention. 

• Too many pop-ups and ads. 
• Lags on your device and low performance
• Some of the applications crash or cant be opened
• Frequent errors with internet or network connections
• Inaccessible or disappeared personal files

If your Mac device displays these signs, there are high chances that your Mac is infected with a virus.   

How can you check if your Mac is infected?

You can manually check if your Mac is infected. Read on to know the steps to detect any viruses on your Mac.

Step 1: On your Mac Finder, click on the ‘Applications’ icon present on the sidebar. 

Step 2: Go through the list of applications and programs, identify the suspicious program that can be malware. Use a search query on Google to determine which programs can be malware or virus.  

Step 3: Select the program that you are suspicious about and click on the Delete command to remove it from your device. 

Step 4: Open Command-Space. Write Activity Monitor and press Enter. 

Step 5: Check the list of running programs and processes. Check if you are suspicious about any of them. 

Step 6: Select the program and click on the Quit Process option to force stop the program. This will stop the program from threatening your Mac’s safety. 

Check your DNS server for any viruses with the help of the following steps.

Step 1: Open your System Preferences and click on Network. 

Step 2: Click on the Advanced option. Delete the addresses that are irrelevant or not required. Make sure you don’t delete the address of your router.

If the above measures do not solve the problem, scan your system with the help of an antivirus. There are a large number of antivirus programs available online such as Kaspersky, DrWeb, MacKeeper, Avast, etc. You can pick the one as per your requirements and convenience.

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How can you prevent your Mac device from getting infected by a virus?

For Mac users, Apple provides a built-in mechanism for its security i.e Gatekeeper. As soon as you open the app on your Mac device, Gatekeeper will scan your device for a list of known viruses and take a few protective measures. 

To prevent your Mac from any kind of infection from viruses read and follow the rules for safety mentioned below. 

• Update your operating system to the latest released version of Mac. The vulnerabilities in older versions can make it an entry gate for hackers and viruses. 
• Download applications from the App store. Or through the official website of the client. You can also use recognized clients like steam to download games and apps. But make sure you don’t download apps or software from an unknown source.
• Remove the applications, not in use or are vulnerable to threats. You can use specific software to remove these apps that can be a malicious program for your Mac’s health. 
• Avoid any online resource whose source is not recognized. 
•  Don’t open emails that are from unknown or suspicious sources. 
• Before downloading or using an online file scan it for any kind of possible threats. 

Conclusion

Despite high-end protection protocols from Mac it cannot remain protected throughout and lead to unimaginable consequences for your data. The above write-up provides measures to minimize these risks. We hope the article helps you find the viruses on your Mac and clean them. 

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