How to remove malware from your Apple products

(Pocket-lint) – Malware, short for malicious software, is one of the biggest threats to online security right now. It is a file or code that gets into your computer over a network and then infects your system to extract valuable information, crash your system or perform other malicious activities. Malware can come in many forms, so you should equip your system with powerful antivirus software to deal with these threats.

If your Mac is full of malware, you might notice changes in how your computer behaves, your device might run slower than usual, or you might suddenly run out of disk space. Other signs of malware on your system are that your browser looks or works differently, and inappropriate content or ads appear on your computer or browser. If you notice these issues, you need to remove malware from your Mac.

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Below we offer tips and strategies to remove malware from your Apple products.

Disconnect your internet connection

In most cases, malware can infect your computer through the Internet. As soon as you notice signs of malware, you should disconnect your internet to prevent further data from being sent to the malware server. Please remain offline until the malware is removed. However, before you disconnect from the internet, you should download reliable malware removal software like Malwarebytes, which offers real-time protection against viruses, malware, and phishing attacks.

Go into safe mode on your computer

Safe mode is a feature that allows your computer to scan all system programs and software, allowing only the minimal software to load. Switching to safe mode can result in the malware not loading. You should press the restart button on Mac and then hold down the Shift key. When the Apple logo and login window appear, release the Shift key. You will now enter Safe Mode and the unwanted malware may not load.

Delete the potentially malicious software

If you think you have installed or downloaded malicious software, you can access your activity monitor to find the source. Malicious software usually takes up significant resources on your computer. Therefore, your activity monitor shows your computer’s activity and performance, and you can check the CPU tab to identify suspicious applications. Then you can delete the suspicious applications: Finder > Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor > Application > Quit.

Scan your computer with an anti-malware tool

The best way to keep your computer safe is to use an anti-malware tool like Malwarebytes for Mac. Accessing the Malwarebytes tool allows you to scan your entire computer for known threats and malware. The software then provides the information and identifies all viruses, threats and malware so you can delete them from your system. In addition, Malwarebytes offers real-time protection by identifying and removing threats before they harm your system.

Check your web browser’s home page

Malware often infects your web browser’s homepage to reinfect your Mac after removing all threats and suspicious applications. You should go to your web browser settings to check your default home page. If the browser does not have your usual home page, this is an indication that your browser has been modified by the malware. Each browser has a unique process to change the home page, so you should follow the necessary steps according to your browser, whether you are using Chrome, Safari or others.

Clear your internet cache

A cache is temporary storage on your computer that stores data from your Internet browsing activities. This is done to prevent you from having to repeatedly download the website’s content, thus providing a smoother web browsing experience. You should go to your web browser’s history and cache settings to clear all browsing data and ensure your system is completely clean of potentially harmful files. After clearing the cache, you can use the internet normally, but this time with Malwarebytes installed on your Mac.

We’ve highlighted some of the most effective steps to detect and remove malware from your Apple products. It is important to mention that most people cannot detect all malware themselves. And malware, like viruses, multiplies quickly, so you need to make sure you’ve removed all suspicious files and software from your computer. For this reason, it is absolutely essential to run a malware scan with Malwarebytes or other similar anti-malware tools – they protect your system and prevent new malware from infecting your digital ecosystem.