Think you have a Facebook virus or your account has been hacked? Here are four things you should try: reclaim your account, change your password, remove suspicious apps, and perform a virus scan. I’m most likely just overthinking it, but I think I have a virus on my Mac. Are there any apps I could download to do a scan?
One of the reasons behind Apple's pride is that they keep their operating system - Mac - practically virus-free. If you’re an Apple user, you already know that it's quite difficult to transfer data from your gadget to a non-Apple gadget: This is one of the ways Apple keeps Mac secured from malicious software or viruses.
Mac has stayed quite popular over time, and while it's not immune to malware, chances are viruses are not as rampant as you think. However, if you doubt whether your Mac is infected, here are some tips on how to know if you have a virus on Mac.
Your Device is Slow for Uncertain Reasons
It's normal for your Mac notebook to be slow if you have a number of programs running at the same time. However, if you notice that there are barely any - or absolutely none at all - programs open and your laptop is still running unusually slow, it may be time to be wary.
You can still search for tips on how to speed up your device, but if none of those tips work, it could indeed be that you have a virus in your Mac.
Unexpected Ads Pop Up Everywhere
If you've installed something you probably shouldn’t have, chances are you are seeing unusual ads in places where you haven't seen them before, even when you’re not browsing through the internet. Adware has in fact become one of the most common kinds of malware in Macs.
If unexpected ads keep bugging you, it could be worth the while to do some checkup.
An Anti-Virus or Scanner Software Confirms Presence of Malware
The Mac OS as we know is designed to offer maximum protection from malicious softwares, but with the development of so many different kinds of malware, it is still hard to maintain a Mac OS completely secure.
That is why it is still advisable to equip your Mac with extra protection or scanners. Here are some worth looking into:
- ClamX AV - this is a free but highly trusted software that can detect threats for both Mac and Windows.
- BitDefender Virus Scanner for Mac – this tool is also free. However, it is just a scanner and won't automatically delete the virus for you. It can, however, point out the file on where you ought to delete the virus.
- AdwareMedic – this tool both scans and deletes adware files. It's a quick scanner and advisable if you're seeing way too many ads on your Mac.
Keep Security Up to Date
Here you've found how to know if you have a virus on Mac. Once you've run a virus scan and found out the source of your problems, make sure to delete it. Run your scanner periodically to keep your Mac free of malware.
If you want to know more about kinds of malware and what they can do, check out our article.
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