Remove viruses on MAC

September 12, 2021September 12, 2021

There is no doubt that Mac computers are no longer free from viruses or malware. Gone are the days when computer enthusiasts called this brand the most secure device. Nowadays, whatever virus infects the PC, there is also a version that is compatible with Mac systems. Whether it is a virus current, Trojan horse, worms, adware, malicious application or fake optimization tool, Mac is now open to all possible attacks.

Maybe one of the reasons Mac is being targeted these days is that more and more computer users are now switching to this machine. Not to mention that some programs that previously only worked on Windows are now Mac compatible applications. This even applies to Internet browser programs that run on the screen for the vast majority of computing times.

Whenever there are unknown applications that interfere with Mac computer, users often call it virus infection. Because most of them are not technically savvy, there is no easy way for them to recognize different attacks, be it viruses, adware, or malware. Mac users generally consider the infiltration to be a virus infection.

In this article, we present a different approach to remove virus from Mac. Different types of infection require separate procedures and we will cover them in the guide below. Read the rest of this article if you need to remove virus from Mac system and infected browser program.

Malware distribution on Mac OS

MAC VIRUS

It is technically a computer threat that can damage Mac OS. The primary target of Mac virus is the operating system itself, including system files and executable data. Usually, when we talk about viruses, we are talking about computer threats that exploit various vulnerabilities on Mac OS as well as installed applications as a door of penetration and to execute unnecessary commands. Here are the types of viruses for Mac:

Trojan horse - Known as Mac virus which comes in the form of malicious code or software that when executed can take control of the computer. A Trojan horse has been designed with a special ability to cause damage, interrupt, steal, or perform harmful actions that damage Mac OS, data, or the computer network. There are many types of Trojans for Mac and each has its own tasks like Backdoor, DDos, Downloader, Infostealer, Remote Access Trojan (RAT), Rootkit, Banker, IM, etc.

See - This is a Mac computer virus that spreads from one computer to another. It can make a copy of itself by exploiting various software vulnerabilities. Worm can replicate infection to media players, network shares, and can even spam a copy.

Ransomware - A dangerous type of Mac virus, which is able to encrypt files and demand ransom in exchange for decryption software. The purpose of the ransom varies with types and variants, but often it locks files or the Mac OS in general to deny user access. Until now, this type of threat can escape security applications due to its concealment factor which obscures its operation as a system process.

MAC ADWARE

Mac adware is a type of virus specially designed to attack Internet browser applications such as Safari, Google Chrome, or Firefox. Adware is shortcode for ad-supported software. This gives us the idea that the general purpose of this threat is to display advertisements on the browser and in return, its authors expect to earn revenue. Below are the types of adware that commonly infects Mac OS.

Browser Hijacker - Once it gets into the computer, sudden and unwanted changes will occur on the internet browser program. The home page, start page, new tab window, and search engine are all affected by the changes. Instead of the user's preferred settings, the browser hijacker virus will replace these sections with an unnecessary homepage and search tool. Some of the infamous browser hijackers that invade Mac are Weknow.ac and SafeFinder.

Pop-ups and redirects - Like the browser hijacker, this virus targets Internet browser applications. However, it does not commit any modification to the homepage and other vital pages. The infection only reveals the sign when the Mac user is in a browsing session. This type of Mac virus triggers pop-up ads and processes a series of redirects that direct the browser to unwanted websites. Recently, Mac security forums have been inundated with queries about Yahoo redirects, which lead the browser to said website instantly when starting browser, searching or ordinary web browsing. This is obviously not a case of Yahoo attack, but a malicious script that redirects the browser to a different website and the last part shows the legitimate and trusted Yahoo page to just hide the malicious activity.

Rogue and Scareware on MAC - It can be considered a Trojan horse especially if the installation involves malicious code which deletes the executable and runs it on a Mac computer. However, some malware infects Mac OS because the user himself is careless in executing the prompts from questionable websites. As a result, they willfully download and install a malicious application without realizing that it is a computer threat. Malware for Mac often claims to be a performance enhancing tool or security software that requires a registration fee or a paid activation code to unlock full functionality. Unfortunately, even the full version of the rogue tool is not worthy of the Mac user's money. Most of these rogue programs are complete garbage and only defraud money from innocent victims.

Potentially unwanted application (PUA) - The title already gave an idea of the type of Mac virus that is a PUA. These are apps that are typically installed on a Mac or internet browser without user approval. Enhancement tools, free games, browser extensions that are installed by a discreet method and without user intervention are classified as PUA. Like adware, PUA is a Mac virus that often attacks the Internet browser program. The only difference is that unwanted programs are not intended to generate revenue but rather to promote an app through unusual distribution technique.