Accidentally Downloaded Malware on Mac

Mac malware can be dangerous, but when you encounter an infection, it’s important not to panic. Millions of Mac users have been in the same situation as you in the past, and you’ll be pleased to know that malware threats are relatively easy to remove from your Apple computer.

In this article, we’ll look at how malware and other viruses might end up on your system, and the steps you should take if you accidentally downloaded malware on Mac.

Before we start:

 

You can quickly find and remove malware, ransomware, and other dangerous viruses on your Mac with MacKeeper’s Antivirus. Our powerful security utility weeds out potential threats, no matter how well they might be hiding, then stops and removes them in just a few clicks.

 

Here’s how to use it:

1. Download and install MacKeeper.
2. Select Antivirus in the sidebar when the app opens.
3. Click the Start Scan button, then wait while MacKeeper checks your computer.
4. If any malware is found, select it, then click Move to Quarantine.
5. Click Restart to relaunch MacKeeper.
6. When the app reopens, click Delete to remove selected infections.

How could you accidentally download malware on Mac?

Unfortunately, there are many ways your Mac could become infected with malware through everyday use. Activities like browsing untrusted websites, opening suspicious email attachments, and clicking random links can lead to dangerous viruses being installed on your computer if you’re not careful.

One of the most common ways you might accidentally download malware on a Mac is through unsafe software. If you obtain apps, games, movies, and other content from unreliable sources, they’ll likely contain a virus. This is especially true if the download is free, when the content is usually paid for.

So, if you’re wondering, can MacBooks get viruses, the answer is yes. Connecting to untrusted networks, plugging in suspicious USB devices, clicking fake ads and popups, and leaving your Apple computer unattended in a public place are other ways you might end up with malware and viruses on your machine.

What to do if you accidentally downloaded malware on Mac

If you want to know how to get rid of malware on Mac, follow these steps:

1. Disconnect the Mac from the network
2. Turn your Mac off and on in safe mode
3. Start an antivirus scan
4. Backup your important data
5. Remove suspicious programs
6. Change your passwords
7. Update your software on time

1. Disconnect the Mac from the network

Many malware infections use your Mac’s internet connection to send your sensitive data back to hackers. To prevent this from happening immediately, disconnect your Mac from the network like so:

1. Open System Settings, then select Network in the sidebar.
2. Click Wi-Fi, then use the toggle to disable Wi-Fi connectivity.
3. If you use a wired Ethernet connection instead, unplug the cable from your Mac.

2. Turn your Mac off and on in safe mode

You can boot your Mac in Safe Mode to prevent a malware infection from harming your Mac while you remove it. This mode prevents third-party software, including malicious infections, from running automatically.

On a Mac with Apple Silicon, do the following:

1. Shut down your Mac and wait for it to turn off completely.
2. Press and hold the power button on your machine until you see Loading startup options.
3. Select your Mac’s startup disk, then click Continue in Safe Mode.

On a Mac with an Intel processor, follow these steps:

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Press the power button on your machine, then press and hold the Shift key until you see the login window.
3. Log into your Mac. When you reach the desktop, you should see Safe Boot in the menu bar.

Note from our experts: After entering Safe Mode on your Mac, you can look for and remove the malware infection and any suspicious apps manually. Safe Mode won’t allow you to use third-party applications, such as antivirus tools, so if you can’t find the malware manually, you’ll need to go down another route. Let’s look at that.

3. Start an antivirus scan

The quickest and easiest way to remove malware from your Mac is with a good antivirus program. These can locate hidden infections, block them immediately, and remove them from your computer—along with any associated files that could be dangerous. We recommend using MacKeeper’s Antivirus like so:

1. In MacKeeper, select the Antivirus utility in the sidebar.
2. Click Start Scan to scan the Mac for malware and find all hidden threats.
3. If any malware is found, select it or click the Check All option, then select Move to Quarantine.
4. When prompted, relaunch MacKeeper by clicking Restart.
5. You’ll see the Antivirus Quarantine when MacKeeper reopens. Ensure all threats are selected, then click Delete to remove them from your Mac.

4. Backup your important data

In some cases, malware infections can corrupt your Mac’s storage drive and cause data loss, so it’s vital that you back up your files as soon as a threat is found. Creating a complete clone of your Mac’s drive before the virus is removed will cause it to be copied over to your backup, so don’t use that option.

Instead, you can ensure iCloud Backup is enabled, sync files to a third-party cloud storage provider such as Dropbox or OneDrive, or manually move your most important files and folders to a USB stick or an external storage drive. You won’t always lose data because of malware, but it’s best to be prepared.

5. Remove suspicious programs

Malware and viruses sometimes appear on macOS as suspicious or unrecognized programs. To remove them, you simply need to remove those programs from your computer—just as you would uninstall any other application you don’t want. 

Hint from our team: 

 

Not all software will run from the Applications folder. In some cases, malware may run directly from the Downloads folder or from other locations on your Mac. This is why it’s much easier to use an antivirus program to identify threats rather than searching your entire Mac manually.

First, let’s look for unrecognized programs in Activity Monitor:

1. Open Activity Monitor from Applications > Utilities in Finder.
2. Ensure the CPU tab is selected, then look through the list of suspicious processes on Mac. Note that you don’t recognize, but don’t take action just yet.
3. In many cases, unrecognized processes are simply part of macOS. Google their names to find out if they’re safe or should be removed from your Mac.
4. If you find a process that should be stopped, select it in Activity Monitor, then click the X button.
5. Confirm you want to kill the process by clicking Force Quit.

Important: 

 

These steps will only stop potentially dangerous processes temporarily. Most malware infections will soon relaunch themselves, so it’s important to remove any infections your Mac has next. You can either do this automatically using MacKeeper’s Antivirus, as we showed above, or manually like so:

1. Open Finder, then select the Applications folder.
2. Look through the entire list of applications to find any you don’t recognize.
3. To remove a suspicious app, right-click it, then select Move to Bin.
4. Right-click the Trash can, then select Empty Bin to finish uninstalling the software.

6. Change your passwords

Malware usually tries to steal important data from your Mac, especially login details for websites, online banks, and other platforms. Change your passwords for all services whenever you find malware on your Mac to protect your accounts from being compromised.

The process for changing your password will differ depending on the service—each has its own way of doing things. With that in mind, it’s best to log in and look for the Accounts section or similar. Within that, there should be a Security or Sign In page where you can change or reset your password.

7. Update your software on time

Hackers often target vulnerabilities in outdated versions of macOS or third-party Mac software to get their malware onto your computer. To prevent this, install the latest patches and bug fixes as soon as they’re available by updating your software. Here’s how to update macOS:

1. Open System Settings, then select General in the sidebar.
2. Click Software Update.
3. System Settings will check for new updates automatically. After a few seconds, if an update is available, you’ll see an Update Now button. Click that to continue.
4. To update software downloaded from the Mac App Store, open the App Store, then click Updates in the sidebar. Click Update All to install all available releases.

Important: For software you didn’t download through the Mac App Store, find and install the latest version from within the app itself. If not, try checking the developer’s official website for new releases, ensuring to avoid untrusted third-party sources that may be hosting malicious versions of the software.

Conclusion

Some Mac fans believe that Apple computers are immune to malware, and that’s simply not the case. Although infections aren’t as common, macOS is just as susceptible to viruses as Windows. The good news is that if you get a malware infection, it’s not too difficult to stop and remove it. Follow our tips above to minimize the damage, protect your data, and make your Mac more secure.

If you’re looking for the fastest and most effective way to get rid of malware on Mac, try MacKeeper’s Antivirus. It identifies all threats that may have found their way onto your machine, including those that are well-hidden, and removes them quickly to keep your Mac and your data safe.