How to Protect Your Mac from Malware

Can Mac get malware?

Yes, we confirm that Macs can get malware, even though macOS includes built-in protections like Gatekeeper, XProtect, and notarization. Malware can still reach a Mac through unsafe downloads, malicious email attachments, browser redirects, and phishing pages. As our tests show, these threats often bypass outdated systems or weak settings, so keeping macOS updated and using real-time protection tools remains essential for staying safe.

A note from our experts: 

 

If you're looking for a reliable way to protect your Mac from malware, our team's experience shows that real-time scanning makes the biggest difference. MacKeeper’s Antivirus is a leading solution in Mac cybersecurity that detects threats the moment they appear, so your documents, apps, and system folders stay fully protected before anything can spread or steal data. Since MacKeeper is developed by Clario Tech and Apple-notarized, it operates safely and integrates smoothly with macOS.

 

Here's how to safeguard your files with MacKeeper's Antivirus:

1. Download MacKeeper and install it on your Mac.
2. Open the app and select Antivirus in the left sidebar.
3. Click Start Scan to run a full system check for malware and potentially unwanted items.
4. Review everything detected and quarantine suspicious files to block activity.
5. Restart your Mac and permanently delete the quarantined items for complete removal.

How to keep Mac safe from malware?

To keep your Mac safe from malware, update macOS regularly, use strong passwords with two-factor authentication as the basic step and turn on built-in tools like Firewall and Gatekeeper as some extra. Avoid unsafe websites, unknown downloads, and suspicious email attachments. Adding real-time antivirus protection strengthens your defenses further by blocking threats before they can spread through your files or apps.

1. Restrict app downloads to trusted sources

You don't need anything complicated here since macOS already gives you tools to stay safer. And if you're checking settings because you've learned how to check for malware on a Mac, locking down download permissions is the next smart step.

Here's the quickest way to control which apps your Mac accepts:

1. Open System Settings from the Apple menu.
2. Go to Privacy & Security in the sidebar.
3. Scroll to the Security section.
4. Under Allow applications from, choose App Store or App Store and known developers.
5. Close the window, as your Mac will now automatically block unverified installers.

2. Keep your macOS and software up to date

We know that an updated system is noticeably harder to compromise, and we've seen countless issues disappear after users applied patches they'd ignored for months. It's one of the easiest protective habits you can build.

Here's how to keep your Mac fully updated:

1. Open System Settings from the Apple menu.
2. Select General, then choose Software Update.
3. Install any available macOS update shown on the screen.
4. Click the i icon next to Automatic Updates, then enable all options.
5. Open the App Store, go to Updates, and install everything listed.

3. Use a secure login password

A strong login password protects far more than your account. When users ask how to remove malware from your Mac, weak device access often ends up being part of the story.

You can update your login password like this:

1. Open System Settings and select Users & Groups.
2. Choose your profile from the list.
3. Click Change Password.
4. Enter your current password when prompted.
5. Set a new password with varied characters and no predictable patterns.
6. Save the changes, then restart your Mac to apply the updated login requirement.

4. Enable Firewall for network protection

Your Mac's Firewall works quietly in the background, blocking unwanted network connections that could expose your data. We've noticed that users who regularly join public Wi-Fi networks benefit from enabling this immediately.

Turn on Firewall protection using these steps:

1. Open System Settings from the Apple menu.
2. Go to Network in the sidebar.
3. Select Firewall at the bottom.
4. Toggle the switch to On.
5. Click Options to block all incoming connections or customize exceptions.
6. Close the window. The Firewall activates and protects your Mac instantly.

5. Practice safe browsing and downloads

Many users realize how vulnerable the web can feel only after they've accidentally downloaded malware on a Mac. Once that happens, every link and download prompt starts to look suspicious.

Try the following steps to build safer browsing routines:

1. Use Safari or another browser with reliable protection features.
2. Check a site's address before opening files from it.
3. Ignore download prompts that appear without explanation.
4. Avoid running installers that come from pop-ups or redirects.
5. Switch to private browsing on unfamiliar websites.
6. Quit and reopen the browser if a page behaves oddly.

6. Review and manage browser extensions

Extensions can improve your workflow, yet over time, they accumulate and behave unpredictably. Some begin requesting permissions you don't remember granting, while others sit unused and outdated.

Here's how to manage them effectively:

1. Open Safari and navigate to Settings→Extensions.
2. Disable extensions you don't recognize.
3. Remove those you haven't used in a long time.
4. Open Chrome and go to chrome://extensions.
5. Review permission requests and delete anything uncertain.
6. Restart the browser so all changes apply cleanly.

7. Turn on disk encryption

FileVault adds a valuable layer of protection for anyone who carries a Mac outside their home or workplace. Once disk encryption is enabled, your data remains unreadable without your login password, even if someone has physical access to the device.

Enable encryption with the following steps:

1. Open System Settings.
2. Select Privacy & Security.
3. Scroll to FileVault and click Turn On.
4. Restart the Mac to start the encryption process.

8. Enable Find My Mac

With the Find My Mac feature activated, your Mac can be located, locked, or erased, and that level of control often prevents data exposure during stressful situations. It's a simple feature, but one that brings noticeable peace of mind if your Mac is ever out of sight.

You can set it up in just a moment:

1. Open System Settings.
2. Click your Apple Account at the top.
3. Select iCloud.
4. Turn on Find My Mac.
5. Enable Find My Network for better tracking.
6. Confirm with your Apple ID password.

9. Limit admin users on your device

Privileges matter more than most people realize, especially when they learn that Macs can get viruses. Admin accounts have broad access to system files and security settings, so fewer admin users reduce the risk of accidental changes or unauthorized installations.

Adjust account privileges using these steps:

1. Open System Settings and go to Users & Groups.
2. Select the account you want to modify.
3. Click Edit and switch the role to Standard.
4. Keep only one active admin account for essential tasks.
5. Remove unused accounts to limit access points.
6. Restart the Mac to apply the changes.

10. Use Apple Passwords app

Apple's built-in Passwords app offers a straightforward way to store secure logins without relying on separate tools. It keeps your passwords synced across devices, suggests stronger alternatives, and alerts you to weak or compromised entries.

Here's how to manage your passwords with Apple's tool:

1. Open System Settings from the Apple menu.
2. Select Touch ID & Password from the sidebar.
3. Authenticate with Touch ID or your account password.
4. Review saved logins and update those marked as weak or reused.
5. Use the Add Password button to securely store new entries.
6. Enable AutoFill so Safari and apps can use your stored passwords automatically.
7. Check password alerts occasionally to catch new security recommendations.

11. Secure your device when it’s not in use

Leaving your Mac unattended, even for a short break, can expose personal files or settings. Enabling automatic logout keeps your information protected and prevents others from interacting with your apps while you're away.

Set up automatic logout using these steps:

1. Open System Settings.
2. Go to Privacy & Security.
3. Scroll to the bottom and select Advanced.
4. Turn on Log out automatically after inactivity.
5. Choose the time interval that suits your routine.
6. Confirm your selection and close the window.
7. Test the feature by stepping away to ensure the timing feels right.

12. Check app permissions

Periodically reviewing permissions helps ensure your microphone, camera, location, and files are only available to apps you trust. It's a simple habit that noticeably improves daily privacy.

Manage your permissions with the following steps:

1. Open System Settings from the Apple menu.
2. Select Privacy & Security.
3. Open the categories Camera, Microphone, and Files and Folders.
4. Turn off access for apps you no longer use.
5. Re-enable permissions only when a trusted app requires them.
6. Review Full Disk Access to ensure only essential apps are listed.
7. Repeat the process once a month to keep permissions up to date.

13. Use antivirus software

Even with careful browsing habits and strong system settings, your Mac benefits from an extra layer of protection. Real-time monitoring catches threats long before they affect files, and that's precisely where MacKeeper's Antivirus comes in.

It checks new items as they appear, blocks suspicious activity instantly, and keeps your system safe without asking you to manage complicated configurations. Many users tell us they feel noticeably more confident once they add continuous malware protection to their routine.

Conclusion

To protect your Mac from malware, you benefit most from keeping macOS updated, managing app permissions, maintaining strong passwords, reviewing extensions, and using built-in security tools like Firewall and FileVault. These steps work together to reduce common infection paths and strengthen everyday device safety.

Since MacKeeper is optimized for macOS, its Antivirus adds continuous, real-time threat detection that helps block malware before it spreads. It's a practical way to keep your system consistently protected.