How to Remove VBS:Malware-Gen from Mac

If your antivirus software tells you that it found a potential threat called VBS:Malware-Gen during a routine scan, don’t panic, but do take this warning seriously. It means your Mac could be a risk of malicious software exploitation.

These threats pests often sneak in through spam emails, infected websites, or by clicking suspicious links. Once installed, VBS:Malware-Gen can quickly spread across your system, giving hackers access to your data and potentially taking control of your Mac. It’s important to act fast to stop the malware from doing more harm to your device. To ensure that doesn’t happen, we’ve broken down ways to help you check your Mac for malware.

Before we begin

 

We understand that not everyone is a security expert, and no one necessarily knows how to check their Mac for malware, which is why we spent years developing MacKeeper, an antivirus software specifically to keep your Mac safe.

 

While Apple devices come with basic antivirus features, reliable antivirus software like MacKeeper handles all security needs, defending your Mac against malware and malicious attacks.

 

Here’s how to protect your Mac from unwanted treats:

1. Download and launch MacKeeper.
2. Select the Antivirus scanner.
3. Start your scan by clicking Launch Antivirus.
4. Wait for the scan to complete and remove any threats found.

If you think your Mac may be infected, or to prevent a potential cyberattack, it’s best to use a trusted antivirus software like MacKeeper.

What is VBS:Malware-Gen

VBS:Malware-Gen is a malware created using Visual Basic Scripting language (VBS). Antivirus programs use this term when flagging VBScript files with characteristics similar to malware. VBS:Malware-Gen collects personal data and installs additional malware onto your computer.

Quick overview on VBS:Malware-Gen

A few years ago, Avast antivirus users received a warning from the software that they had found a threat called VBS:Malware-Gen and advised them to do a full system scan.

Avast users initially claimed  VBS:Malware-Gen was a type of Trojan that accesses devices via corrupt downloads or websites. However, Avast debunked this claim, stating that it isn’t a Trojan or any other kind of virus, but rather a result of a “false positive.”

They apologized for the scare and assured users they would be adding more checks during the software’s creation and testing to avoid similar errors in the future.

What does VBS:Malware-Gen do

Once any Trojan virus infects your Mac, it can wreak havoc on your entire system and jeopardize your data. These are some things that could happen if your MacBook is infected by VBC:Malware-Gen:

• Data theft. As malware is specifically designed to steal sensitive information, like bank details and other personal data, it can result in financial loss, compromized privacy, and potential identity theft.
• System disruption. A Trojan virus can cause it to disrupt your software's normal operation, potentially making your device crash or become unresponsive.
• Remote access. The malware gives hackers unauthorized access to your MacBook, allowing them to carry out malicious activities remotely.
• Ransomware. You might come across malicious software that is created to block your access to your computer unless a ransom is paid.

Are you now scared of these undesired consequences for your Apple device? Continue reading to learn how to avoid this problem and to stop VBS:Malware on Mac.

What to do if you get a VBS:Malware-Gen warning

If you’re using Avast and still come across a VBS:Malware-Gen warning on your Mac, the best to do is to avoid interacting with it. Though Avast claimed the virus doesn’t exist, you should still take the warning seriously. Make sure your Mac is updated with the latest Avast antivirus software to run a full scan to fix any issues.

If updating Avast doesn’t fix the alert, you might want to uninstall it and consider using MacKeeper as another antivirus software. Why? It comes with a malware removal tool that checks your device for all types of malware, like adware, spyware, and worms. If it does find VBS:Malware-Gen, you can easily remove it with a click of a button.

Is your Mac infected with malware

Despite MacBooks coming with built-in protective features, your device can still get infected by malware. While Apple has designed their devices to come with security measures, it’s still possible for hackers to find ways to infect your macOS with malicious software.

One of the most common signs is that your Mac has suddenly become much slower than usual. While this slowdown could also mean you need a software update, if you’ve noticed these other signs of malware, it’s likely your Mac is infected:

• Apps on your Mac have started becoming unresponsive.
• Unfamiliar icons have started appearing on your desktop.
• Your Mac starts crashing or freezing unexpectedly.
• Annoying pop-up ads keep appearing.
• Your internet connection slows down for no apparent reason.
• Your browser's homepage or default search engine changes without your permission.
• You notice strange browser extensions or add-ons that you didn't install.
• You're constantly redirected to random websites while browsing.
• Your antivirus software or firewall gets disabled without your knowledge.
• You get pop-up messages asking for sensitive information like passwords.

How to get rid of VBS:Malware-Gen from your Mac

Though difficult, removing malware from Mac isn’t impossible. You can do the following to remove VBS:Malware-Gen from your device:

1. Uninstall malicious apps from Mac
2. Close and reset your browser
3. Install a strong antivirus

1. Uninstall malicious apps from Mac

A lot of malware likes to piggyback off seemingly innocent downloads. So the first thing you want to do is manually check if any unknown applications are installed on your Mac. There are a couple of ways you can uninstall an app on your Mac:

• With Finder
• With Activity Monitor & Applications Folder
• Through moving and emptying the Trash

With Finder

Here’s how to delete malicious apps with Finder on Mac:

1. Open Finder, then go to Downloads.
2. Open all recently installed files and look for suspicious ones that don’t relate to your original download. Immediately delete them.

With Activity Monitor & Applications Folder

If you want to uninstall malicious apps on your Mac within the Activity Monitor and Applications folder, follow these steps:

1. Go to Applications and open the Utilities folder.
2. Open Activity Monitor. You’ll have a list of all the files and apps your Mac has recently used. Look for anything that you don’t recall activating. Double-click on the app by quickly tapping down twice on your MacBook’s trackpad or the upper left side of your Apple mouse, then click Force Quit.
3. Go back to Applications, find the suspicious files, and move them all to Trash.
4. Empty Trash.

Through emptying the Trash

Alternatively, if you’ve accidentally downloaded an app that turns out to be a virus, you can uninstall it by moving it to Trash. Simply:

1. Select the app you want to remove.
2. Use any of these methods to move the app to your Trash:
   • Drag and drop the app to the Trash icon.
   • Click on the app and select Move to Trash.
   • Select the app and use the keyboard shortcut Command + Delete.
3. If a popup dialog asks for your username and password, enter the login details you use for your Mac.
4. To delete the app from your Trash, click on the Trash app and select Empty Trash.

2. Close and reset your browser

The next step you want to do is close and clean your browser. Resetting your web browser can help remove malware from browser extensions. Doing this reverts your browser to its default state, removing unwanted extensions, home page settings, and any search engine changes.

The instructions depend on your browser type—choose the one you need:

• Reset Safari on Mac
• Reset Chrome on MacBook
• Reset Firefox on your Mac

Reset Safari on Mac

If you’re unsure about how to reset your Safari browser, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you:

1. Open Safari. Then click the Safari tab located in the top-left corner of your screen, then select Settings.
2. Click Privacy on top of the new window that appears.
3. Then click on the Manage Website Data button.
4. In the next popup, click Remove All, followed by Remove Now.

Reset Chrome on MacBook

Restoring your Chrome browser back to its default settings is pretty straightforward—simply follow these steps:

1. Launch Chrome and click on the three horizontal dots on the right side of the address bar.
2. From the drop-down menu, select Settings.
3. In the left-hand menu, scroll down to find Reset settings and click on it.
4. Click on Restore settings to their original defaults.
5. Review the warning message, then click Restore settings.

Reset Firefox on your Mac

Here’s how you can reboot your Firebox browser to remove malware on your Mac:

1. Open Firefox and click on the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner of the menu.
2. Click on Help > More troubleshooting information.
3. In the Troubleshooting Information window, find the section labeled Give Firefox a tune-up. From here, click on the Refresh Firefox button.
4. After the confirmation dialogue pops up, click the Refresh Firefox button.
5. Firefox will close and reset. This may take a few minutes to complete.
6. Once the reset is finished, a new window will appear. Click the Let’s Go! button to start using Firefox again.

3. Install a strong antivirus

Now that you’ve successfully cleaned your browser, it’s time to install antivirus software to give your Mac a deep clean. But not all antivirus software are created equal, and there are some key factors you need to consider when picking one:

• Real-time prevention and rapid infection removal
• Complete system scans
• Web browsing protection
• Reliable threat detection rates
• Doesn’t lag your device
• User-friendly interface
• Efficient customer support

Additional features you may want to see in the antivirus solution include:

• System performance cleanup and optimization
• VPN services
• Password manager

If you’re not sure which Mac antivirus software to get, we recommend MacKeeper. This software was specifically designed to cater to MacBooks, meaning every feature in its toolkit works to prevent unwanted malware or threats from specifically reaching your Mac. Besides, choosing a reliable antivirus program like MacKeeper means you’ll get access to a comprehensive antivirus scanner that combs through all the nooks and crannies of your computer, ensuring you fully get rid of VBS:Malware-Gen from Mac.

Did you know? One of the best ways to avoid a cyberattack and identity theft is by keeping your software up to date. When it’s time to update your macOS, it’s best not to get into the habit of putting it off. Software updates can help lessen the likelihood of security issues and improve your Mac’s program features.

How to find and delete VBS:Malware-Gen using MacKeeper

As they say, prevention is the best cure. The best way to stop your Mac from getting infected by malware is by using antivirus software like MacKeeper to keep it clean at all times.

MacKeeper’s security suite goes beyond mere antivirus protection, as the app also offers VPN protection, ad blocking, system cleanup, and so much more. Its anti-malware protection is near perfect, so there’s no need for you to manually go through your Mac to look for programs, folders, or files that may be a threat.

MacKeeper is also extremely easy to set up and use. Check out the steps below to see how you can use MacKeeper to remove VBS:Malware-Genfrom Mac:

1. Download and install antivirus from the official website
2. Start system scan
3. Delete VBS:Malware-Gen from your Mac

1. Download and install antivirus from the official website

First, you’ll want to download and install MacKeeper onto your Mac. Do this by going to the official MacKeeper website—this should be the first link that appears on the search results page. Once you’re on the official website, here’s what you need to do:

1. Click on the Download button.
2. Once the download starts, the file will be saved in your Downloads folder on your Mac, you’ll want to double-click on the file to begin the installation process.
3. A window will pop up asking you to continue, click on the button that says Continue then click on Install.
4. Next, you’ll need to type the password you use to log into your Mac. After that, click Install Software. Your installation should start, but if you receive a popup to access the downloads folder, click OK.
5. Now, you'll have to wait for the installation to finish. When it's done, you'll see a message saying Installation Successful. Just click Close.

That's it! You can now open up MacKeeper and start the system scan.

Our expert’s advice: Only download antivirus software from official websites. This is super important because it ensures the software you’re getting is legitimate and trustworthy. Official websites also offer software updates and support, so your computer is always protected.

2. Start system scan

MacKeeper’s Antivirus tool detects and removes malware, viruses, and Trojans, as soon as it spots them. Its Real-Time virus protection works 24/7, and, this way, you can keep your Mac clean and safe with zero effort.

Here’s what you need to do to use MacKeeper’s Antivirus feature to find Malware-Gen:

1. Open the application and click the Antivirus option found on the left-hand menu.
2. Once you find it, click on the Launch Antivirus button and wait until Antivirus is enabled.
3. Next, you’ll want to enable Real-Time Protection.
4. Once real-time protection is enabled, click Start Scan.
5. MacKeeper should now be scanning your system for malware and viruses.

MacKeeper works by scanning software on your Mac, like apps and files, and checking and comparing its signatures to known malware. Antivirus products hold a large database with known malware signatures. When MacKeeper’s antivirus scanner finds a match, it stops the software and either quarantines or permanently deletes it.  

3. Delete VBS:Malware-Gen from your Mac

Once MacKeeper has completed its antivirus scan, if your Mac is infected, you’ll see the window display a full list of suspicious files detected. Here’s how you can use MacKeeper to permanently remove those files and other forms of Trojan virus on Mac:

1. Review the list of items on the screen, Double-check that nothing you want to keep having been listed. Tick the boxes of those you want to remove.
2. Click the blue Move To Quarantine button, then click Restart to relaunch Antivirus.
3. Select the Quarantine option and select all the files on the list.
4. Click Delete to remove all threats found permanently.

How to protect Mac from malware

Now that you know how to remove VBS:Malware-Gen from Mac, we’ve prepared a few basic tips to help you prevent malware from reinfecting your device:

1. Carefully read any dialog boxes.
2. Use a reliable password manager.
3. Do your best to browse through only secure websites—ones starting with https://.
4. Don’t click links from suspicious emails, especially if they’re from senders you don’t recognize.
5. Don’t open any suspicious email attachments, either.
6. Avoid downloading software from websites you’re not familiar with, remember to stick to official software websites only.

Hint from our team: 

 

You can also prevent malware attacks by disabling JavaScript in your browser. This could break certain web pages, but your web browsing will be more secure. To disable JavaScript in Safari:

1. Go to Safari > Settings > Security.
2. Untick Enable JavaScript.

Never worry about Mac malware again

As you can see, there are several ways to remove VBS malware-Gen from Mac. The important thing to remember is that if you think your Mac has a virus, there’s no need to panic—it can be fixed. The most common way to remove malware is by uninstalling the suspicious application using either Activity Monitor or putting it in the Trash. But VBS malware-Gen removal works better when you use a dedicated antivirus app like MacKeeper to scan and automatically remove malware threats.

It's best practice to get into the habit of running regular antivirus checks using a dedicated cleaner app. If you’re too busy to perform system scans on your Mac, MacKeeper comes with a powerful antivirus scanner and malware removal tools. The app not only checks your system for danger but also reacts to threats by removing them immediately.

With MacKeeper, you’ll be bringing Mac virus and malware protection to a whole new level. Keep your MacBook virus-free, and may you never have VBS:Malware-Gen scare alerts ever again.