Spyware on Mac

Malware on Mac can be a serious issue, but some types of malicious content are more frightening than others. Spyware is undoubtedly one of the most alarming, as it can put the user’s privacy and personal life at risk. In a spyware attack, your web browsing habits, personal data, passwords, and credit card details can all be compromised, and this shouldn’t be taken lightly.

In early 2024, 35 countries joined forces with several Big Tech companies to sign a joint statement acknowledging the need to address the growing use of cyber-spying tools. The latter includes spyware, which can be used to hack phone calls, steal photos, and monitor individuals through remotely operated cameras and microphones.

This means that spyware remains a significant concern. According to Statista data, TrackViewPro was the most widely used spyware in 2022, while Pegasus, which is the most commonly known among the public, was primarily used by intelligence agencies in 2023.

Before we begin

 

Spyware can be a terrifying thing, but it’s not impossible to protect yourself from it. MacKeeper’s VPN Private Connect is an excellent tool that can help prevent your online activity from being monitored. This VPN can help hide your IP address, encrypt your data and overall protect your MacBook’s privacy.

 

Here’s how to use MacKeeper’s VPN Private Connect:

1. Download MacKeeper on your Mac and open it.
2. Select Private Connect under Privacy from the sidebar.
3. Select a VPN server location using the dropdown menu.
4. Click the Turn On button.

Now, our team of experts is here to tell you how to find malware on Mac, how to identify whether it’s spyware, and how to get rid of it for good. Let’s start.

What is spyware

Spyware is a type of malicious software that aims to gather private information from people or organizations. This information can include passwords, usernames, financial details, private conversations, browsing habits, images from the webcam, microphone, location, and more. The collected data can then be used by others for various illegal purposes.

For a long time, many people believed that Macs were immune to viruses and malware. However, this is a myth. Despite having good security features, Apple computers can also fall victim to spyware attacks.

There are several types of spyware, including:

• Trojans: This type of malware disguises itself as a legitimate program to access your data and insert more malicious content on your Mac.
• Adware: This software collects user information and displays banner and pop-up ads that can potentially infect you with more malware.
• Cookie trackers: These are pieces of code that track your online habits, such as the searches you perform and the websites you visit.
• Keyloggers: These computer programs record keystrokes to capture confidential information such as logins, passwords, and credit card details.
• Screen scrapers: This data collection method takes screenshots of your device to monitor your activity.

How to tell if spyware is on your Mac

If you suspect your screen is being observed, here are the signs to look out for to confirm whether your Mac has been infected with spyware:

• Homepage changes that weren’t authorized by you
• Search engines and other apps are set to default without your knowledge
• New settings, extensions, and toolbars installed out of nowhere
• Advertising banners and pop-ups constantly appearing
• Suspicious security alerts that pop up even without scanning your Mac
• Personal files can’t be accessed
• Contacts receive spam from one of your email accounts
• Slower Mac performance than usual
• Resource usage getting unexplained spikes

If you’ve experienced any of the situations described above, then you should consider using one of the solutions we suggest in later sections. However, if you haven’t yet encountered any of these problems, there are steps you can take to avoid being infected by spyware: always use the latest version of your operating system, download official apps from the Mac App Store, and use password managers to encrypt your logins.

In addition, you should safeguard your online activity with a VPN, such as the one included in the MacKeeper cleanup utility. Here’s how to use MacKeeper’s VPN Private Connect on your Mac:

1. Open the MacKeeper app on your device.
2. Select Private Connect under Privacy from the left sidebar.
3. Unfold the VPN server location dropdown menu.
4. Choose your preferred server location.
5. Click Turn On.

How to find spyware on your macOS

Consider using an antivirus such as MacKeeper to find spyware on Mac:

1. Open the MacKeeper app on your machine.
2. Select Antivirus under Security from the sidebar.
3. Click the Start Scan button and wait until it’s done.
4. Since adware is a type of spyware, now go to Adware Cleaner, also under Security in the left sidebar.
5. Click Start Scan and wait until the scan is complete.

Keep reading to find out how to remove the spyware found on your Mac.

How to get rid of spyware from your Mac

Now that you know how to check for spyware on Mac, learn how to get rid of it permanently. You can achieve this by using two methods:

1. Manual scan
2. Scanning with anti-spy software

1. Manual scan

Manually locating spyware on your Mac involves performing several actions on your computer. Though it’s not a 100% effective system, it’s a viable alternative to anti-spyware tools.

First, update macOS to the latest version:

1. Click the Apple icon in the menu bar.
2. Select System Settings… from the dropdown menu.
3. Choose General from the sidebar, then click Software Update.
4. Click Upgrade Now.

Then, look out for suspicious programs using Finder:

1. Open Finder and select Applications from the sidebar.
2. Click the grouping icon, then choose Date Added to sort your apps by date.
3. Check the results to detect any potential malicious apps.

Finally, run Activity Monitor to detect unfamiliar processes:

1. Open Finder, then select Applications from the left-hand menu.
2. Find and double-click on the Utilities folder.
3. Launch Activity Monitor.
4. Select the Memory tab, then hit the arrow next to the Memory column to sort the results by memory used.
5. Check the most memory-intensive processes to find suspicious software.

2. Scanning with anti-spy software

However, if you’re looking for an effective and quick way to remove spyware from your Mac, you should consider getting a malware removal tool like MacKeeper’s Antivirus. It’ll help you get rid of any malicious content on your Apple device—here’s how:

1. Launch MacKeeper on your Mac.
2. Select the Antivirus tab from the left sidebar.
3. Click the Start Scan button.
4. Wait until the scan is complete.
5. If your Mac is infected, you’ll see a list of threats.
6. Select all items found, then click the Move to Quarantine button.
7. Click Restart to relaunch the app.
8. Hit Quarantine, then select all infections from the list.
9. Click Delete and confirm.

How to protect Mac from spyware

If you want to keep your Mac free of spyware, it’s important to take preventative measures rather than waiting for an infection to occur. Follow the tips below to prevent future malware attacks:

1. Update your macOS and enable automatic updates
2. Remove suspicious browser extensions
3. Use strong antivirus software

1. Update your macOS and enable automatic updates

Keeping your macOS updated is crucial to prevent security flaws and spyware infections. The best way to ensure this is to enable automatic system updates.

1. Click the Apple icon in the menu bar.
2. Choose System Settings… from the dropdown menu.
3. Select General from the left-hand menu, then click Software Update.
4. Click Upgrade Now to update to the latest macOS version.
5. Click on the question mark icon next to Automatic updates.
6. Turn on the Install macOS updates toggle, then click Done.

2. Remove suspicious browser extensions

If you notice unfamiliar extensions in your browser, it could be an indication that there’s spyware on your Mac. You can resolve this by accessing your browser’s extensions management panel and removing any unrecognized extensions.

We’ll provide a step-by-step guide for different browsers below:

• 2.1 Safari
• 2.2 Chrome
• 2.3 Firefox
• 2.4 Opera

2.1 Get rid of suspicious browser extensions on Safari

Follow these steps to get rid of suspicious browser extensions on Safari:

1. Open Safari on your Mac.
2. Choose Safari from the menu bar, then select Settings.
3. Go to the Extensions tab.
4. Look out for suspicious extensions.
5. Click the Uninstall button to remove them from Safari.

2.2 Delete malicious browser extensions on Chrome

This is how to delete malicious browser extensions on Google Chrome:

1. Open the Chrome app on your Mac.
2. In the top right corner, click on the three vertical dots icon.
3. Select Extensions from the dropdown menu, then select Manage Extensions.
4. Find any suspicious extensions in the new window.
5. On the extension, click Remove.
6. Click Remove again to confirm.

2.3 Remove untrusted browser extensions on Firefox

Here’s what to do to remove untrusted browser extensions on Firefox:

1. Open the Firefox app on your device.
2. In the top right corner, click on the hamburger button.
3. Select Add-ons and themes from the dropdown menu.
4. Go to the Extensions tab.
5. Check the list and find any untrusted extensions you want to delete.
6. Click the three-dot icon, then choose Remove.
7. Confirm by clicking Remove again.

2.4 Uninstall unwanted browser extensions on Opera

Find below the simple steps to uninstall unwanted browser extensions on Opera:

1. Open Opera on your Apple device.
2. In the bottom left corner, click on the three-dot icon.
3. Once the Sidebar Setup has opened, scroll down and click Extensions under Opera Tools.
4. In the new window, look out for any unwanted extensions.
5. Click Remove, then click Remove again in the confirmation dialog.

Note from our experts:

 

If you prefer to trust a cleaning app to detect and remove suspicious extensions, especially useful if you use multiple browsers, use MacKeeper’s Smart Uninstaller on your Mac.

1. Open MacKeeper on your Mac.
2. Select Smart Uninstaller from the left sidebar, under Cleaning.
3. Click Start Scan.
4. Select Browser Extensions, then select all the extensions you want to remove.
5. Click the Remove Selected button.

3. Use strong antivirus software 

It’s important to take measures to prevent malware, including spyware, from infecting your Mac. Installing antivirus software is the best way to do this. Not only does it allow you to remove spyware from a Mac when it has already infiltrated your system, but it can also detect and block potential threats from entering your device.

MacKeeper is the ultimate choice for antivirus software, as it includes a range of useful tools. Its Antivirus feature offers customized scanning in real-time and sends alerts when it detects a critical issue. Try it yourself.

Detect spyware on Mac and remove it for good

Spyware can take different forms. When a keylogger, a Trojan, an adware, or a cookie tracker infects your Mac, it can compromise all the information you store on it, as well as your online activity. To ensure your security and privacy, you should follow some guidelines, such as using antivirus software to detect, block, and remove spyware threats, keeping your macOS up to date, downloading apps only from official sites, and removing suspicious browser extensions.

Additionally, it’s important to have a VPN installed on your Mac, such as MacKeeper’s VPN Private Connect, which will help you hide your IP address and encrypt your data. By doing so, you can protect your information from being accessed by malicious actors.