Tell me one thing: has your Mac been having some weird behavior? Are you seeing ads that you can not explain or your Mac is extremely slow? So pay close attention to this text. Apple computers have always been known to have no viruses. However, with the growth of its popularity, some malware appeared. Do not worry: this is a normal thing and the odds of being with some, although real, are quite small.
First, be aware that if you only download apps from the Mac App Store, the chances of being infected by malware are much lower. On the other hand, if you use software like Clean MyMac (you can download it here ) or MacKeeper (you can download it here and be sure to see also if it is worth buying it in our article ) your chances of having a malware are even smaller ones.
But let’s look at the 3 things that may be happening:
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Problem 1: Constant ads
This has happened to me: every time I visited a site, I saw ads that were not related to that site. When I went to the email, the same thing happened.
What to do?
In this case, you’re very likely to have a problem with Google Chrome. When you download some software that is not in the Mac App Store, some malware installs an extension to Google Chrome that constantly displays ads. Then the creators of this extension end up making money from ads.
To resolve this issue, you’ll have to go to the extensions part of Google Chrome. Check out the image below how to do it:
Then search for an extension you do not know and delete it. You’ll see the ads will stop appearing.
Problem 2: Mac Slowdown
Another clear sign that your Mac may be infected is its slowness. If it is too slow, the chances of it being malware are high. However, it’s important that you do not confuse viruses with your Mac’s problems such as your old age, too many apps or even too many files, which will obviously make your Mac slower.
What to do?
To make the Mac faster, the best you can do is read this article. In it, we explained 14 tips that will make your Mac much faster. Apply all of them, and if your problem is not malware, I’m sure your computer will be faster.
Another thing that will surely make it faster is to exchange an HD disk for an SSD. I did this on my Mac and the change is from day to night.
Problem 3: You really have malware!
After following the previous steps and nothing changes, it’s time to test the truth: does your Mac even have a virus? The best way to do this is by using some free applications that test your machine.
What to do?
Within the various options on the market, these are the best:
- MacKeeper: This is the best option. In just a few seconds, it indicates whether your Mac is infected and still gives you the option to remove the virus with relative ease ( click here to download )
- BitDefender Virus Scanner for Mac: Completely free. It will not eliminate the infections for you. However, it indicates where they are in the Finder so you can remove them ( click here to download )
- Malwarebytes: Search and eliminate good number of malware. Your test is fast and worth checking. However, some users seem to be experiencing some issues with it lately ( click here to download )
- ClamXAV: Another very effective software. However, he has only a few days of testing. Then, if you want to buy the paid version, you will have to pay $ 30 ( click here to download )
Conclusion
Knowing if your Mac has a virus is up to you. However, by following these 3 steps, I believe you are closer to leaving your Apple computer virus free!
Enjoy and check out other Apptuts articles about Mac: