How to scan Mac for malware

Mac is often considered to be the most secure operating system but that doesn’t mean it is immune to malware and other malicious threat actors. As Apple has introduced new security measures to deter threat actors from entering its operating system for desktops and laptops, there have been new forms of threat that have impacted the Mac experience.

For most Mac users, the best option is to rely on the built-in security tools and features offered by the California-based company. But that doesn’t mean you take your Mac to be safe at all times. It is recommended you check whether a virus or malware has infiltrated your system without being detected from time to time.

MacBook virus scan: How to detect malware

Before you scan your Mac for malware, you should look out for these signs that indicate your Mac is infected. Here are the signs to look for on your MacBook:

Slow performance and overheating

One of the common indications of your Mac being infected with possible malware is a notable slowdown in performance. You can look into what’s causing your Mac’s slow performance via Activity Monitor on your Mac. To do this, go to Applications >> Utilities >> Activity Monitor and look through the list under the CPU tab of the Process Name field.

Unwanted pop-ups or browser extensions

Another sign of your Mac being infected with malware is if it’s showing unwanted pop-ups or browser extensions. You can stop this by restricting your Mac to only installing apps from the App Store when downloading new apps. While installing browser extensions, ensure you choose only trusted providers.

Unknown apps appearing on your Mac

If your Mac suddenly shows unknown apps then it might indicate that your system is infected with malware. You can remedy this by going to the Applications folder located in the left sidebar of Finder and looking for any apps you didn’t install yourself. Right-click an app you find to be suspicious and select Move to Trash.

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Suspicious system behaviour

If you see any other form of suspicious system behaviour then it might be time to scan your Mac for malware.

How to scan Mac for malware

Mac is built with XProtect, an anti-malware system that automatically scans and blocks known threats. This anti-malware tool works in the background and doesn’t provide an option to manually scan your system. However, you can manually scan your Mac for unwanted apps using Activity Monitor.

Scan your Mac for unwanted apps

Here are the steps to manually scan your Mac for unwanted apps:

• Step 1: Go to System Settings.
• Step 2: Click on Privacy & Security.
• Step 3: Navigate to Profiles and remove anything suspicious.
• Step 4: Open Applications and delete any apps you didn’t install.
• Step 5: Now, check Safari, Chrome, or Firefox extensions for unknown add-ons.

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Scan your Mac with Activity Monitor

Despite XProtect working in the background to keep your Mac malware-proof, some malware manages to hide in the background. They mostly consume resources and run unknown processes on your Mac. Here’s how to check for them and scan your Mac with Activity Monitor:

• Step 1: Open Activity Monitor by going to Finder >> Applications >> Utilities.
• Step 2: Look for suspicious processes using high CPU or RAM.
• Step 3: If you find any suspicious process, look them up.
• Step 4: Select the process and click “Quit” to stop it.

In addition to manually scanning your Mac for any malware, we recommend keeping your macOS updated. You should also avoid downloading software from untrusted sources, use a strong password, and enable two-factor authentication. Lastly, regularly scan your Mac for malware using the steps mentioned above and if needed download either a free or paid malware scanner for deep scanning your Mac.