Just a couple of years ago, MAC was considered quite safe and took pride in having virtually no viruses that could threaten its users. However, modern strides in standardization and the popularity of MAC devices made the online environment very hostile for MAC users. Let’s talk about viruses and other cyber-threats that you may encounter and how to remove them from your beloved Apple device.
Identify issues on your MAC
First and foremost, you will need to check whether you have an infected device on your hands:
– The ads are overly annoying and appear regularly even when you browse safe websites;
– You are constantly redirected to a website that you don’t want to visit;
– When you use your MAC, pop-ups appear from time to time and invite you to download some software.
These are typical symptoms of infestation. So, what do you do?
Uninstall unwanted software from your MAC
There are several steps that you must make to remove unwanted apps.
1. First, move them to the bin.
2. Delete files that are related to the apps that you just removed.
3. Check the user library for leftover files.
4. Delete extensions related to the app.
Here’s how you do it step-by-step:
1. All weird and unknown apps that appeared recently without your permission should be located and moved to the bin.
2. Remove the app from your hard drive. Go to the Finder and search for folders and files related to the app you just uninstalled. Check for them in folders called App Support and Preferences.
3. Go to the user’s library on your MAC by entering the COMPUTER submenu in the GO menu of the Finder.
4. Navigate to USERS/MAC/LIBRARY and search for leftover files and folders.
5. Now, to delete the app, you will need to open Finder once again and navigate your way to the COMPUTER/LIBRARY/EXTENSIONS. Look for extensions that are related to the app you moved to the bin before.
Removing undesired extensions that may corrupt your browser
1. Safari users must go to Preferences and go to Extensions. In the list, search for any unknown or recently appeared entries.
2. Google Chrome users should choose “More Tools” in the main menu and go to the Extensions tab. Remove unwanted entries by clicking the trash bin icon.
3. Firefox users must open the menu and look for the icon that resembles a piece of a puzzle. Go to the add-ons page and uninstall unwanted apps.
Remove viruses
You won’t be able to manually remove malicious software that knows how to hide from you. Install an antivirus program capable of cleaning your MAC from unwanted apps. Norton Antivirus, Kaspersky, and Avira are all solid choices.
