Cleaning your MacBook from viruses

Malicious programs for Apple computers experienced their best period in mid-2010. Since the beginning of the 90s, a few utilities have appeared that can harm “the most virus-resistant” computers. Despite the low coverage, their creators have been able to disturb MacBook users a lot. Often programs of this kind, created by craftsmen, stole the data of credit cards of users. But there were also joke applications that simply displayed images on the screen.

Even Mac OS-based computers require protection against virus infection.

Today, the most common malware hits browsers. These are not viruses as such - rather, intrusive advertising, which is aggressively embedded in individual programs. But no one is immune from the release of another serious spyware module. That is why, among the “Yablochnik”, after stormy discussions and actions of large companies, full-fledged anti-viruses began to appear.

Potential threats for macOS

Among recent such viruses can be noted:

  1. This is the so-called bootkit. It is being implemented not even in the OS itself, but in EFI, gaining full control over the system and all running programs. If you remove the operating system, Thunderstrike will continue to "live" on the computer. Remove the virus is very problematic. It is much easier to prevent infection.
  2. If your laptop is infected, it makes sense to check other compatible devices. Suppose WireLurker can be transferred via USB to Apple devices. A malicious code is copied via MacBook, which allows attackers to send messages via the phone, view the address book and do other dirty tricks.
  3. Thunderstike 2 has recently caused a real panic among fans of macOS. This vandal program can transmit itself literally through all existing communication channels. From the activities of this malicious software, even Apple employees suffered. The vulnerability used by the program has not yet been closed. The second version of Thunderstrike is known since August 2016.

Threat Prevention

To protect your Macbook from viruses, you need to check the operation of some functions:

  1. If the automatic update of the system is off, immediately turn it on. Apple pays a lot of attention to the “patches”, making work safer with every update.
  2. Use for your daily work an account without full rights (normal user account).
  3. FileVault technology helps you encrypt data on your hard disk or SSD. This will be useful if the device is stolen.

  4. Regularly use the Password Manager. "Keychain" will allow you to safely store all passwords on your computer using a single master key. His request will warn you if the malicious code will be launched.
  5. Do not disable the firewall in the operating system. Check his work regularly.

Even all of these actions will not save the PC from malicious code on the network. Do not forget to check yourself sometimes. If you see messages in your browser like:

“This attachment contains executable code. Run?

or

“The program is trying to access system files. Allow? "

Feel free to reject them by clicking "No". High computer literacy will help you to avoid elementary mistakes in work.

IMPORTANT. The danger can be the so-called pseudo-antivirus. Have you heard the name of the program manufacturer before? Do you trust him? If not, do not use antivirus software.

Remove dangerous programs and files

Appliances Apple is quite expensive. But you can check it for threats and clean the file system from “hostile” files for free.

  1. Widespread free antivirus. It has a security system with two levels - for files on hard drives and for the Internet. The program keeps up with the times, therefore it has many adherents.
  2. Rustic, but clear and effective software. It adequately copes with its tasks.
  3. Sophos Home Edition. Other versions of Sophos are free. This release is enough for good protection in the network.
  4. Like Avast, it is quite popular among Windows users. Fully automated and easy to learn. Supports verification of individual items.

findings

In this article, we told you how to clean your Apple computer from potential threats. We considered what threats to security exist, how to deal with them and how dangerous they can be.

If you are unlucky to encounter malware on your Macbook, share it with our readers. Only together can we resist such threats!