How to scan for viruses on Mac [2025]

Mac computers are not viral: symptoms, scans and removal methods

Although Mac computers have a powerful built-in security system, they can still be infected with malware. This article will introduce the symptoms of Mac virus infection, virus scanning methods, and methods to manually or with specialized tools to remove malware.

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What is a Mac virus?

Mac virus is a malware targeting macOS. Some viruses are just annoying, while others pose a real threat to your private information. For example, a browser hijacker will redirect you to a third-party website you don't intend to visit, while annoying adware will serve you banner ads and pop-ups. Ransomware will decrypt them by encrypting your files and taking them hostages and asking you to pay a ransom. When spyware sneaks into your computer, it monitors your behavior and steals sensitive information.

Signs of Mac virus infection

Before learning how to find malware on your Mac, check out the key signs of a Mac being infected with a virus. The most obvious red flag is that your Mac is running slowly – but don’t panic; your computer may experience performance problems for many reasons, including low memory, resource-intensive applications, and more. In addition to slow Mac running, viruses usually cause one of the following problems:

symptom	Solution	step
Mac running slow	Check for viruses	Using CleanMyMac: Protection > Scan
Unneeded applications/extensions	Uninstall suspicious items	Finder> Applications> Sort by date> Delete suspicious applications
The browser homepage has been changed	Remove malicious extensions	Safari: Preferences > Extensions > Uninstall Unwanted Extensions
Annoying ads and pop-ups	Check browser settings	Safari: Preferences > Extensions > Uninstall Adware
Received an exception message	Check Activity Monitor	Open Activity Monitor > Check Process > Stop Suspicious Process
Available disk space disappears	First run disk tool first rescue	Open Disk Utility > Select Drive > First Aid > Run
Unable to access the file	Restore backup	Finder> Location> iPhone> Manage Backup> Recover
Redirect to unwanted websites	Remove malicious extensions	Safari: Preferences > Extensions > Uninstall Unwanted Extensions
High CPU usage	Monitor CPU usage	Using iStat Menus and App Tamer
General virus and malware protection	Regular maintenance	Using CleanMyMac: Run regular intelligent maintenance scans and maintenance tasks

If your Mac experiences these symptoms, you need to run a virus scan.

How to automatically scan viruses and malware on your Mac

My preferred tool for virus detection and cleaning is CleanMyMac, which handles all types of malware. This is a powerful comprehensive application that works in all Mac situations and helps with its best performance. The app removes all harmful, junk or slows down your computer while keeping important files intact.

Here is how to check viruses on your Mac using CleanMyMac:

1. Download and open CleanMyMac.
2. Click "Protection" in the right panel.
3. Click Scan.

Scanning takes one to several minutes. If the application discovers any threats, click the Remove button immediately to delete them.

How to manually check and find malware on your Mac

Manual threat detection takes longer. You need to run multiple built-in Mac tools and clean various folders.

Check Activity Monitor

To manually scan for viruses, start with Activity Monitor, an application that tracks all running processes on your Mac. Your goal is to find suspicious viral processes. They usually consume a lot of resources, memory, power, etc.

1. Open the Activity Monitor.
2. Check each tab (CPU, Memory, Energy, Disk, Network).
3. Sort processes by activity. To do this, click the title of the first column on the far right.
4. Find and search for processes that look suspicious based on their resource usage or name.
5. If you find a malicious process, click the "X" button to stop it.

Note that stopping malicious processes won't delete them, but at least it can buy you time.

Another subtle thing is that viruses can mask their presence on a Mac, and then activity monitors may not detect them.

To monitor your Mac 24/7 and receive notifications about potentially harmful processes, I recommend two useful tools.

The first is App Tamer, which monitors CPU usage. If CPU usage exceeds a certain limit, you will be notified. Since malware can be very resource-intensive, you will know immediately after suspicious processes appear.

The second tool, iStat Menus, works similarly, but monitors more metrics: memory, disk, battery, sensors, etc. If memory pressure, sensor temperature, etc. exceed a certain level, you can set notifications. The app provides recommended values, but you can set your own. This way, if something goes wrong, you will get an alert and you can decide what to do next.

Uninstall suspicious apps

Malware is often masquerading as a regular application and may even have a familiar .dmg extension. Check if your Mac is hosting such thieves.

1. Go to Finder > Apps and sort the apps by modification date, with the latest apps at the top.

2. Find applications that you don't install or look suspicious and drag them to the Trash.

3. Return to the finder and select Go to > Go to Folder from the Application menu. Go to these locations one by one and delete the remaining files associated with the malicious application (they may have similar names):

   • ~/Library/Application Support
   • ~/Library/Preferences
   • ~/Library/LaunchAgents

4. Empty the wastebasket.

Be careful not to delete system files or files related to legitimate applications, as this may cause failure. For more instructions, check out our guide to learn how to quickly delete apps on your Mac.

Also, please note that Finder can only delete inactive applications. However, quitting a malicious application can be a problem. The malware can run undetected and it won't appear in the Activity Monitor or the list of applications when you try to initiate a forced exit. In this case, use CleanMyMac. Click Apps > Scan > Manage My Apps > Uninstall the program. Select the app you want to delete and click Uninstall. (Bolt AI in the screenshot is a great app – I just don't have malware on my Mac to use as an example!)

Delete suspicious login projects and configuration files

Some viruses can change settings so that they run immediately when you log in to your Mac. To find out if you have any of these viruses, check the login project: Apple Menu > System Settings > General > Login Project. Are there any items you haven't added or seem suspicious? If so, use the "—" button to delete it.

Similarly, viruses can lurk and will not appear in this window. In addition, virus software can also be disguised as a startup proxy. These are a micro-application that helps manage various processes on your Mac. They usually run autonomously and do not appear in the login project list.

However, CleanMyMac is very sensitive to these types of malware. To delete them, open CleanMyMac > Performance > Scan > View All Tasks > Log in to Projects. Select the suspicious application and click Delete.

The next location to check when searching for viruses is the configuration file. You can access them through the Apple menu > System Settings > Privacy & Security > Profiles (bottom).

Configuration files are like general rules that define what a Mac can and can't do. They may be "good" or "bad". For example, your company might set up a good rule that requires you to change your Mac password regularly. The "bad" virus profile can, for example, redirect traffic from the Mac and collect sensitive data through a proxy server.

Therefore, please check the installed profile and delete the profile you identified as dangerous.

Run antivirus scans on your Mac using built-in tools

At this point, after various manual settings, you might be wondering if there is an application for your Mac that can automatically scan for computer viruses. The short answer is no. The lengthy answers are as follows.

The Mac has a multi-layer security system and even has a built-in anti-virus tool called XProtect. But it doesn't have a user interface, so you can't actually "run" a Mac built-in virus scan with this tool. It always runs in the background and does not require activation. If you launch an application that XProtect thinks is malicious, it prompts you to uninstall it.

All you can do is follow the regular system updates. Go to System Settings > General > Software Updates > Automatic Updates and make sure the Install Security Response and System Files check box is enabled.

Note that XProtect, the built-in antivirus software in Mac, offers a good level of protection, but it is not protected from all serious threats. You will most likely need third-party anti-virus software.

Clear downloads and temporary files

The next step to manually neutralizing the malware is to clean up your downloads (as malicious files can be hidden there and even have .dmg extensions) and temporary files.

To clean up the downloads, go to Finder > Download and delete any suspicious content.

For temporary files, the process is as follows.

1. Open the terminal (find it in Finder> Application).
2. Type the command open $TMPDIR and press Enter.
3. Delete the folder in the open window.

Temporary files are usually safe to delete, but if you are not sure, it is best to use a professional cleanup program.

Check browser extensions

The last step is to check the browser extension. Malicious extensions can be the reason you are bombarded by ads, accidentally changed your homepage, or even collect your personal information.

View the extensions in each browser you use and remove those that look suspicious, unnecessary, or that you do not install.

Safari

Open Safari and click Safari in the Application menu (top left corner of the screen). Then go to the Preferences > Extensions tab. To uninstall, select an extension and click Uninstall.

Chrome

Open Chrome and type chrome://extensions in the address bar.

Alternatively, click on the three dots in the upper right corner of the Chrome window and select Extensions > Manage Extensions. Click Delete to delete unwanted extensions.

Firefox

Open Firefox and type about:addons in the address bar.

Alternatively, click the burger button in the upper right corner, select Add-ons and Themes, and select Extensions on the left.

To delete an extension, click the three dots next to it, and then click Delete.

How to scan Mac viruses online

When researching malware topics, you may encounter the offer to scan for Mac viruses online. I should warn you that this is a scam. It is impossible to scan an entire Mac efficiently and securely with web services. Web-based tools do not have full access to the Mac's file system and should not try to do so. High-quality virus scanning can only be achieved through reliable software installed on your Mac.

How to protect your data from Mac viruses

Now that you know how to run antivirus software on your Mac and remove malware, the only thing left is how to prevent infection and protect your data. Here are some key ideas.

Backup your Mac

It is best to back up your entire Mac or important files. To do this, you can use the built-in Time Machine app. Here is how to back up your Mac:

1. Connect to a portable hard drive.
2. Go to Apple Menu > System Settings > General > Time Machine.
3. Add a backup disk and follow the instructions.

If you don't have any other options, Time Machine is a great tool. But its backup compression is insufficient and takes up a lot of space. Additionally, it backs up the entire Mac by default, and you have to adjust the settings to copy a single file.

I like Time Machine, but I prefer another tool, Get Backup Pro, which backs up a single important file and its archive footprint is reduced by up to 60%.

Here is how to back up your Mac using Get Backup Pro:

1. Open the application and select the backup type.
2. Click the “ ” button in the lower left corner to create a new project.
3. Specify the backup source and destination.
4. Click File or Application Data to add the data you want to back up.
5. Click the backup button to start.

Wait for the process to complete, that's it - your file has been saved.

Regularly update software and operating systems

The latest software versions have the latest security fixes, so they provide better protection. I suggest you enable automatic system and application updates: System Settings > General > Software Updates > Automatic Updates. Click the “i” button and open the switch in this window.

Use firewalls and other security measures

Sometimes the simplest things can lead to the biggest problem. Here are some things you can do right away, which will take less than 30 seconds to protect your Mac from viruses.

1. Go to Apple Menu > System Settings > Network.
2. Click on the firewall and make sure it is turned on.

Focus on new virus threats and updates

Finally, always focus on information about potential Mac virus threats. Subscribe to one or two trusted cybersecurity resources or newsletters to stay informed. This should be enough.

How to scan for Mac viruses: Solved

So if your Mac is infected with a virus, you have two options: find and delete the virus manually, or use a third-party malware scanner. Because the built-in protection of the Mac is very powerful, it may be enough to delete infected applications as well as related files or malicious browser extensions.

For deeper cleaning, or if the built-in tools cannot detect viruses, use CleanMyMac (a Mac maintenance app) and a powerful Mac malware scanner. It will completely scan your computer, detect threats and clean up the system thoroughly.

iStat menu and App Tamer are other tools that help you monitor your Mac's health and performance. When your Mac is overloaded (usually when it is infected with a virus), they alert you and help you find the culprit.

All of these apps are available on Setapp, as well as dozens of other tools for macOS and iOS. Free trial for 7 days without any restrictions or ads.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Mac have a built-in virus scanner?

Yes, Mac has a built-in virus scanner called XProtect. It doesn't have a user interface like a regular application. It runs in the background and does not require any user interaction.

Will your Mac be infected with the virus?

Yes, even if your Mac has a built-in security system, it can be infected with malware.

Will Macbooks get viruses from websites?

Yes, Macs can get infected with malware from websites, especially by downloading infected files, phishing attacks, or vulnerabilities in the browser itself.

Is it possible that there is a virus on my Mac without any symptoms?

Yes, the virus can lurk on a Mac without any symptoms. Some malware is designed to run silently and steal your data. Install CleanMyMac and run Mac malware scans regularly to keep your Mac safe.

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