Mac and a virus?

I tend to download stuff on my mac OSX partition. I was wondering if I downloaded a windows virus on my mac partiton can it affect my windows? I only use my windows partion to play video games but I have copied a file from my mac partition to my windows partition. Can a windows virus downloaded on a mac parition infect the windows parition of my hard drive? Whenever I use my windows computer my web browser keeps redirecting me to this sketchy website to download an flv player and i suspect that it's a virus. I have security essentials and I will run a scan later. Also If a virus is on windows can I harm my mac files?

Fyremyst wrote:
I was wondering if I downloaded a windows virus on my mac partiton can it affect my windows? I only use my windows partion to play video games but I have copied a file from my mac partition to my windows partition.
By default, it can't. OS X can't write in NTFS drives, and the Windows partition is formatted in NTFS, so there's no way that a virus can copy to the Windows partition.
Fyremyst wrote:
I have security essentials and I will run a scan later. Also If a virus is on windows can I harm my mac files?
It can't. The driver that allows you to read your OS X partition in Windows doesn't allow Windows to copy in your OS X partition

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I caught my first virus...is macprotector a real mac program or is it the virus masquirading as a virus protector...what program do i need to clean up my mac and keep viruses out

i caught a virus...is macprotector a real mac program or is it the virus masquerading as one?
i just bought the norton anti virus for mac and i'm still getting pop ups...etc
what is the best program for my macbook?

MacProtector and all of it's ilk (it's appeared under several names) is a scam and is lying to you. There are no viruses on your system, only the MacProtector "scamware". If you search the forums or the web for "Mac Defender", you'll find a lot of information about this scam along with instructions on how to remove it. Do not, under any circumstances, provide the crooks who created this garbage with any personal information, particularly not any credit card.
I don't know why Norton Antivirus isn't catching this, but it may be that it will block installation of the scamware but not remove it once installed.
Regards.
Message was edited by: Dave Sawyer

I've got OSX/Genieo.A virus on my mac and don't know how to get rid of it and why I have it

I've got OSX/Genieo.A virus on my mac and don't know how to get rid of it and w I have it

There is no need to download anything to solve this problem.
You installed the "Genieo" malware. The product is a fraud, and the developer knowingly distributes an uninstaller that doesn't work. I suggest the procedure below to disable Genieo. This procedure may leave a few small files behind, but it will permanently deactivate the malware (as long as you never reinstall it.)
Malware is always changing to get around the defenses against it. These instructions are valid as of now, as far as I know. They won't necessarily be valid in the future. Anyone finding this comment a few days or more after it was posted should look for more recent discussions or start a new one.
Back up all data before proceeding.
Step 1
Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:
/Library/Frameworks/GenieoExtra.framework
Right-click or control-click the line and select
          Services ▹ Reveal in Finder (or just Reveal)
from the contextual menu.
If you don't see the contextual menu item, copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. In the Finder, select
          Go ▹ Go to Folder...
from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. You won't see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.
A folder should open with an item named "GenieoExtra.framework" selected. Move that item to the Trash. You'll be prompted for your administrator password.
Move each of these items to the Trash in the same way:
/Applications/Genieo.app
/Applications/Reset Search.app
/Applications/Uninstall Genieo.app
/Library/LaunchAgents/com.genieo.completer.update.plist
/Library/LaunchAgents/com.genieo.engine.plist
/Library/LaunchAgents/com.genieoinnovation.macextension.plist
/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.genieoinnovation.macextension.client.plist
/Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.genieoinnovation.macextension.client
/usr/lib/libgenkit.dylib
/usr/lib/libgenkitsa.dylib
/usr/lib/libimckit.dylib
/usr/lib/libimckitsa.dylib
~/Library/Application Support/com.genieoinnovation.Installer
~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.genieo.completer.download.plist
~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.genieo.completer.update.plist
If there are other items with a name that includes "Genieo" or "genieo" alongside any of those listed above, move them as well. Some of these items will be absent, in which case you'll get a message that the file can't be found. Skip that item and go on to the next one.
Restart and empty the Trash. Don't try to empty the Trash until you have restarted.
Step 2
From the Safari menu bar, select
          Safari ▹ Preferences... ▹ Extensions
Uninstall any extensions you don't know you need, including ones called "Genieo" or "Omnibar," and any that have the word "Spigot" or "InstallMac" in the description. If in doubt, uninstall all extensions. Do the equivalent for the Firefox and Chrome browsers, if you use either of those.
Your web browser(s) should now be working, and you should be able to reset the home page and search engine. If not, stop here and post your results.
Make sure you don't repeat the mistake that led you to install this trojan. Chances are you got it from an Internet cesspit such as "Softonic" or "CNET Download." Never visit either of those sites again. You might also have downloaded it from an ad in a page on some other site. The ad has a large green button labeled "Download" or "Download Now" in white letters. The button is designed to confuse people who intend to download something else on the same page. If youever download a file that isn't obviously what you expected, delete it immediately.
You may be wondering why you didn't get a warning from Gatekeeper about installing software from an unknown developer, as you should have. The reason is that this Internet criminal has a codesigning certificate issued by Apple, which causes Gatekeeper to give the installer a pass. Apple could revoke the certificate, but as of this writing, has not done so, even though it's aware of the problem. This failure of oversight has compromised both Gatekeeper and the Developer ID program. You can't rely on Gatekeeper alone to protect you from harmful software.
Finally, be forewarned that when Genieo is mentioned on this site, the attacker sometimes shows up under the name "Genieo support." He will tell you to run a fake "uninstaller." As he intends, the uninstaller does not completely remove the malware, and is in fact malware itself.

Question: Do I need to run and anti virus program with MAC OSX Lion? Have heard different opinions! If so what would you recommend? Was looking at Sophos. Does anyone have any experience with this? Thanks

Question: Do I need to run and anti virus program with MAC OSX Lion? Have heard different opinions! If so what would you recommend? Was looking at Sophos. Does anyone have any experience with this? Thanks

Do I need to run and anti virus program with MAC OSX Lion? Have heard different opinions!
You will continue to hear different opinions here, where thoughts range everywhere between "anti-virus software is the evil spawn of Satan" to "anyone not running anti-virus software is a fool."
Truth is, this is still a very personal decision on a Mac. Depending on circumstances, it is still very easily possible to stay safe without using anti-virus software, but circumstances and personal preferences vary widely. Besides which, anti-virus software cannot even remotely provide you a guarantee of protection!
To learn how to stay safe (with or without anti-virus software), and how to decide whether to use anti-virus software, see my Mac Malware Guide.

Virus on my mac and network

Hi -
I'm a long time Mac user (currently using MacBook Air) but not so tech suvvy and unfortunately, so as my husband who is non Mac user.
My husband has this Dell laptop and had some issue with his computer and had paid for the help support from one of the MS certified technitians. Recently, this technitian guy called my husband and told him that his paid support service is just about to expire and encouraged him to renew the service. Before my husband decide to renew this contract, he told this guy to check his computer. And he found that my hubby's computer got viruses (of course, he has virus protection software from well-known company installed on his computer...). This is okay, I get that... BUT the technitian guy ran the diagnosis and found out that our home network also got viruse! and thru that network my Mac also got virus, he says.
As far as I know, my Mac runs fine. I know, basically, we don't really need to install any virus protection s/w on Mac unless you really want to. And I'm very caucious, so I don't download any suspecious things or don't access to any suspecious website, too. So it's really hard for me to believe what this guy says. SO, here's what I really want to do; Is there any way to check if I really have any virus on my Mac other than just to see anything acts funny? Another question, how can I check, if our network (only my husband computer and my Mac are connected to this network) is really infected by any virus? And more importantly, if they are inected, is there any way to fix it?
I really don't know, if this MS certified tech guy is telling me the truth or just lip sink (or even a lie!?) to make my husband to renew his service... My husband expects me to make a decision but with my limited knowledge (which unfortunately, more than what my husband knows... ah...). And moreover, I'm stunned by the fact (or totally lie) that my Mac has virus!!! Need your experts help!!!

BUT the technitian guy ran the diagnosis and found out that our home network also got viruse! and thru that network my Mac also got virus, he says.
He 'didnt tell the truth'. Ask him to name that virus.
Currently there are no genuine Mac virus' out in the wild woods of the net
Install ClamXaV for that "in case the sky falls and pigs fly" occurance.
ClamAV is currently tested daily in comparative tests against other antivirus products on Shadowserver. In 2011, Shadowserver tested over 25 million samples against ClamAV and numerous other antivirus products. Out of the 25 million samples tested.
its free
http://www.clamxav.com/

How do I temporarily turn off my Mac's firewall and/or virus protection so Carbonite can upload my data?

I downloaded Carbonite software to periodically back-up my data. But my Mac cannot contact the Carbonite server. I think this is because of my firewall or virus protection. How can I temporarily turn off my firewall and/or virus protection so Carbonite can upload all the data on my Mac? How will Carbonite be able to periodically upload my data when my firewall and virus protection are back on?
Zev

Watch out with Carbonite!
I found that it is not able to return many of the database for Apple products are not returned in a usable format.
I highly recommend that if you are going to use Carbonite that you test everything before commiting to it as your backup solution.
Allan

What is the best mac cleaner and anti virus for mac pro.

what is the best mac cleaner and anti virus for mac pro.

OS X already includes everything it needs to protect itself from viruses and malware. Keep it updated with software updates from Apple.
A much better question is "how should I protect my Mac":
Never install any product that claims to "speed up", "clean up", "optimize", or "accelerate" your Mac. Without exception, they will do the opposite.
Never install pirated or "cracked" software, software obtained from dubious websites, or other questionable sources. Illegally obtained software is almost certain to contain malware.
Don’t supply your password in response to a popup window requesting it, unless you know what it is and the reason your credentials are required.
Don’t open email attachments from email addresses that you do not recognize, or click links contained in an email:
Most of these are scams that direct you to fraudulent sites that attempt to convince you to disclose personal information.
Such "phishing" attempts are the 21st century equivalent of a social exploit that has existed since the dawn of civilization. Don’t fall for it.
Apple will never ask you to reveal personal information in an email. If you receive an unexpected email from Apple saying your account will be closed unless you take immediate action, just ignore it. If your iTunes or App Store account becomes disabled for valid reasons, you will know when you try to buy something or log in to this support site, and are unable to.
Don’t install browser extensions unless you understand their purpose. Go to the Safari menu > Preferences > Extensions. If you see any extensions that you do not recognize or understand, simply click the Uninstall button and they will be gone.
Don’t install Java unless you are certain that you need it:
Java, a non-Apple product, is a potential vector for malware. If you are required to use Java, be mindful of that possibility.
Disable Java in Safari > Preferences > Security.
Despite its name JavaScript is unrelated to Java. No malware can infect your Mac through JavaScript. It’s OK to leave it enabled.
Block browser popups: Safari menu > Preferences > Security > and check "Block popup windows":
Popup windows are useful and required for some websites, but popups have devolved to become a common means to deliver targeted advertising that you probably do not want.
Popups themselves cannot infect your Mac, but many contain resource-hungry code that will slow down Internet browsing.
If you ever see a popup indicating it detected registry errors, that your Mac is infected with some ick, or that you won some prize, it is 100% fraudulent. Ignore it.
Ignore hyperventilating popular media outlets that thrive by promoting fear and discord with entertainment products arrogantly presented as "news". Learn what real threats actually exist and how to arm yourself against them:
The most serious threat to your data security is phishing. To date, most of these attempts have been pathetic and are easily recognized, but that is likely to change in the future as criminals become more clever.
OS X viruses do not exist, but intentionally malicious or poorly written code, created by either nefarious or inept individuals, is nothing new.
Never install something without first knowing what it is, what it does, how it works, and how to get rid of it when you don’t want it any more.
If you elect to use "anti-virus" software, familiarize yourself with its limitations and potential to cause adverse effects, and apply the principle immediately preceding this one.
Most such utilities will only slow down and destabilize your Mac while they look for viruses that do not exist, conveying no benefit whatsoever - other than to make you "feel good" about security, when you should actually be exercising sound judgment, derived from accurate knowledge, based on verifiable facts.
Do install updates from Apple as they become available. No one knows more about Macs and how to protect them than the company that builds them.
Summary: Use common sense and caution when you use your Mac, just like you would in any social context. There is no product, utility, or magic talisman that can protect you from all the evils of mankind.

How can I reset my Mac to default settings? Or how can I reset it to a prior date? My Mac has a virus and I would like to get rid of it. I would appreciate your help concerning this matter.

How can I reset my Mac to default settings? Or how can I reset it to a prior date? My Mac has a virus and I would like to get rid of it. I would appreciate your help concerning this matter.

To restore it follow these instructions: What to do before selling or giving away your Mac.
Before you do the above check out the following;
Helpful Links Regarding Malware Problems
If you are having an immediate problem with ads popping up see The Safe Mac » Adware Removal Guide, AdwareMedic, or Remove unwanted adware that displays pop-up ads and graphics on your Mac - Apple Support.
Open Safari, select Preferences from the Safari menu. Click on Extensions icon in the toolbar. Disable all Extensions. If this stops your problem, then re-enable them one by one until the problem returns. Now remove that extension as it is causing the problem.
The following comes from user stevejobsfan0123. I have made minor changes to adapt to this presentation.
Fix Some Browser Pop-ups That Take Over Safari.
Common pop-ups include a message saying the government has seized your computer and you must pay to have it released (often called "Moneypak"), or a phony message saying that your computer has been infected, and you need to call a tech support number (sometimes claiming to be Apple) to get it resolved. First, understand that these pop-ups are not caused by a virus and your computer has not been affected. This "hijack" is limited to your web browser. Also understand that these messages are scams, so do not pay any money, call the listed number, or provide any personal information. This article will outline the solution to dismiss the pop-up.
Quit Safari
Usually, these pop-ups will not go away by either clicking "OK" or "Cancel." Furthermore, several menus in the menu bar may become disabled and show in gray, including the option to quit Safari. You will likely have to force quit Safari. To do this, press Command + option + esc, select Safari, and press Force Quit.
Relaunch Safari
If you relaunch Safari, the page will reopen. To prevent this from happening, hold down the 'Shift' key while opening Safari. This will prevent windows from the last time Safari was running from reopening.
This will not work in all cases. The shift key must be held at the right time, and in some cases, even if done correctly, the window reappears. In these circumstances, after force quitting Safari, turn off Wi-Fi or disconnect Ethernet, depending on how you connect to the Internet. Then relaunch Safari normally. It will try to reload the malicious webpage, but without a connection, it won't be able to. Navigate away from that page by entering a different URL, i.e. www.apple.com, and trying to load it. Now you can reconnect to the Internet, and the page you entered will appear rather than the malicious one.

Is really mac free of virus, plishing and so on ?

im new at mac and want to know if im safe ,is there realy no viruses or other thing to worry about?

There are no viruses, but that does not mean there is no malware, and phishing can bite anyone, regardless of OS. (Phishing involves fooling you to go to a site that looks like a real site and gets you to enter a password, giving hackers access to your account.)
For more information on this topic, see my Mac Malware Guide:
http://www.reedcorner.net/guides/macvirus
(Note that my pages contain links to other pages that promote my services, and this should not be taken as an endorsement of my services by Apple.)

How do I get rid of viruses that are on my mac and are slowing my computer down?

its really slowing up my computer and i have no clue how to get rid of them PLEASE HELP!!!

There are no viruses. There is a trojan you would have to download and run from strange websites. What makes you think the slowdown is due to a virus? Maybe you could provide some specific evidence.
Trojan War
If you discover a trojan program is running on your computer then look to the following information for assistance:
1. A recent discussion on the Apple Support Communities: MacDefender Trojan.
2. An excellent site devoted to Mac Malware: Macintosh Virus Guide
3. Another site for removing MacDefende, et.al.: MAC Defender Rogue Anti-Virus analysis and Removal
4. A new removal utility - MacDefenderKiller
5. And to protect against a recent variant, MacGuard.
Before you delete anything, we need your help. Some AV folks in our community need to analyze these files in order to protect others. Before you delete anything please consider doing the following: Upload either the original .zip file or the MacGuard application to http://www.VirusTotal.com. If either is not detected by ClamXAV, then also upload it to http://cgi.clamav.net/sendvirus.cgi. If you are uncomfortable doing this for any reason and can determine the URL of the site where you got it please send the link to [email protected].
Removing strange software can be a task. The following outlines various ways of uninstalling software:
Uninstalling Software: The Basics
Most OS X applications are completely self-contained "packages" that can be uninstalled by simply dragging the application to the Trash. Applications may create preference files that are stored in the /Home/Library/Preferences/ folder. Although they do nothing once you delete the associated application, they do take up some disk space. If you want you can look for them in the above location and delete them, too.
Some applications may install an uninstaller program that can be used to remove the application. In some cases the uninstaller may be part of the application's installer, and is invoked by clicking on a Customize button that will appear during the install process.
Some applications may install components in the /Home/Library/Applications Support/ folder. You can also check there to see if the application has created a folder. You can also delete the folder that's in the Applications Support folder. Again, they don't do anything but take up disk space once the application is trashed.
Some applications may install a Startup item or a Log In item. Startup items are usually installed in the /Library/StartupItems/ folder and less often in the /Home/Library/StartupItems/ folder. Log In Items are set in the Accounts preferences. Open System Preferences, click on the Accounts icon, then click on the LogIn Items tab. Locate the item in the list for the application you want to remove and click on the Delete [-] button to delete it from the list.
Some software use startup daemons or agents that are a new feature of the OS. Look for them in /Library/LaunchAgents/ and /Library/LaunchDaemons/ or in /Home/Library/LaunchAgents/.
If an application installs any other files the best way to track them down is to do a Finder search using the application name or the developer name as the search term. Unfortunately Spotlight will not look in certain folders by default. You can modify Spotlight's behavior or use a third-party search utility, Easy Find, instead. Download Easy Find at VersionTracker or MacUpdate.
Some applications install a receipt in the /Library/Receipts/ folder. Usually with the same name as the program or the developer. The item generally has a ".pkg" extension. Be sure you also delete this item as some programs use it to determine if it's already installed.
There are many utilities that can uninstall applications. Note that you must have this software installed before you install software you may need to uninstall. Uninstallers won't work if you install them after the fact. Here is a selection:
AppZapper
Automaton
Hazel
CleanApp
Yank
SuperPop
Uninstaller
Spring Cleaning
Look for them and others at VersionTracker or MacUpdate.
For more information visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQs on removing software and dealing with spyware and malware.
After removing all the components of the software you may have to restart the computer to fully disable the software. This will be the case when removing software that has installed a daemon. After the daemon has been removed you need to restart the computer to stop the daemon. Alternatively, you can kill the daemon process using the Terminal application or Activity Monitor.

Hi, I cannot restart or shut down my MAC and get the message Geneio.it installer is cancelling your request. Please shut down and retry. However, I cannot seem to exit that application and I have no idea where it came from. Thanks

Hi, I cannot restart or shut down my MAC and get the message Geneio.it installer is cancelling your request. Please shut down and retry. However, I cannot seem to exit that application and I have no idea where it came from. Thanks
Could this be a virus?

Hold down the Power button until the computer shuts down.
The Safe Mac » Adware Removal Guide - Genieo
The Safe Mac » Adware Removal Guide
Helpful Links Regarding Malware Protection
An excellent link to read is Tom Reed's Mac Malware Guide.
Also, visit The XLab FAQs and read Detecting and avoiding malware and spyware.
See these Apple articles:
          Mac OS X Snow Leopard and malware detection
          OS X Lion- Protect your Mac from malware
          OS X Mountain Lion- Protect your Mac from malware
          About file quarantine in OS X
If you require anti-virus protection Thomas Reed recommends using Dr.Web Light from the App Store. It's free, and since it's from the App Store, it won't destabilize the system. If you prefer one of the better known commercial products, then Thomas recommends using Sophos.(Thank you to Thomas Reed for these recommendations.) If you already use Sophos, then be aware of this if you are using Mavericks: OS X Mavericks- Sophos Anti-Virus on-access scanner versions 8.0 - 9.1 may cause unexpected restarts
From user Joe Bailey comes this equally useful advice:
The facts are:
1. There is no anti-malware software that can detect 100% of the malware out there.
2. There is no anti-malware that can detect anything targeting the Mac because there
     is no Mac malware in the wild, and therefore, no "signatures" to detect.
3. The very best way to prevent the most attacks is for you as the user to be aware that
     the most successful malware attacks rely on very sophisticated social engineering
     techniques preying on human avarice, ****, and fear.
4. Internet popups saying the FBI, NSA, Microsoft, your ISP has detected malware on
    your computer is intended to entice you to install their malware thinking it is a
    protection against malware.
5. Some of the anti-malware products on the market are worse than the malware
    from which they purport to protect you.
6. Be cautious where you go on the internet.
7. Only download anything from sites you know are safe.
8. Avoid links you receive in email, always be suspicious even if you get something
    you think is from a friend, but you were not expecting.
9. If there is any question in your mind, then assume it is malware.

My mac has a virus yes I'm 100% sure it is one i get al kinds of pop ups only in safari though please guide me on how to reset it or where to go from here in detail new to macs

My mac has a virus yes I'm 100% sure it is one i get all kinds of pop ups only in safari though please guide me on how to reset it or where to go from here in detail im new to macs

Please post a screenshot that shows what you mean. Be careful not to include any private information.
Start a reply to this message. Click the camera icon in the toolbar of the editing window and select the image file to upload it. You can also include text in the reply.

Help!!!!! How do I find out if my Mac has a virus

Help!!!!!! I was searching the web and some window popped out (Apple window) recommending that I download something to do with antivirus. I guess the website that I was about to visit had a virus. I clicked ok and the next thing I know some things started popping out that the website I guess had a virus and that (trojan and other stuff) oh and some window stuff popped out. However, I just pressed clear on everything quit Safari and nothing else has happened. How do I know if my Mac got a virus for sure. So far everything is fine but I just want to make sure. Anybody please, any suggestions!!!!!!
jarispe

That is web-phishing. You should avoid such sites. You don't have a virus. Turn on your browser's ad blocker which may help prevent such pop up windows from occurring.

How can I delete EVERY THING off my Mac and have it like new?

There are sites that I've viewed and programs I have downloaded that I NEED to delete completely from my computer!! Ie: Friends telling me that a program is free and has no viruses, but it does! Sites forwarded that are supposed sfw, but are not!!
I would like to DELETE EVERY THING off the computer and have it be like new.
I remember on my Dell PC if I hit f8 or f11 (can't remember which one) a screen would appear and if I chose option "Dell Factory Image Restore" it would DELETE EVERY THING off of the computer and have it like new - as if you just got it from Dell.
Is there anything like that for Macs?
Whether it be some where on the computer already?
Or if it's with the CDs that came with the Mac?
Message was edited by: georgebrobinson
Message was edited by: georgebrobinson

How can I delete EVERY THING off my Mac and have it like new?
Boot from the software install DVD and do an "erase and install" when prompted.

Hi, i would like to know if my mac has a virus

hi, i would like to know if my mac has a virus, ´cause in sometimes it works weird

Ralph is right (of course) about no virus.
What you are describing seems to be what might happen if all of the system's resources* are gobbled up.
*When I say "resources" - I mean memory (real and virtual), caching needs, CPU usage etc.
The web pages you describe have nothing to do with your Mac having been "infected", per se, but that kind of "Pop Over" "Pop Under" malicious JavaScript can certainly gpbble up resources. When you get the Web being mean to you, and have a lot of other APPs open too, you could max out your machine, especially if it is older like mine.
To help other members answer your question, give as many details as you can.
Include your Mac Model name and specs such as processor speed, memory, and storage capacity. Please do not include your Serial Number, IMEI, MEID, or other personal information.
Provide the version numbers of your operating system and relevant applications, for example "OS 10.4.11" , "Quicktime Player 7.6.4", "Safari 4.1.3"and any other apps you might have open when the misbehavior occurs.
Describe the problem in detail, and include step-by-step your actions that lead up to °each misbehavior.You seem to be describing at least TWO different bad behaviors
List any troubleshooting steps you've already tried, or temporary fixes you've discovered.
CCC
EDIT(added) Si quieres ser la publicación más cómodo en español, podemos usar Google Translate para entender mejor su respuesta,

Mac and a virus?

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