Virus on my macbook

I went to school the other day and the computers there detected a virus on my flash drive. I came home got Norton and scanned the computer. It found about 3 instances of some form of "hacktool." At the same time my computer had been running really slowly, and laggy. After this subsequent find my computer ran like normal, but it has come back. I get the warning at school the computer starts running slow, then I do a full system scan and it finds 3 instances. I just removed all of the program access rights from the firewall, I have sharing off... Not sure what else could be causing reinfection. Thankfully it's a mac, so i'm a vector rather than a victim... but its really annoying that my computer starts running like crap.

I think it is safe to say that we need more information, if you have or can get it. What exact type of virus are you being warned about?
Are you running Windows on your Mac by any chance? You could have a Windows virus that is causing problems.
Do you have any anti-virus software on your computer? If not, you might want to consider it. I haven't been terribly impressed with any of the offerings on the market from Intego or Symantec, although Symantec is definitely better in my book. Another alternative comes from the makers of Avast! Antivirus...they have a Macintosh version of their product. I tried an early preview release and thought it looked promising at the time.
To get this cleaned up, you might need to scan your computer's disk from a known clean machine so all the problems can be removed when they are not active. This does carry some risk of transferring the virus, but it can work better than trying to battle a "live" virus when it's in your software and doesn't want to let go.
If you find that the so-called "hacktool" you have picked up is a member of a software family known as a "rootkit", well, it's time to erase your computer, reinstall your software from trusted media (that isn't infested) and restore your data files after making sure they are not infested. Rootkits are (typically) malicious programs that go to great lengths to conceal themselves by patching the operating system to hide their presence. You may never be able to completely remove one once you have it.

Similar Messages

  • How do I get rid of viruses on my MAcBook Pro

    How do I get rid of viruses on my MAcBook Pro

    A
    It may not be malware, a Web scam that only affects your browser, and only temporarily. There are several ways to recover.
    1. Some of those scam pages can be dismissed very easily. Press the key combination command-W to close the tab or window. A huge box will pop up. Press the return key and both the box and the page will close. If that doesn't happen, continue.
    2. Press and hold command-W. You may hear repeating alert sounds. While holding the keys, click the OK button in the popup. A different popup may appear, which you can cancel out of as usual.
    3. From the Safari menu bar, select
              Safari ▹ Preferences... ▹ Security
    and uncheck the box marked Enable JavaScript. Leave the preferences dialog open.
    Close the malicious window or tab.
    Re-enable JavaScript and close the preferences dialog.
    4. If the Preferences menu item is grayed out, quit Safari. Force quit if necessary. Relaunch it by holding down the shift key and clicking its icon in the Dock. None of the windows and tabs will reopen.
    After closing the malicious page, from the menu bar, select
              Safari ▹ Preferences... ▹ Privacy ▹ Remove All Website Data
    to get rid of any cookies or other data left by the server. Open your Downloads folder and delete anything you don't recognize.
    B
    If the above step doesn't solve the problem, you may have installed one or more of the common types of ad-injection malware. Follow the instructions on this Apple Support page to remove it. It's been reported that some variants of the "VSearch" malware block access to the page. If that happens, start in safe mode by holding down the shift key at the startup chime, then try again.
    Back up all data before making any changes.
    One of the steps in the article is to remove malicious Safari extensions. Do the equivalent in the Chrome and Firefox browsers, if you use either of those. If Safari crashes on launch, skip that step and come back to it after you've done everything else.
    If you don't find any of the files or extensions listed, or if removing them doesn't stop the ad injection, ask for further instructions.
    Make sure you don't repeat the mistake that led you to install the malware. It may have come 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 would probably have included 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 you ever download a file that isn't obviously what you expected, delete it immediately.
    Malware is also found on websites that traffic in pirated content such as video. If you, or anyone else who uses the computer, visit such sites and follow prompts to install software, you can expect more of the same, and worse, to follow. Never install any software that you downloaded from a bittorrent, or that was downloaded by someone else from an unknown source.
    In the Security & Privacy pane of System Preferences, select the General tab. The radio button marked Anywhere  should not be selected. If it is, click the lock icon to unlock the settings, then select one of the other buttons. After that, don't ignore a warning that you are about to run or install an application from an unknown developer.
    Still in System Preferences, open the App Store or Software Update pane and check the box marked
              Install system data files and security updates (OS X 10.10 or later)
    or
              Download updates automatically (OS X 10.9 or earlier)
    if it's not already checked.

  • How do i virus check my macbook pro?

    I need to virus check my macbook pro, can anyone  tell me how? Thanks.

    Use ClamXav.   
    17" 2.2GHz i7 Quad-Core MacBook Pro  8G RAM  750G HD + OCZ Vertex 3 SSD Boot HD 
    Got problems with your Apple iDevice-like iPhone, iPad or iPod touch? Try Troubleshooting 101

  • I think i have a virus on my Macbook Pro, OS X Yosemite, how do i wipe my computer clean without erasing photos and music etc?

    i think i have a virus on my Macbook Pro, OS X Yosemite, how do i wipe my computer clean without erasing photos and music etc?

    The update alerts are fake, and are intended to dupe you into installing malware or disclosing private information so that your identity can be stolen.
    You might get the alerts when visiting a website that has been hacked. Don't visit the site again. If applicable, notify the site administrator of the problem, but don't send email to an unknown party.
    If you get the alerts when visiting more than one well-known website, such as Google, YouTube, or Facebook, then they may be the result of an attack on your router that has caused you to get false results from looking up the addresses of Internet servers. Requests sent to those sites are redirected to a server controlled by the attacker. It's possible, but less likely, that the DNS server used by your ISP has been attacked.
    Back up all data.
    Unlock the Network preference pane, if necessary, by clicking the lock icon in the lower left corner and entering your password. Cllck Advanced, open the DNS tab, and change the server addresses to the following:
              8.8.8.8
              8.8.4.4
    That's Google DNS. Click OK, then Apply.
    In Safari, select
              Safari ▹ Preferences... ▹ Privacy ▹ Remove All Website Data
    and confirm. If you’re using another browser, empty the cache. Test. If the fake update alerts stop, see below. Otherwise, ask for instructions.
    The router's documentation should tell you how to reset it to the factory default state. Usually there's a pinhole switch somewhere in the back. It may be labeled "RESET." Insert the end of a straightened paper clip or a similar tool and press the button inside for perhaps 15 seconds, or as long as the instructions specify.
    After resetting the router, quit the web browser and relaunch it while holding down the shift key. From the Safari menu bar, select
              Safari ▹ Preferences... ▹ Privacy ▹ Remove All Website Data
    and confirm. Do the equivalent if you use another browser. Open the Downloads folder and delete anything you don't recognize.
    Then go through the router's initial setup procedure. I can't be specific, because it's different for every model. The key points are these:
    1. Don't allow the router to be administered from the WAN (Internet) port, if it has that option. Most do.
    2. Set a strong password to protect the router's settings: at least ten random upper- and lower-case letters and digits. Don't use the default password or any other that could be guessed. Save the password in your keychain. Any password that you can remember is weak.
    3. If the router is wireless, or if you have a wireless access point on the network, use "WPA 2 Personal" security and set a different strong password to protect the network. If the router or access point doesn't support WPA 2, it's obsolete and must be replaced.
    During the time the router was compromised, you were redirected to bogus websites. If you ever connected to a secure site and got a warning from your browser that the identity of the server could not be verified, and you dismissed that warning in order to log in, assume that your credentials for the site have been stolen and that the attacker has control of the account. This warning also applies to all websites on which you saw the fake update alerts.
    Check the router manufacturer's website for a firmware update.
    If you downloaded and installed what you thought was a software update, ask for instructions.

  • Is this a Virus on my macbook

    My macbook was recently running slow when on safari and I had stupidly downloaded one of this adobe updates prior to this so I am assuming that this was the result of it running slow.
    From looking at different forums I downloaded the ClamXAV app to run a check on any virus on my macbook.  It has returned 73 infected files.  They look more like email phising virus.  They range from :
    Filename
    Infection Name
    Status
    /Users/kellymac79/Downloads/VideoPerformerSetup-1.exe
    Win.Trojan.Installbrain-26
    Filename
    Infection Name
    Status
    /Users/kellymac79/Library/Mail/V2/[email protected]@imap.tools.sky.com/[Gmail].mbox/All Mail.mbox/FDA8FE41-5D1A-47BE-94ED-364379796D14/Data/0/6/Messages/60510.emlx
    Heuristics.Phishing.Email.SpoofedDomain
    Filename
    Infection Name
    Status
    /Users/kellymac79/Library/Mail/V2/[email protected]@imap.tools.sky.com/[Gmail].mbox/All Mail.mbox/FDA8FE41-5D1A-47BE-94ED-364379796D14/Data/1/6/Messages/61132.emlx
    Email.Phishing.Blackhole-6
    Filename
    Infection Name
    Status
    /Users/kellymac79/Library/Mail/V2/[email protected]@imap.tools.sky.com/[Gmail].mbox/All Mail.mbox/FDA8FE41-5D1A-47BE-94ED-364379796D14/Data/8/Messages/8004.emlx
    Email.Trojan-234
    and other files which are similar.
    What should I do.  Should I delete them myself or set up a quarantine folder.  If I do either of these will I then put them on my hard drive?
    Im not technical at all so any help would be greatly appreciated.
    Many thanks

    Kellyfromrenfrew wrote:
    I downloaded the ClamXAV app to run a check on any virus on my macbook.  It has returned 73 infected files.  They look more like email phising virus.
    For fastest, most efficient answers to questions such as these, come to the ClamXav Forum.
    Since most of the ones you listed were e-mail messages you need to know this:
    Never use ClamXav (or any other A-V software) to move (quarantine) or delete e-mail. It will corrupt the mailbox index which could cause loss of other e-mail and other issues with functions such as searching. It may also leave the original e-mail on your ISP's e-mail server and will be re-downloaded to your hard drive the next time you check for new mail.
    So, if you choose to "Scan e-mail content for malware and phishing" in the General Preferences, make sure you do not elect to either Quarantine or Delete infected files.
    When possibly infected e-mail files are found:
    Highlight the entry in the ClamXav window's top pane that needs to be dealt with.
    Right-click/<Control>-click on the entry.
    Select "Reveal In Finder" from the pop-up menu.
    When the window opens, double-click on the file to open the message in your e-mail client application.
    Read the message and if you agree that it is junk/spam/phishing then note the date and subject of the message and close the e-mail window.  Now, using your e-mail client, locate that message in whatever mailbox folder it was found in and delete the message using the delete button.  Reading it is especially important when the word "Heuristics" appears in the infection name.If you disagree and choose to retain the message, return to ClamXav and choose "Exclude From Future Scans" from the pop-up menu.
    If this is a g-mail account and those messages continue to show up after you have deleted them in the above manner, you may need to log in to webmail using your browser, go to the "All Mail" folder, find the message(s) and use the delete button there to permanently delete them from the server. Then check the "Trash" folder and delete them there.

  • HT1338 can I harbor a virus on my Macbook Air?

    Can I have a virus on my Macbook Air? Are there any?

    You can possibly harbour a Windows virus received in an email, but there are no viruses that can affect OS X.
    Other forms of malware are another matter. For full details:
    You will find this User Tip on Viruses, Trojan Detection and Removal, as well as general Internet Security and Privacy, useful:
    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2435
    The User Tip (which you are welcome to print out and retain for future reference) seeks to offer guidance on the main security threats and how to avoid them.
    More useful information can also be found here:
    http://www.reedcorner.net/mmg/

  • Can anybody recommend an anti-virus for my macbook pro

    Can anybody recommend an anti-virus for my macbook pro
    I have started to get attachments to my fsmail account from known sites but when opened I'm greeted by a a sentence in French that has the words orange and virus in it. Unfortunately I cannot speak French so are unsure what it is. I believe that my email and possibly my computer has been attacked?
    Any views recommendations would be most welcome.
    Trevor

    This forum is for questions about the Communities themselves. You'll usually be more likely to get a quick and helpful answer if you post in the  forum dedicated for your product. Anyway, my standard antivirus spiel:
    At this time there have been no confirmed Mac OS X viruses (subject to the semantic debate about whether the old iChat exploit, now long since blocked, was properly classified as a virus or a trojan horse, and not counting the Word macro virus that can affect Office v.X or non-updated copies of Office 2004), very few trojans and no adware or spyware. I therefore do not feel that antivirus or antispyware software is necessary at this time as long as users are careful about what they download from the Internet or accept as attachments via email.
    The most common exploit is a recent outbreak of "scareware" that people are encountering while web surfing. This "scareware" pops up and claims that your system is infected with viruses, prompts you to download their "scanner", then tells you that you need to purchase their paid software to remove them. These fake applications, appearing by many names including Mac Defender, Apple Security Center, Apple Web Security, and many others, do nothing at all other than turn off the fake warnings once they have your money. DO NOT fall for these.
    Security precautions for Mac OS X mostly are common sense: don't download and run files from sites you don't know, don't fall for any "you have viruses" messages, don't double-click on attachments in emails you aren't expecting and/or from people you don't know, and make sure you password your system with a non-trivial password and keep that password secure. In addition, don't leave your system available in a public place and unattended where someone unauthorized could use it and potentially install malware (such a policy is also a precaution against theft).
    It is possible for a Mac user to inadvertently forward a Windows virus to a PC user though you'd have to do it manually so the above precautions would probably prevent such virus-spreading, and said Windows virus cannot infect the Mac.
    If you do decide you wish to run antivirus software, I think that the donationware clamXav should be more than enough. iAntivirus has also been recommended by others, though I have no personal experience with it.
    If you are running Windows on your system, either via BootCamp, Parallels Workstation or another solution, then that copy of Windows is subject to all the myriad exploits common to the Windows world, so you need to take full precautions, including running both antivirus and antispyware software.
    Regards.
    Message was edited by: Dave Sawyer

  • I Do I need an anti-virus for my macbook pro or not and which is the best anti-virus for it if needed and i can download it from which site?

    Hello everyone.I just wanted to know that do i need an anti virus for my macbook pro and if yes then which is the best anti-virus for it and i can download the anti-virus software from which site? Thanks for everyones help for my previous question..it really helped me.

    There's no know virus that can impact a Mac, but if you run Windows via Parallels or Boot Camp then you're just as vulbnerable as any PC user.
    If you want to scan your system to be sure check out the free utilities ClamXav and Sophos Anti Virus

  • I have a Java/CVE-2010-94 virus on my macbook pro. Can Someone help me fix this?

    I used Virus Barrier Express that I downloaded from the App Store and it found a virus named Java/CVE-2010-94. I ran Virus Barrier Express again after I prssed the "fixed it" button; however, i'm not sure if this virus or any other virus is still on my MacBook Pro. Can someone please help me know if i'm safe to use my Mac?
    *The first sign of any type of virus was when I was on a website and my screen froze. I couldn't move anything or press anything. Something popped up and told me to turn off the Mac. I had no choice and I did turn it off. I used my Virus Barrier Express to scan any viruses, but nothing appeared. It only appeared after I downloaded new updates yesterday.
    *I just did some research and it turned out to be a "kernel Panic". http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3742 I haven't encountered another one ever since so does that mean my Mac is safe now?

    Steven --
    Get rid of the VirusBarrier Express.  At this time, there are no Mac viruses.  All you're doing with that thing is slowing down your Mac.  Look in your VBE folder, to see if there's an UNinstaller.  I don't know why Apple is making these things available.  They're garbage, 98% of them.  Two good ones are ClamXav and Sophos.  But still, IMHO, they are unnecessary.
    Kernel Panics, on the other hand, are serious.  If you don't have any more of them, that's good.  If you have any more of them, come back and post your Panic report here. 
    Here's info on this virus, which should affect only PCs.
    http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/Threat/Encyclopedia/Entry.aspx?Name=Exp loit%3AJava%2FCVE-2010-0094.AA
    But the have some great advice to avoid malware:
    Take the following steps to help prevent infection on your computer:
    Enable a firewall on your computer.
    Get the latest computer updates for all your installed software.
    Use up-to-date antivirus software.
    Limit user privileges on the computer.
    Use caution when opening attachments and accepting file transfers.
    Use caution when clicking on links to web pages.
    Avoid downloading pirated software.
    Protect yourself against social engineering attacks.
    Use strong passwords.

  • I believe I have a virus on my macbook pro and do not know how to get rid of it.

    Well I was being stupid and trying to get free gems on clash of clans so i did the stupid little surveys and that is most likely where I got the virus from. Never doing that again. When ever i go onto google chrome or any browser a random page pops up about mac protector or something and when I try using ovoo, it instantly backs out and I cannot use it. so i do not know what to do and i am not sure if i am using ios 8.1.1 or 8.1.2. i have a macbook pro that i got 3 years ago

    There is no need to download anything to solve this problem. You may have installed a variant of the "VSearch" ad-injection malware.
    Malware is always changing to get around the defenses against it. These instructions are valid as of today, 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 a more recent discussion, or start a new one.
    The VSearch malware tries to hide itself by varying the names of the files it installs. To remove it, you must first identify the naming pattern.
    Triple-click the line below on this page to select it, then copy the text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination  command-C:
    /Library/LaunchDaemons
    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 named "LaunchDaemons" may open. Look inside it for two files with names of the form
              com.something.daemon.plist
    and
               com.something.helper.plist
    Here something is a variable word, which can be different in each case. So far it has always been a string of letters without punctuation, such as "cloud," "dot," "highway," "submarine," or "trusteddownloads." Sometimes the word is "apple," and then you must be especially careful not to delete the wrong files, because many built-in OS X files have similar names.
    If you find these files, leave the LaunchDaemons folder open, and open the following folder in the same way:
    /Library/LaunchAgents
    In this folder, there may be a file named
              com.something.agent.plist
    where the word something is the same as before.
    If you feel confident that you've identified the above files, back up all data, then drag just those three files—nothing else—to the Trash. You may be prompted for your administrator login password. Close the Finder windows and restart the computer.
    Don't delete the "LaunchAgents" or "LaunchDaemons" folder or anything else inside either one.
    The malware is now permanently inactivated, as long as you never reinstall it. You can stop here if you like, or you can remove two remaining components for the sake of completeness.
    Open this folder:
    /Library/Application Support
    If it has a subfolder named just
               something
    where something is the same word you saw before, drag that subfolder to the Trash and close the window.
    Don't delete the "Application Support" folder or anything else inside it.
    Finally, in this folder:
    /System/Library/Frameworks
    there may an item named exactly
                v.framework
    It's actually a folder, though it has a different icon than usual. This item always has the above name. Drag it to the Trash and close the window.
    Don't delete the "Frameworks" folder or anything else inside it.
    If you didn't find the files or you're not sure about the identification, post what you found.
    If in doubt, or if you have no backups, change nothing at all.
    The trouble may have started when you downloaded and ran an application called "MPlayerX." That's the name of a legitimate free movie player, but the name is also used fraudulently to distribute VSearch. If there is an item with that name in the Applications folder, delete it, and if you wish, replace it with the genuine article from mplayerx.org.
    This trojan is often found on illegal websites that traffic in pirated content such as movies. If you, or anyone else who uses the computer, visit such sites and follow prompts to install software, you can expect more of the same, and worse, to follow. Never install any software that you downloaded from a bittorrent, or that was downloaded by someone else from an unknown source.
    In the Security & Privacy pane of System Preferences, select the General tab. The radio button marked Anywhere  should not be selected. If it is, click the lock icon to unlock the settings, then select one of the other buttons. After that, don't ignore a warning that you are about to run or install an application from an unknown developer.
    Then, still in System Preferences, open the App Store or Software Update pane and check the box marked
              Install system data files and security updates (OS X 10.10 or later)
    or
              Download updates automatically (OS X 10.9 or earlier)
    if it's not already checked.

  • I think I may have a virus on my MacBook laptop, ran disk utility, "filesystem verify failed." Help!

    I'm running a MacBook laptop and thought I might have a virus b/c i was browsing online a couple of days ago when i clicked on a link that appeared to automatically start downloading a file. I tried to stop it from downloading by clicking "cancel" in the downloads box that came up, but it compleatly downloaded before i could hit cancel. No programs automatically opened and started runnning (that i could see), but I've noticed slow browsing since then.
    I ran the disk utility, "verify disk," to see if there were any problems. It came back with this error message: "First aid failed: Disk Utility stopped verifying "Macintosh HD" because the following error was encountered:
    Filesystem verify or repair failed"
    The text is black inside the verifying history box until the last three lines, which say in red:
    "Invalid node structure
    Volume check failed
    Error: Filesystem verify or repair failed."
    Does this mean I have a virus? Are there other things I can do to confirm that I do or do not have a virus? How do I fix this problem?
    I'm running Mac OS X 10.5.8.
    Many thanks for your advice/comments in advance.

    Probably because the directory on the disk is corrupt.
    The error "invalid node structure" is one that will take either DiskWarrior or a reformat to fix.
    It has not to with any malware.
    Allan

  • DO I need Anti-Virus for my Macbook Pro w/Retina Display?

    I am currently awaiting a MacBook Pro w/Retina Display and I am having an ongoing discussion with some work colleagues, since the Flashback Trojan appeared to infiltrate Mac's back in early 2012... DO I need Anti-Virus.. My argument is no, but everybody elses is yes!
    I would love to see some indepth feedback to send my PC lovers running!
    Thanks in advance.
    Regards,
    Joe

    1. This comment applies to malicious software ("malware") that's installed unwittingly by the victim of a network attack. It does not apply to software, such as keystroke loggers, that may be installed deliberately by an intruder who has hands-on access to the victim's computer. That threat is in a different category, and there's no easy way to defend against it. If you have reason to suspect that you're the target of such an attack, you need expert help.
    2. All versions of OS X since 10.6.7 have been able to detect known Mac malware in downloaded files. This feature is transparent to the user, but internally Apple calls it "XProtect." The recognition database is automatically updated once a day; however, you shouldn't rely on it, because the attackers are always at least a day ahead of the defenders.
    The following caveats apply to XProtect:
    It can be bypassed by some third-party networking software, such as BitTorrent clients and Java applets (see below.)
    It only applies to software downloaded from the network. Software installed from a CD or other media is not checked.
    3. Starting with OS X 10.7.5, there has been another layer of built-in malware protection, designated "Gatekeeper" by Apple. By default, applications and Installer packages downloaded from the network will only run if they're digitally signed by a developer with a certificate issued by Apple. Software certified in this way hasn't actually been tested by Apple (unless it comes from the Mac App Store), but you can be reasonably sure that it hasn't been modified by anyone other than the developer. His identity is known to Apple, so he could be held legally responsible if he distributed malware. For most practical purposes, applications recognized by Gatekeeper as signed can be considered safe.
    Gatekeeper has, however, the same limitations as XProtect, and in addition the following:
    It can easily be disabled or overridden by the user.
    A malware attacker could get control of a code-signing certificate under false pretenses, or could find some other way to evade Apple's controls.
    For more information about Gatekeeper, see this Apple Support article.
    4. Beyond XProtect and Gatekeeper, there’s no benefit, in most cases, from any other automated protection against malware. The first and best line of defense is always your own intelligence. All known malware circulating on the Internet that affects a fully-updated installation of OS X 10.6 or later takes the form of so-called "trojan horses," which can only have an effect if the victim is duped into running them. The threat therefore amounts to a battle of wits between you and the malware attacker. If you're smarter than he thinks you are, you'll win.
    That means, in practice, that you never use software that comes from an untrustworthy source. How do you know whether a source is trustworthy?
    Any website that prompts you to install a “codec,” “plug-in,” "player," "archive extractor," or “certificate” that comes from that same site, or an unknown one, is untrustworthy.
    A web operator who tells you that you have a “virus,” or that anything else is wrong with your computer, or that you have won a prize in a contest you never entered, is trying to commit a crime with you as the victim. (Some reputable websites did legitimately warn users who were infected with the "DNSChanger" malware. That exception to this rule no longer applies.)
    Pirated copies or "cracks" of commercial software are likely to be infected.
    Software of any kind downloaded from a BitTorrent or from a Usenet newsgroup is unsafe.
    Software with a corporate brand, such as Adobe Flash Player, must be downloaded directly from the developer’s website. No intermediary is acceptable.
    5. Java on the network (not to be confused with JavaScript, to which it's not related) is a weak point in the security of any operating system. If a Java web plugin is not installed, don't install one unless you really need it. If it is installed, you should disable it (not JavaScript) in your web browsers. Few websites have Java content nowadays, so you won’t be missing much. This setting is mandatory in OS X 10.5.8 or earlier, because Java in those obsolete versions has known security flaws that make it unsafe to use on the Internet. The flaws will never be fixed. Regardless of version, experience has shown that Java can never be fully trusted, even if no vulnerabilities are publicly known at the moment.
    Follow these guidelines, and you’ll be as safe from malware as you can reasonably be.
    6. Never install any commercial "anti-virus" or "Internet security" products for the Mac, as they all do more harm than good, even supposing that they do any good at all. If you need to be able to detect Windows malware in your files, use the free software ClamXav — nothing else.
    Why shouldn't you use commercial "anti-virus" products?
    Their design is predicated on the nonexistent threat that malware may be injected at any time, anywhere in the file system. Malware is downloaded from the network; it doesn't materialize from nowhere.
    In order to meet that nonexistent threat, the software modifies or duplicates low-level functions of the operating system, which is a waste of resources and a common cause of instability, bugs, and poor performance.
    By modifying the operating system, the software itself may create weaknesses that could be exploited by malware attackers.
    7. ClamXav doesn't have these drawbacks. That doesn't mean it's entirely safe. It may report email messages that have "phishing" links in the body, or Windows malware in attachments, as infected files, and offer to delete or move them. Doing so will corrupt the Mail database. The messages should be deleted from within the Mail application.
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    8. The greatest danger posed by anti-virus software, in my opinion, is its effect on human behavior. When people install such software, which does little or nothing to protect them from emerging threats, they get a false sense of security from it, and then they may behave in ways that expose them to higher risk. Nothing can lessen the need for safe computing practices.
    9. It seems to be a common belief that the built-in Application Firewall acts as a barrier to infection, or prevents malware from functioning. It does neither. It blocks inbound connections to certain network services you're running, such as file sharing. It's disabled by default and you should leave it that way if you're behind a router on a private home or office network. Activate it only when you're on an untrusted network, for instance a public Wi-Fi hotspot, where you don't want to provide services. Disable any services you don't use in the Sharing preference pane. All are disabled by default.

  • How do I clean a virus off my Macbook Pro?

    My MacBook Pro constantly has pop-ups and directs me to a new tab everytime i try to click on something on Safari. How can i prevent this from happening? I think it is a virus but I'm not completely sure. Please help! Thank you!

    Click here and follow the instructions, or if there’s a type of adware not covered by them on the computer, these ones. If you're willing to use a tool to remove it(you don't need to, but may find it easier), you can instead run Adware Medic; this link is a direct download.
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  • How do I get rid of a virus on my MacBook Pro?

    So I have had my MacBook Pro for about 4 years now and I just recently gotten a virus. I get a lot of pop up ads on sites (Sponsored by Vidx). I use Safari the most, if that has anything to do with it. However I do have Google Chrome installed as well and the ads will pop up on that as well. I get warnings from Safari saying:
    http://www.datady.net
    An error was detected on your computer. Please contact a certified technician at 1-844-839-7975 (Toll Free)
    or another on that I get looks like this:
    http://www.datacle.net
    Microsoft Detected Security Error due to suspicious Activity Found On Your Computer. Contact Microsoft Certified Professionals Live at 1-844-360-7100 (Toll Free)
    and lastly:
    http://www.boxera.net
    1) Windows Firewall Warning
    ***YOUR COMPUTER MAY HAVE ADWARE/ SPYWARE VIRUS***
    Call 855-972-8702 immediately for assistance on how to remove potential viruses. The Call is Toll Free.
    Possible network damages if potential viruses and not removed immediately.
    UNKNOWN
    DATA EXPOSED TO RISK:
    1. Your credit card details and banking information.
    2.Your email passwords and other account passwords.
    3.Your Facebook, Skype, AIM, ICQ and other chat logs.
    4. Your private photos, family photos, and other sensitive files.
    5.Your webcam could be accessed remotely by stalkers with a VPN virus.
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    Seeing these pop-up's means that you may have a virus installed on your computer which puts the security of your personal data at a serious risk. It's strongly advised that you call the number above and get your computer inspected before you continue using your internet, especially for shopping.
    Call 855-972-8702 immediately for assistance on how to perform your check. The call is toll-free.
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    1. That’s not a virus; it’s adware. Click here and follow the instructions, or if desired, run Adware Medic.
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  • Question RE: Security/Virus Program for Macbook Pro

    Greetings,
    I was wondering if you would recommend Avast 2014 Antivirus Software protection for the macbook pro. If not, is there any other programs and/or other applications I should know about or use to help with viruses and security? I was also considering Norton.
    Thank you in advance for any help and/or any advice.
    Christian

    Hi Christian,
    I was wondering if you would recommend Avast 2014 Antivirus Software protection for the macbook pro.
    Absolutely not. Older versions of Avast were garbage that would do nothing beneficial. Their most recent version is arguably malicious. Norton / Symantec is worse. Install none of that junk.
    You may be considering them due to a familiarity with their equivalent PC products, in which the case for advocating their use may be entirely different - I'm assuming that is the case since no knowledgeable Mac user would ever consider either product. For all I know their Windows PC products may be reputable.
    is there any other programs and/or other applications I should know about or use to help with viruses and security?
    "Anti-virus" software serves no purpose on a Mac and is a common cause of problems reported on this site. OS X already includes everything it needs to protect itself from viruses and malware. Automated means of protecting your Mac from malware are an ineffective defense against that threat. At best, they will provide a false sense of security, a threat all to itself.
    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, or to make it "shiny". Those claims are absurd.Such products are very aggressively marketed. They are all scams.
    Never install pirated or "cracked" software, software obtained from dubious websites, or other questionable sources.
    Illegally obtained software is almost certain to contain malware.
    "Questionable sources" include but are not limited to spontaneously appearing web pages or popups, download hosting sites such as C net dot com, Softonic dot com, Soft pedia dot com, Download dot com, Mac Update dot com, or any other site whose revenue is primarily derived from junk product advertisements.
    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.
    Java can be disabled in System Preferences.
    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":
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    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:
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    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.
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  • How do I get rid of Saveshare virus from a macbook pro

    My Macbook pro has become infected with saveshare virus since downloading OXS10.75. hOW DO i GET RID OF IT?

    Since I last posted on this topic, I have found a copy of the Savekeep adware. I don't know whether this might be related to Saveshare or not, but it could be. Also, leonmusic mentioned that it was caused by the Spigot adware.
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