How To Detect and Remove Spyware On Mac

In today’s digital era, you might be aware of the fact that a person needn’t be physically present to spy on your Mac data. By injecting software, a hacker can steal various files on your Mac that include photos, documents, audio and video files, passwords, and whatnot.

Quite Recently, XLoader spyware was found tricking users into giving passwords, it even collected keystrokes, harvested screenshots, and did much more.

And, let us tell you, spyware is not just confined to Windows, indeed, hackers are even feeding on Mac. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that you track spyware at the earliest before hackers devour your precious data.

Some indications might tell you that Spyware has tightened its claws on your Mac. Here we’ll list down all such indications and we’ll even tell you ways to find and remove spyware.

Mac Spyware Indications –

If you observe the following signs on your Mac, make spyware removal your topmost priority

• Has your Mac suddenly become very slow?
• Can’t access files or see warnings and notes?
• Are you bombarded with security alerts even though you haven’t scanned your Mac?
• Are there apps that you didn’t install?
• Is your browser filled with extensions and homepages that you didn’t add?

In case the answer to any of these questions is a yes, scan your Mac for spyware as soon as possible.

Also Read: How‌ ‌to‌ ‌Protect ‌Your‌ ‌Identity‌ ‌on‌ ‌Mac‌ ‌in‌ ‌2021‌

How To Remove Mac Spyware Or Stay Away From It

Check Spyware Via Recent Items

Spyware on Mac is infamous for accessing items without you even having a clue that items are being accessed. And, you can catch hold of such activity by following the steps mentioned below –

1. Click on the Apple logo on present at the top left corner of the screen
2. Click on Recent Items
3. Look at all the recent items or the items that you last accessed

Now, if you find that there is any item that you did not access, chances are there is Spyware on your Mac.

Never Ever Click On Suspicious Links Or Attachments

You may receive suspicious links, texts, or email attachments. You should never click on such links or attachments, leave alone downloading them. You should delete such emails and messages right away. Do read our post on how you can spot a malicious email attachment.

Download an Anti-Malware App

Before we pursue any further manual ways, it is of utmost importance that you act upon fast before the Spyware causes any further destruction. And, that’s something that only a specialist Anti-spyware app can do. For instance, Intego Antivirus comprehensively checks your Mac for spyware and other malicious threats and removes them promptly.

How Does Intego Antivirus For Mac Work?

You can follow the steps below and scan your Mac for Spyware –

STEP 1 – Download Intego Antivirus using the button provided below:

STEP 2 – The latest version arrives with multiple applications for executing different security and optimization tasks. Hence, you get to enjoy six different apps on your Mac, instead of just one.

STEP 3 – Navigate to the VirusBarrier app and let the security solution run a real-time scanning engine that holds the capability to shield your device against new and old malware threats, viruses, adware, spyware, rootkits, worms, trojan horse and more.

STEP 4 – Run the Full Scan and as the result appears you can get rid of every potential infection in one click.

Additionally, you get the ability to schedule scans and switch to the Safe Browsing mode to prevent yourself from visiting fraudulent and harmful websites.

Upgrade Your Mac’s To The Latest Version

With every update, Apple patches vulnerabilities and introduces new built-in tools to remove spyware. So, here’s how you can update your Mac –

1. Click on the Apple menu
2. Click on About this Mac
3. Next, select Software Update. In case your Mac’s not running the latest version, you will see a pending software update.
4. Click Upgrade Now and follow on-screen instructions

Get Rid of Malicious Applications

Malicious apps are known to sneak into even the most trusted Mac App Store (although that’s not very common), but if one app does, you never know it might record your browser activity, capture your keystrokes, read your instant messenger messages (messages from Skype, iMessage, Gmail, Viber, Hangout, so on and so forth) and not to mention spy or even steal your files. So, how do you get rid of such applications?

One of the ways you can track a suspicious application is to simply check the Applications folder and see if there is an application that you are not aware of or that you didn’t install. The right course of action is to uninstall that application immediately.

But, would dragging that application to trash suffice? No! Chances are it would still leave remains.

So, there are apps that can help you remove apps completely. For instance, CleanMyMac X is one of the best Mac clean-up utilities that can help you get rid of applications completely.

How To Uninstall An Application Completely Using CleanMyMac X –

1. Download and Install CleanMyMac X
2. From the left-hand side click on Uninstaller under Applications
3. You will now have a list of applications. Scroll down and choose an application that you want to get rid of
4. Click on the checkbox next to that app
5. Click on Uninstall

Time To Stop Mac Spyware In Its Tracks

It’s high time that Mac users become more vigilant than ever because hackers are on the loose and one of their insidious weapons being spyware. But, if you regularly exercise methods like the ones mentioned above, you would for sure keep Mac spyware at the bay. What’s your stance against Mac spyware, do let us know in the comments section below.