Can Macs get Viruses?
Generally speaking, there aren't any viruses on Macs, at least not in the same way as on other PCs. In other words, you won't find programs that take over your computer.
The most common problem is discovering changes in the default search engine, i.e., if you have been using Google until now, and after you installed a program, it changed to another search engine.
This explains 99% of viruses on Macs - a simple browser change on the Mac. This is because the Mac is so secure that they can only change this particular aspect.
How do I remove a virus on a Mac?
If you have detected this virus on your Mac, the first thing to do is to find out if the browser has been changed to Safari, Google Chrome, Firefox, etc. Follow these tips to remove a virus from your Mac.
- Check that there are no unrecognised Apps installed on your Mac. To do this, go to Finder> Applications. If there are any that you don't recognize, drag them to the trash bin. You will then have removed the virus.
- In Safari (or chrome), go to Settings> Search and change the default search engine to Google.
- If you still have a virus on your Mac, this last step will be the final step to remove it. Restore your Mac! Don't worry. You won't lose any data. It will simply be an operating system restore with no loss of data.
Do I need an antivirus on a Mac?
The big question with a simple answer. No, you don't need an antivirus on a Mac! In fact, most programs that promise to be an antivirus end up becoming a virus for your Mac. They usually change the search engine, they’re always running in the background, etc.
In short, don't install programs that promise to be antivirus, let alone pay attention to any pop-up messages that appear, warning you that you have a virus on your Mac. Be wary!
Need more help with your Mac virus?
At iSTYLE Apple UAE, we are an official Apple service centre, which means that you can bring your Mac to us at any of our iSTYLE apple stores, and we can help you with your Mac and any viruses if you think it has one. We look forward to welcoming you, and we can assure you that you will leave with a virus-free, top-performing Mac.