Start Safari: Select Safari menu and click Preferences. Select Extensions tab Look for the unsafe or suspicious extensions and click Uninstall. Select Search tab click the Search Engine menu and make your choice. Safari lets you use Google, Yahoo, Bing, or DuckDuckGo. Select the General tab In the Homepage bar, type the URL you want to set as the Safari homepage. First, by default on macOS 10.15 or later, all Mac apps need to be notarized by Apple to launch. This requirement ensures that these apps are free of known malware without requiring that the apps be provided through the App Store. In addition, macOS includes state-of-the-art anti-virus protection to block—and if necessary remove—malware.
The modern age of technology provides so many conveniences and there are all kinds of different devices and tools that make our lives easier. Computers are one of these current day necessities that we all use in many areas of life. I’m sure you or someone you know has experienced the problem of a computer becoming infected by a virus. Some of these viruses are small and barely noticeable while others can shut down your machine.
Your MacBook Pro is engineered against many different types of common computer viruses but that does not mean that it is immune to the issue. A MacBook Pro is not likely to become infected by a virus very often but if it does, you need to know how to get rid of it quickly and effectively. Here’s a look at some of the methods to keep your computer safe and secure while protecting it against unwanted viruses.
Does My MacBook Have a Virus?
There is a common misconception that Apple computers will not get a virus. While it’s true that Apple computers like your MacBook Pro are less susceptible to viruses, that doesn’t mean that they won’t ever get one. In fact, according to a recent report by Apple Insider, malware viruses specific to Macs, in particular, have grown 60% in 2019. So really, it seems as though viruses on your MacBook might become more of an issue as time goes on.
Although not all viruses are easy to detect, there are some tell-tale signs that your computer may be infected. Some types of viruses may not cause much of a problem on your computer and you might not even now that they are present but others can have a big effect on the overall performance and operation of your computer.
We will look into the steps to get rid of the virus below. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you could have a virus:
- You see random advertisements on your computer.
- Your computer starts to act weird, i.e. erratic behavior, unexpected program closures, glitches, etc.
- You notice apps or software present on the hard drive that you did not install.
- Your computer starts to operate really slowly for no apparent reason.
- An app randomly asks for your password.
How to Remove a Virus on MacBook Pro
If you think you might have a virus on your computer, don’t worry. It can be unexpected and alarming but there is usually a way to get rid of it safely and quickly. It’s good to know the signs and symptoms of a virus so you can remove it as soon as possible once on your computer. There are different ways to remove a virus and here is a look at several of them.
Uninstall Suspect Apps
If you just downloaded an app and your computer started to act as if it had a virus, the problem could lie within that app. You might have even downloaded an app that claims to help remove viruses only to find out that it is the source of a virus! This seems shady but it happens all of the time. Also if an app or program has appeared on your computer without you downloading it, that could be your problem. Either way, you need to uninstall the suspect apps.
- Open your Finder.
- Click on Applications.
- Drag the suspect app to the trash or Control Click and select Move to Trash.
- Go to the Library folder in your Finder.
- Open both the Launch Agents and Launch Daemons folders.
- Check for any files associated with the suspect app in these folders and send to trash.
- Empty your trash.
Delete Browser extensions
Many different types of malware viruses exist in the form of extensions off of your internet browser. If you have one of these viruses, you need to delete these browser extensions to get rid of the virus. Here is how to remove these extensions from the most common browsers.
In Safari:
- Open Safari.
- Click Safari from the menu on the top of the computer screen.
- Look at the list of installed extensions and delete any that you did not install or seem suspicious.
In Firefox:
- Open Firefox.
- Click the 3 line icon in the top-right corner of the browser.
- Click Add-ons.
- Choose Extensions.
- Find any extensions that look suspicious and delete them.
In Chrome:
- Open Chrome.
- Click on the 3 dot icon in the top-right of the browser.
- Select More Tools.
- Choose Extensions.
- Look over the extensions list and click Remove for any that seem suspect.
Use A Virus Removal Program
There are a few good virus removal tools designed specifically for Macs that can help you get rid of any unwanted viruses easily. Most of these programs cost a little bit of money upfront but the service they provide is well worth it for the peace of mind to easily remove any virus or other issues your computer might come down with. All of these programs are easy to operate and will walk you through the process of virus removal.
Some good virus removal software for your MacBook Pro:
Final Thoughts
Mac Virus Scanner
Computer viruses are simply part of having a computer. There is a really good chance that you will experience an issue with some sort of virus over the course of owning your MacBook Pro. Even though these computers aren’t as susceptible to viruses as other laptops and PCs, it still happens so you need to know what to do in case it does.
A computer virus doesn’t mean that the computer is going to stop working, you just need to get rid of it following any of the steps above to ensure that your machine works as it should. If you still have issues after following the above steps, purchasing antivirus software may be the best option.
Have you ever had a computer virus? How did you get rid of it?
Safari is the most popular browser on the Mac, mostly because it’s made by Apple and is installed when you buy your Mac or install a new version of macOS. It’s also set as the default browser so that when you click on a link in an email, for example, the web page opens in Safari.
Like Chrome and Firefox, you can install extensions in Safari to add extra features. For example, if you use a password manager, you can install an extension that autofills your username and password on certain websites. Or you can add an extension that grabs a web page for a bookmarking or note taking app.
However, as with extensions in other browsers, Safari extensions can be problematic. Out of date extensions may cause Safari to run more slowly, for example. But even worse than that is that browser extensions are a favorite way for hackers to download malware to your Mac. It’s usually disguised as a legitimate extension, but once you’ve installed it, it will display adverts or steal your data. Fortunately, getting rid of extensions in Safari is not difficult. There are a number of ways to do it and we’ll cover them in this article.
![Mac App Extensions Virus Mac App Extensions Virus](/uploads/1/3/4/2/134294729/644842607.png)
Tip: If you’re worried that you may have already downloaded malware via an extension or some other method, CleanMyMac X can scan your Mac and check. All you need to do is download and install CleanMyMac X, then click on its Malware utility. It will then scan your Mac and tell you if it finds any malware. If it does, it will offer to remove it for you.
How to remove extensions in Safari
1. Launch Safari.
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2. Click on the Safari menu and choose Preferences.
3. Select the Extensions pane.
![Mac App Extensions Virus Mac App Extensions Virus](/uploads/1/3/4/2/134294729/711768351.jpg)
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4. To disable and extension but leave it installed, uncheck the box next to its name.
5. To delete an extension completely, click on it, then in the main window, choose Uninstall.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for every extension you want to remove.
7. Close Preferences.
How to remove extensions from Safari using Finder
Safari extensions are stored in your user Library folder. You can access that by clicking on your user name in the Finder and then choosing the Library folder. If you can’t see it, click on the Go menu in the Finder and choose Go to Folder, then in the text box, type “~/Library”. The Library folder will now open in the Finder.
1. Open the Library folder, as described above.
2. Open the Safari folder.
3. Double-click on Extensions.
4. You’ll notice that, unlike other browsers, extensions in Safari have meaningful names that make them easy to identify. Drag the extension you want to remove to the Trash.
5. Empty the Trash.
How to uninstall Safari extensions using CleanMyMac X
If all the steps above seem like a lot of effort, there is another way to remove extensions in Safari, using CleanMyMac X.
1. Download and install CleanMyMac X.
2. Launch CleanMyMac X.
3. Choose the Extensions utility.
4. In the main window, choose Safari.
5. Click on the extensions you want to delete and press Remove.
6. If an extension you want to get rid of is greyed out, press the ‘i’ next to it to discover how to remove it.
How to get rid of malware with CleanMyMac X
As we said above, CleanMyMac X can detect and scan malware that has already been downloaded to your Mac. If you found and extension that you think is suspicious, then you should use CleanMyMac X to scan and remove it. Here’s how to do it.
1. Launch CleanMyMac X.
2. In the sidebar, choose the Malware tool.
3. Press the Scan button.
4. If it hasn’t found any malware, CleanMyMac will tell you that and you’ll see a green tick. Of it has find something, you have two choices: you can get rid of it straight away by pressing Clean, or you can go to a details page and read more about what it’s found.
Don’t just scan your Mac for malware once and then forget about it. The threat of viruses, adware, ransomware and other malicious code is ever-present. CleanMyMac X’s malware database is updated regularly, so you can be sure it always knows about the latest threats. Scan your Mac once a month or so. It only takes a few minutes and is a good way of keeping it safe.
One of the ways in which malware threatens your Mac is by stealing your private data. However, it’s not just malware that can leak sensitive information about you. Files downloaded and stored by your browser legitimately can also compromise your privacy and security. These files include those that store autofill data, your browsing history, cookies, and other cache files. You can use CleanMyMac X to get rid of those two, by using its Privacy Utility. It will tell you which files it has found that may contain personal data and it will allow you to select them and then delete them easily and quickly. It’s very quick and easy to use and allows you to take control of what websites you visit know about you.
Deleting extensions in Safari is very straightforward. You can do it in the Extensions tab in Safari’s Preferences or by tracking down the files in the Finder. The easiest way to get rid of Safari extensions, though, is to use CleanMyMac X. There, you can select and delete all the extensions you want rid of in one go. At the same time, you can remove extensions from other browsers like Google Chrome and Firefox.