Being a proud owner (well that’s the way every Mac PC user thinks) of an Apple Mac computer, you always have been under this impression that your machine being the piece of next-generation technical excellence would never be plagued by any harmful threats, better known as virus, spyware, or so called malware that affect Windows-based PCs. True, as Macs are based on Unix, they are lesser vulnerable to any harmful Trojan or virus attack than Windows-based PCs. However, this truth seems to have lasted until sometime in the recent past when cyber criminals began to train their guns on Mac PCs. Nowadays, it more seems like cyber criminals have taken oath not to leave Mac PCs without infection
You can’t do anything about these criminals but you can of course take preventive steps to save your machine from them in addition to saving time and money (you very well know both are very precious).
Common Symptoms of Spyware Infection:
• Lots of junk/spam emails, pop-ups
• Your PC has begun to slow down every now and then
• Your PC is behaving oddly
• Flickers on your PC screen
• Miscellaneous unfamiliar messages
Is it really a Spyware?
Most of the times, what you suspect as a spyware is not a spyware but the cookies or temporary files that got into your PC while browsing the internet or downloading music/videos from various websites. These cookies are usually harmless until downloaded from a purposefully designed, genuine-looking website that a user thinks is safe to browse and download from. Music sharing is also one among other ways to have your Mac exposed to virus attacks.
A spyware is usually hidden in email attachment that appears friendly to you; once click opened, it starts installing itself on your PC and unloading other malicious programs that convert your PC into a server to exchange information with the client’s system. This way, a spyware takes control of your PC, steals data, changes settings, or corrupts the hard drive without your intention and knowledge.
How to determine there is a Spyware?
Mac computers usually have very good firewall protection that automatically blocks and removes most of the threats. However, if it is somehow has been compromised (you might not know that it has been compromised until some sort of unusual thing happens to your PC), then you should download a spyware-checking program that should detect spyware or any other harmful threat lying in your PC. You can download Spybot-Search and Destroy from http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download
You can also run free MacScan demo from http://macscan.securemac.com/ . Once you click on ‘free download’, you will be redirected to download the trial version (which is free of course with two buying options of $29.99 and $49.99). After you have clicked on the free trial thing, you will be asked to save the file. Save it to your ‘Applications‘ folder, double click to open and run it. You will see a window popping up giving you an option to run MacScan in authenticated mode, you need to click on ‘Yes‘. Next, a window will be opened to confirm your password, type in your password again and click on ‘OK’.
If you are running a trial, it will remind you that this will end in next 30 days so you can choose to buy it if you like to, you need to click on ‘Demo‘. Then, the main MacScan window will pop up giving you an option ‘Scan‘ at the bottom right hand corner of the screen to start the scan. Click on ‘Scan‘, you will see another window containing 3 tabs on the top namely ‘Quick Scan‘, ‘Full Scan‘, and ‘Custom Scan‘. Choose whatever type you want to run, but I suggest you should click on ‘Full Scan‘ tab and then click on the ‘Scan‘ tab at the bottom right hand corner of the screen. ( Important: running a ‘Demo’ version would not give you access to ‘Full Scan‘ option).
After you have clicked on the ‘Scan‘ tab, MacScan will start scanning your PC for hidden/potential spyware or other threats. It will take some time and detect all what is thinks is not good for your PC. From the detected items, you can select any one of them to see their descriptions. Once you are finished checking reviews, click on ‘Prefs‘ tab on the top right hand corner of the screen. Now you need to put a checkmark in the box saying ‘Detect remote administration programs’. ( Important: this option will be deactivated by default as MacScan might select several legitimate applications and notify you of the same.
Click on ‘OK‘, and then again click on the ‘Scan‘ button, again click on ‘Full Scan‘, and then ‘Scan‘ to run the scan. It will detect any spyware or possible malicious application. Once MacScan has finished searching, it will showcase different items. Put a checkmark in the box of the item, see its description; ensure it is not a legitimate remote admin program, and click on ‘Isolate’ button to remove it.
Once you are done checking the items that you might want to delete, MacScan will confirm your deletion, click on ‘Yes‘. It will delete the infected files, click on ‘Done‘ and you are good to go. You can also check the little history that MacScan gives.
The article is associated with ‘How to Check If Your Mac has a Spyware’ on VTechsquad website . VTechsquad, Inc. is the leading third-party service provider of certified online technical support services. Our certified technicians not only resolve virus removal issues but also educate you how to avoid your Mac/Windows PC from future interaction with any type of worm, virus, or Trojan etc. Our other top-class services include Microsoft product support, antivirus issues, malware issues, spyware issues, wireless router issues, printer issues, and non-computer devices etc.
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