- If you do a lot of online shopping on your Mac, Apple Pay lets you authorize payments made on your Mac via the Touch ID sensor on your MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iPhone, or via Apple Watch — as such, you can say sayonara to typing your credit card information into every site that needs it.
- The next person to use your MacBook Pro may not care about your information, but pirates are everywhere and you never know what someone might do with your personal data. This article will show you how to factory reset your MacBook Pro so that your privacy will be protected.
- Macbook How To Use
- How Do I Scan A Document To My Macbook Pro
- How To Scan From Macbook
- How To Scan On Macbook
I've been to that page and ensured that 'Webscan' is enabled/configured under 'Scan to computer'. But the same thing still happens when I try to scan directly from the printer to my Mac. Scanning using the HP Smart app on my Mac works fine. But I want to also be able to use the 'Scan to computer' feature directly from the printer.
Macs don't get viruses, right? Wrong, sadly. Your Mac may be safer from malware than the average Windows PC, thanks to its Unix core and Apple's default security settings in the OS, but it's not immune. All it takes is one thoughtless click on a link in an email or on a website, and your Mac could be infected.
The good news is that performing a Mac virus scan is very easy and if it finds anything, getting rid of the virus is very straightforward, too.
How to check your Mac for a virus
There are a number of tell-tale signs that your Mac has a virus. If it's not displaying any of those, there's probably nothing to worry about. So, before you scan your Mac for a virus, here are a few things to check.
1. Is your Mac behaving erratically?
This could include applications crashing, web browsers loading pages you didn't ask for, and unusually high traffic on your network.
2. Has it started running very slowly all of a sudden?
Some viruses run processes that hog CPU cycles and leave little capacity for the tasks you want to carry out.
3. Are you seeing adverts or pop-ups for things you would never normally see?
Printshop mail crack download. Adware viruses are designed specifically to show adverts in the hope that you'll click on them.
4. Have you noticed software appear on your Mac that you didn't deliberately install?
Some viruses appear in the form of browser extensions, others run in the background, but some may appear as applications in your Applications folder. Before we'll explain how to scan Mac for malware, check these 5 tell-tale signs.
If any of the above are true, it's possible that your Mac has a virus, but don't panic, it may be relatively easy to remove.
How to run a malware scanner on Mac
So how to check for malware on Mac? There are several Mac virus scanners that allow you to scan your system. However, it's very important that you don't just google ‘free Mac antivirus software.' Many sites that claim to offer free antivirus tools in fact host viruses themselves. So, you go to the site looking for a solution and end up making the problem worse. It's important to use a reputable tool. We recommend using CleanMyMac X.
CleanMyMac X detects thousands of malware threats, including adware, spyware, worms, ransomware, cryptocurrency miners, and if it finds something suspicious, it offers immediate removal. Here's how to scan your Mac for malware:
- Download CleanMyMac X (free edition here) and launch the app.
- Click on the Malware Removal tab.
- Click Scan.
- Click Remove.
Macbook How To Use
Malware Monitor is another thing I love about CleanMyMac X. And this Mac malware scanner works in real-time. Whenever an adware attempts to enter some protected areas on your Mac, you'll get instantly notified.
How to get rid of suspicious apps
If you find an application that you didn't intend to install, you should get rid of it. But don't just drag it from your Applications folder to the Trash, that won't remove every trace of it from your Mac. Courier 1 3 2 – share files images and more. Applications store files in a number of different places in your Mac's Library folders. You could hunt them down and remove them manually, but it's quicker and easier to use a dedicated uninstaller like CleanMyMac X. That way, you can be sure you will remove every trace of the application and no stray files will be left behind.
- Download CleanMyMac for free here.
- Launch it from your Applications folder.
- In the Utilities section, click on Uninstaller.
- Look through the list of applications until you see the one you want to get rid of.
- Check the box next to it.
- Press the Uninstall button.
How to prevent your Mac from getting a virus
Scanning Mac for malware is one thing. But prevention is always better than cure. So, if you want to make sure that every virus scan returns a clean bill of health, here's what to do.
- Never click a link in an email unless you're 100% sure where the email has come from and where the link will take you. Reputable companies and banks won't ask you to click a link to log into an account, for example.
- Never download anything unless you're certain what it is. That includes movie files, software updates, games, and anything else you're not absolutely certain about.
- Keep your Mac updated with the latest version of macOS. That doesn't mean you have to be running the very latest OS, but if you're running, say, Sierra, make sure you install the latest updates when they become available.
Scanning your Mac for threats is very easy. How download google chrome for free. To check Mac for malware, you can download the free version of CleanMyMac X which is an Apple notarized app. With its help, you get rid of any applications you didn't intend to download and scan your whole system for malware very quick and easy. Give it a go.
These might also interest you:
Do you think that your Mac was hacked? Do you feel that someone or something is spying on you when you are watching YouTube, or when your Mac is left unattended at home?
There are many ways how a human or a program can get on your computer and do harm to you and your privacy:
- It could be a spyware, a malicious hacker, or someone you know, such as a parent, a spouse, a friend.
- They can access your photos, videos, and emails
- They can take embarrassing pictures of you using a webcam
- They can listen and record your conversations
- They can monitor your browsing history
- They can use your computer to mine Bitcoins
- They can encrypt everything on your disk and then ask for a ransom
Computers have never been safe, and now when we rely so much on them, it is extremely important to protect ourselves from malicious actors.
This topic is too broad to fit into one blog post, so I am writing mini-series, which will help you to minimize the impact and secure your Mac.
Signs That Your Mac Was hacked
If you are reading this post, chances are you noticed something unusual is happening on your Mac. Sometimes you have a hunch, but you can't explain it. However, most of those signs can be explained by reasons other than malware or hackers. So, let's review the major signs.
Mac suddenly became slow for no apparent reasons
I've been developing commercial software for more than twenty years. There were many times when I received a call from the customer complaining that their computers, servers, programs are slow.
Every time I am getting a call, the first thing I ask if they did something before they noticed the problem. Do you know how many times they admitted that they changed something? You guessed it, zero. How many times did customers cause the problem? Almost always.
Following are some of the reasons why Mac can be slow:
- There is a virus or other malware
- Not enough disk space on Mac
- New OS was installed
- Hardware failure
Mac is using more Internet than usual
This one is harder to detect now than before. We used to have limits on how much Internet bandwidth we could use. Today, when many people have unlimited data with cable, you may not even know that something is happening.
However, if you are on a limited plan, and you see a significant increase in data consumption (more than 25% more), it's time to investigate.
The reasons could be the following:
- Your Mac is being used as a bot by hackers
- There is a virus or other malware
- Your little one grew up and now watching YouTube all day on your computer
- New OS was installed
- Youtube and other web sites are taking forever to load
Similar to the previous sign, problems with the Internet could be a sign pointing to a virus or adware affecting the browser. Or it could be a new browser update. Or maybe the system became unstable.
Programs crashing more often
Did you notice that apps getting stuck and eventually crashing? Very often, it's a sign of malware. Additional reasons for frequent app crashes are the following:
- Lack of memory (RAM)
- Lack of disk space
- Temporary system instability
- Hardware failure
- Unusual pop-ups in the browser
This is something we all have seen. You download an app from the Internet and seems like it was a legit software. But little did you know a good app was bundled with bloatware.
Usually, the result is that your default search engine gets changed from Google to Yahoo, the home page changes, and there are additional icons in the browser toolbar. But there could be other issues such as adware.
Adware is trying to redirect you to other sites, not related to what are you searching for. Their goal is direct traffic to certain sites. More traffic, more money they get. So, they litter your screen with pop-up, hoping that you can click and open the site you don't want.
New files appear or old files disappear
Malware often creates new files with cryptic names. For instance, ransomware encrypts the files on your disk and renames them. However, there could be more innocent explanations.
For instance, if you can't find a file, it does not necessarily mean that it was deleted by malware or someone who logged in on your computer remotely. Maybe, you just can't remember that you deleted the file or the folder. In this case, first, check Trash on Mac.
If you still can't find what you need, check my post about finding any files. I guarantee, if the file is still on your Mac after reading my post, you will be able to locate it.
How To Tell If Mac Was Hacked
First, scan your Mac with an antimalware solution. Next, turn off remote desktop and screen sharing features to make sure that nobody can connect to your Mac remotely. Verify that there are no keyloggers. Finally, eliminate reasons unrelated to hacking: reboot Mac, perform NVRAM/PRAM reset, check if there is enough space on the startup disk. If possible, visit the Apple Genius Bar for advice.
Now, let's go over all the above in detail.
Scan Mac for viruses
I recently called Apple Support and complained about the slowness of my MacBook Pro. I could've solved the problem myself, but I just wanted how much would it cost for Apple to perform diagnostics on a 5-year old MacBook.
Since I don't have AppleCare for my Mac, I thought that they would charge me something. Pc to mac conversion software. Spoiler alert: I wasn't charged for anything.
So, when I called, the first thing the Apple advisor made me do is to install the Malwarebytes app.
While Malwarebytes is a solid recommendation for scanning, it is not the best. In fact, I stopped recommending it to any Mac user after the test I performed myself recently.
I tested a dozen of antimalware product and only one detected 100% of 117 malware samples I intentionally downloaded on my MacBook. So, if you need a recommendation on a good antivirus check it here.
Tighten up access to your Mac
How Do I Scan A Document To My Macbook Pro
Programs are not the only threat out there. People sometimes can be even more harmful. There are several ways for someone to spy after you.
One is via remote desktop. Maybe you had experience connecting to servers or other Windows machines at work by remote desktop connection. Macs, even MacBooks, also allow such connections.
Also, it is possible to share the screen of your laptop. While it's a useful feature, if you mean it, it's not so good if someone's using it when you are not aware.
And finally, since macOS has UNIX roots, as any UNIX like the operating system, it can be controlled via SSH protocol. Anyone with access can do pretty much anything on your Mac, and you wouldn't even know.
If all of the above sounds complicated, don't worry. I wrote a very detailed post on a topic of remote access to your Mac (https://macmyths.com/how-to-tell-if-someone-is-remotely-accessing-your-mac/). All you need is to go over the post and follow the simple steps outlined there.
How To Scan From Macbook
Mac keyloggers
For a long time, I thought that all keyloggers could do to record keyboard strokes. Imagine my shock when I started working on my post about keyloggers.
Did you know that a new generation of keyloggers can do screenshots every 5 seconds, or record your messages and social media chats? And they can upload the collected information to the cloud.
And the worst part they are freely available for anyone to purchase!
To find out how one can identify a keylogger on Mac I installed 5 most popular apps on my laptop. They completely trashed my system, but luckily I had backups, so I was able to recover my MacBook.
Things to try if no virus found
While you are maybe suspecting something bad happening on your computer, it very well may be a normal condition.
Things to try before starting panicking:
Reboot
Sometimes glitches in software can make the current state of your system unstable. A reboot is still a remedy for many problems. You can either restart or shutdown and start again. The effect will be the same.
NVRAM/PRAM reset
Macs historically have a little memory cell where they store some information needed for many Mac peripherals to work. Surprisingly, this area gets corrupt pretty often. Fortunately, there is a very simple fix – reset NVRAM/PRAM and SMC.
Apple has very good instructions on how to perform these tasks.
What they don't tell is that you have to reset at 2-3 times in a row for a fix to work. I found out this in the school of hard knocks so that you don't need to.
Clear some space on disk
Lack of space on your startup disk may cause all kinds of issues: app slowdown, app crashes, high CPU usage, and MacBook overheating. Sometimes this may lead you to suspect that your Mac was hacked.
So, first, check how much storage you have left. And if it is not enough, you can either spend money on getting software that helps to clean your disk or read my article on free cleaning tips: How Do I Free Up Disk Space On My Mac Without Software.
New operating system
Apple releases a new version of macOS every year. While they do everything they can to produce quality software, bugs still happen.
For instance, after the recent iOS update on my iPhone, my podcast app starts freezing every time I pause. I still didn't find why it is happening because I am too lazy busy.
In the case of the issue on hand, if you had a recent OS update, take time to investigate if the issues you are noticing are common for the release.
Check for hardware failure
Macs are very dependable, and they can serve for many years. However, any hardware gradually fails. For example, a failing disk causes unexplained app crashes. Failed RAM will prevent the computer from starting.
There is a good article on the Apple web site about running hardware diagnostics. Try and see what it will report.
Visit Apple Genius Bar
If you have an Apple store nearby, definitely check them out. On several occasions, I had to contact them, they helped me for free. If there is a fee for diagnostics, they should tell you upfront, so you can decide if it's worth it for you or not.
5 Things To Do If Your Mac Was Hacked
So, you did everything I told you, and you found out that either someone spying or if there was malware on your Mac. There are several things you have to do immediately.
Change passwords
I know it could be painful to change all passwords. I have accounts on hundreds of web sites, and there is no way I could remember all of them. Well, this is not what I am suggesting.
For instance, after the recent iOS update on my iPhone, my podcast app starts freezing every time I pause. I still didn't find why it is happening because I am too lazy busy.
In the case of the issue on hand, if you had a recent OS update, take time to investigate if the issues you are noticing are common for the release.
Check for hardware failure
Macs are very dependable, and they can serve for many years. However, any hardware gradually fails. For example, a failing disk causes unexplained app crashes. Failed RAM will prevent the computer from starting.
There is a good article on the Apple web site about running hardware diagnostics. Try and see what it will report.
Visit Apple Genius Bar
If you have an Apple store nearby, definitely check them out. On several occasions, I had to contact them, they helped me for free. If there is a fee for diagnostics, they should tell you upfront, so you can decide if it's worth it for you or not.
5 Things To Do If Your Mac Was Hacked
So, you did everything I told you, and you found out that either someone spying or if there was malware on your Mac. There are several things you have to do immediately.
Change passwords
I know it could be painful to change all passwords. I have accounts on hundreds of web sites, and there is no way I could remember all of them. Well, this is not what I am suggesting.
You have to change passwords on the most important sites:
How To Scan On Macbook
- Your primary email account. The one that is linked to your bank accounts.
- Bank and credit card accounts
- Work email password
- Apple ID and iCloud passwords (note, they are not the same)
If you are using one password for all sites, consider using 1Password utility.
Check bank statements
It never hurts to go over your bank statements (if you have any) once a while. If you notice some suspicious activity, then do a little research. But don't panic right away if you don't recognize a charge.
Almost every once, when I check my credit card statements, I see one or more charges which I don't remember doing. However, after 5 minutes or so, I remember what it was.
Check credit report
Everyone in the U.S. has a right to get a free credit report once a year. Since there are three main agencies, you can get a free report three times a year (one from each agency). Search for 'Annual Credit Report' in Google, but be careful to skip some ads and use the legit site.
Turn on Two-Factor Authentication
If you didn't do this yet, turn on two-factor authentication on main sites: email, any money sites, etc. It's a little bit inconvenient, but it's the best way to prevent hackers from stealing your data.
What's Next?
I hope I gave you some high-level information you needed in case if you think that your computer was hacked. Now, I suggest to check the articles I mentioned above in the following order, so you know how to deal with the problems outlined:
