sarahmwilton

Q: Has anyone used Malwarebytes or anything similar to protect Mac from virus etc

Has anyone used Malwarebytes or something similar to scan Mac for virus and other security and effiency problems?

Mac Pro

Posted on Apr 26, 2014 4:20 PM

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Q: Has anyone used Malwarebytes or anything similar to protect Mac from virus etc

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  • by Bkray1,

    Bkray1 Bkray1 Jul 18, 2015 7:35 AM in response to TickTockMan
    Level 1 (30 points)
    Jul 18, 2015 7:35 AM in response to TickTockMan

    Just as an update for those interested (yes, we all have personal opinions as seen in this thread), there is now an OSX version:

     

    https://www.malwarebytes.org/antimalware/mac/

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Jul 18, 2015 11:28 AM in response to Bkray1
    Level 10 (141,525 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 18, 2015 11:28 AM in response to Bkray1

    Just for the record the Mac version of Malwarebytes is thomas_r's  AdwareMedic app.  It was bought by Malwarebytes from him recently and he will be maintaining it.

    OTsig.png

  • by i eye,

    i eye i eye Aug 3, 2015 7:38 AM in response to sarahmwilton
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 3, 2015 7:38 AM in response to sarahmwilton

    Yes, I just used it to remove some rather persistent BHO adware.  It found 4 or 5 threats and removed them all, it took about 5 mins max.  All back to normal now.

     

    Background:

    I had Safari on a brand new purchased mac mini with all the latest software updates (Yosemite, safari, everything else) and my browser was getting hijacked to display "Mackeeper" software, and various other adware. The most annoying part was that it kept playing Audio/ Audio visual at max volume with ads to clean my mac, etc.

     

    I had previously performed all recommended steps for removal, I had no extensions, nothing iffy in my settings, it was even doing this in Safe mode from what I recall.  I did a complete operating system re-install, all to no effect.  I would recommend using it, as it worked for me.

     

    Also,  I somewhat disagree with the people above who said to just update to the latest software this will keep you protected.  Well, maybe it MIGHT but I wouldn't rely on that and it certainly didn't REMOVE any of the adware that infected my system.

     

    Cudos to thomas_r

     

    Cheers,

     

    i eye

  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. Aug 3, 2015 7:58 AM in response to i eye
    Level 7 (30,929 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 3, 2015 7:58 AM in response to i eye

    Thanks, I'm glad I was able to help!

  • by pokey b,

    pokey b pokey b Aug 3, 2015 2:03 PM in response to Zakabog
    Level 3 (674 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 3, 2015 2:03 PM in response to Zakabog
  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. Aug 3, 2015 2:53 PM in response to pokey b
    Level 7 (30,929 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 3, 2015 2:53 PM in response to pokey b

    pokey b wrote:

     

    Hmmm, just saw this come in on a Wired news item...

     

     

    Don't read the Wired piece... according to folks who are already familiar with this research, that Wired article was horribly botched. Wait for better, more accurate interpretations after Thursday's Black Hat talk by the researchers in question.

  • by pokey b,

    pokey b pokey b Aug 3, 2015 5:29 PM in response to thomas_r.
    Level 3 (674 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 3, 2015 5:29 PM in response to thomas_r.

    It does seem like it's only a matter of time till the creeps decide to focus on OS X.

  • by Terence Devlin,

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Aug 4, 2015 4:09 AM in response to pokey b
    Level 10 (139,582 points)
    iLife
    Aug 4, 2015 4:09 AM in response to pokey b

    Yes, it's been 'only a matter of time' since about 1995...

  • by pokey b,

    pokey b pokey b Aug 4, 2015 4:27 AM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 3 (674 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 4, 2015 4:27 AM in response to Terence Devlin

    Very true, and life goes on. It's certainly the mode I've been using since buying my 128K Mac. Haven't been attacked in all that time, but I guess I have my "glass half empty" days now and then.

  • by technomystic,

    technomystic technomystic Sep 11, 2015 6:17 AM in response to sarahmwilton
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 11, 2015 6:17 AM in response to sarahmwilton

    The question was about anyone having used Malwarebytes.

    My answer  is "Yes I have used it and it helped me greatly."

     

    I finally used etresoft and then malwarebytes as a last resort before I traded in my core i7 iMac with 8 gb ram. it was taking 3-4 minutes to boot up and I stared at a spinning dick constantly. Uninstalling apps, running disk warrior, reinstalling Yosemite ... nothing helped.

    Malwarebytes saved me!

    I am back to editing film clips and doing other useful stuff on my iMac and have no need to upgrade to a thunderbolt (Although I will probably manufacture a reason pretty soon anyway)

    I have  no relationship with either company.

     

    I find it curious that in this answer and in many other help forums, most responses don't answer the question at all, but just share an opinion.

     

    (But then again, I am a recovering engineer, and I often take questions too literally.)

  • by Coley1730,

    Coley1730 Coley1730 Oct 2, 2015 9:27 AM in response to technomystic
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 2, 2015 9:27 AM in response to technomystic

    My son has an iPad mini and he has a problem with it always having windows opening and closing, looks like someone is typing on it when they aren't, music files start playing, etc.

    It is almost like someone is using it while we are just holding it in our hands. It is almost like it is possessed!! I am wondering if it is a virus or malware or if it is a wiring problem. Is there an APP to check out if it is a virus or malware?

  • by Allan Eckert,

    Allan Eckert Allan Eckert Oct 2, 2015 9:29 AM in response to Coley1730
    Level 9 (54,010 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 2, 2015 9:29 AM in response to Coley1730

    Is the iPad jailbroken?

  • by Coley1730,

    Coley1730 Coley1730 Oct 2, 2015 9:31 AM in response to Allan Eckert
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 2, 2015 9:31 AM in response to Allan Eckert

    No it is definitely NOT jailbroken. That was the first thing I checked but I can't understand why it is acting this way.

  • by smc1998,

    smc1998 smc1998 Oct 3, 2015 11:23 AM in response to sarahmwilton
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 3, 2015 11:23 AM in response to sarahmwilton

    The Apple store installed the program Malwarebytes for me, so I guess that's a pretty good recommendation.

    I was using that company with a "prime" membership and was redirected and foolishly downloaded an app. Safari got hijacked and while I was able to uninstall some of the malware, I am not confident in my tech abilities so took it to the genius bar and asked them to scan it and clean it. They did, and also installed Malwarebytes. I won't be so careless in the future; I think the days of feeling safe with all things Apple are over.

  • by Tussmann,

    Tussmann Tussmann Nov 1, 2015 2:00 AM in response to sarahmwilton
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 1, 2015 2:00 AM in response to sarahmwilton

    Thanks guys, this thread helped a lot.

    My girlfriend wanted to watch one of the simpson halloween specials yesterday, and to do so, she went on one watchseries.com and pressed one of the wrong 'buttons'. She then got promoted that she needed additional software to watch this (which of course was not true.. ) and downloaded and installed the promoted software. As a result, mackeeper was installed (That blasted thing.. ) and my safari browser was infested with this pesky little 'search .. something' malware, which I could not get rid of. I am not a MAC savy guy, I just recently got my first MAC, so I followed some tutorials to try to get rid of it, or evidently reset safari to default or something, but still the damned 'search.. ', whatever it was called, stayed as my homepage.

     

    I am very glad i came over this thread! I downloaded the adwareMedic, or Malwarebyte Anti-Malware, and now it seems to be ok. I just did this a few minutes ago though, so haven't checked it out extensively yet, but I'll edit this post once some time has passed, to see if it really did the job or not.

    Cheers,

    T.

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