What is the best way to clear my Macbook Pro of malware?

Malwarebytes and never download software from any place other than the original developer site. Avoid those sites that are a quagmire of download buttons that facilitate funding of the site. The operating system has built-in security that also screens for malware, and simply prevents other badware from running — but it is best to reinforce that protection with Malwarebytes.

Over the course of several years, those that have posted that they have issues with their Mac, and offer that they are also running an anti-virus package, have those issues clear up by completely removing the anti-virus tool using the vendors' instructions.

Download and run the free version of Malwarebytes.

I use two tools, Avast and Malwarebytes. Both are pretty good.

I use two tools, Avast and Malwarebytes. Both are pretty good.

Me, too. Although I know many Mac people disapprove of using Avast (or any other malware detector apart from Malwarebytes) as they feel it does little good can can slow the Mac down.

I stick with it, through. It helps me avoid spreading Window's malware by accident!

Do not use third party antivirus apps like AVAST. MalwareBytes is often recommended here.

BobTheFisherman wrote:

Please provide the name of one virus that your AVAST has saved you from.

I can't recall specific names but would say this:

I've never seen a Mac virus - only Malware.

I've received (and Avast blocked) Windows viruses although you were asking about what Avast had save me from so that doesn't count! To me, it's important to protect people I forward eMails to whether they are Mac or Windows users.

I've seen various pieces of Mac malware which Malwarebytes spotted when I ran it and Avast spotted it the second it appeared in an eMail. Typically ones that hijack browsers and add adverts to search results.

Might want to rethink AVG & Avast…

https://x704.net/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=8803&p=115715&hilit=avg#p115715

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251454104?answerId=252862395022#252862395022...

Absolutely no one on the planet should be using Avast.

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/qjdkq7/avast-antivirus-sells-user-browsing-data-investigation

You can't get any more hypocritical than providing "security" software, and then secretly ignoring the user's privacy.

As far as protecting Windows users? If you get an email with an attachment from someone you don't know, don't forward it. If you get an email with an attachment from someone you do know, but weren't expecting it, don't forward it. It's that simple. You don't need junk software to do something that easy yourself.

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/qjdkq7/avast-antivirus-sells-user-browsing-data-investigation

You can't get any more hypocritical than providing "security" software, and then secretly ignoring the user's privacy.

From that page: "Avast claims to have more than 435 million active users per month, and Jumpshot says it has data from 100 million devices. Avast collects data from users that opt-in and then provides that to Jumpshot.

So assuming they can be trusted, you can just not opt in :-)

Your computer your choice what to run on it. Most would not install any third party antivirus app that provides no benefit while using system resources. These third party antivirus apps may also cause problems. You can read the thousands of posts about these apps and the problems they have caused.

Please provide the name of one virus that your AVAST has saved you from.

Seems like a waste of resources to have you and your Mac trying to protect Windows computers. Modern Windows operating systems have built-in antivirus just as does MacOS. I would not run any third party antivirus apps on a modern Windows OS for the same reason I would not do so on my Mac.

But again, it is your computer. Use it as you wish.

macOS - Security - Apple

Set up your Mac to be secure - Apple Support

Protect your Mac from malware - Apple Support

Effective defenses against malware and ot… - Apple Community

Kurt Lang wrote:

I've never seen a Mac virus - only Malware.

Err, a virus is malware. Malware is a generic term for anything you wouldn't want on your computer. It means malicious software.

Yes; I meant that I've seen some Mac malware but none of it was a Mac virus.

All of these are malware:

Virus

Trojan

Worm

Agreed.

Virtually 100% of malware for the Mac are in the form of Trojans, which is software the user must download and install in some manner, whether you were aware of doing it or not. It can't get on your computer by itself.

Again, yes. But many Mac users are tricked into 'upgrading' when the software on offer is malware. I was offered Flash Player update only yesterday! I left it alone.

There are no Mac viruses, so there's nothing to detect.

Agreed again!

Not a single AV title will make even the slightest attempt at stopping you from installing a Trojan. They rarely even tell you after the fact you've done it.

As I recall, Avast tells you afterwards if you allow it to scan.

As Bob noted, it's your computer, so feel free to waste a huge amount of system resources

My Mac runs very fast despite Avast being in the background so I don't feel I'm wasting resources to the extent that it's causing any issues.

protecting yourself from nothing.

Let's agree to disagree on that one. Avast does protect me from data arriving on my Mac (often as an attachment to a scam eMail and I'm happy with that. As I am happy to protect my Windows friends.

All that said, I really do appreciate all you guys' input - thank you. I will continue to monitor the situation and will remove Avast when I come to a realisation that it's causing more harm than good :-)

I've never seen a Mac virus - only Malware.

Err, a virus is malware. Malware is a generic term for anything you wouldn't want on your computer. It means malicious software. All of these are malware:

Virus

Trojan

Worm

Virtually 100% of malware for the Mac are in the form of Trojans, which is software the user must download and install in some manner, whether you were aware of doing it or not. It can't get on your computer by itself.

There are no Mac viruses, so there's nothing to detect. Not a single AV title will make even the slightest attempt at stopping you from installing a Trojan. They rarely even tell you after the fact you've done it.

As Bob noted, it's your computer, so feel free to waste a huge amount of system resources protecting yourself from nothing.