Q: I got this msg Your computer has been infected with a virus or with malware. You should run anti-virus software to remove these harmful programs and keep your information secure. What do I do?

Close the safari browser window and ignore the warning. They are simply trying to trick you into downloading Malware.

Read this as well. This has some great tips and useful advice.

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2435

Does the message identify or recommend the means of saving your computer.

Don't copy any messages into this Forum thread though, just give a name if you can.

Where are you seeing this message?  Can you provide a screenshot?  (Press command-shift-4, draw a rectangle around the message, and you'll hear a camera shutter.  Then create a reply to this message, click the camera icon in the toolbar of the editor and insert the screen shot file that was created on your desktop.)

Note that it is a common scam for web sites to show fake malware warnings to try to fool you into installing "fake anti-virus" malware.  If this is a pop-up from a web site, you should ignore it.

For more information on this kind of thing, see my Mac Malware Guide.

btw, i am pretty annoyed with Apple for  making me change my password, requiring i share a bunch of personal data, then not accepting my username, "bikesmut" because it contains a forbidden word.

Here is the screenshot i got today. i for sure had no interest in following it down this particular rabbit hole but my laptop was being really slow while this page was active. I prb should go change some passwords now just to be safe.