Having malware on your computer can be quite infuriating. There are privacy and security consequences that will arise from it, and they also make your computer start acting up.

Most people think you would incur costs to have malware removed on MacBook Pro, but you can do it without paying a dime. A detailed explanation of these follows, along with how to guard against it.

Remove Virus from Your MacBook for Free

While many would advise you to use paid antivirus software to scan and remove malware from your Mac, there are steps to follow you remove them from your laptop.

Uninstall Recent Apps

As malware is often disguised as apps on the system, one simple way of removing malware is by uninstalling all apps that appear mysteriously.

To uninstall, follow these steps:

  • Go to finder and toggle to applicationsCheck for any strange apps or any app that is displaying strange behavior.Afterward, drag the app to the trash icon and then empty the trash to get rid of its traces.Delete all files related to the app to clear its footprint from your computer.

This is especially important if you recently installed an app from a third-party source.

Remove Unwanted Browser Extensions

Browser extensions are another way viruses can conceal themselves in the computer.

On safari, go to preferences on the safari drop-down menu and select extensions. Look out for all extensions you didn’t download and those you recently installed before the issues started. To remove them, just select the extensions and click uninstall.

On Chrome

Click on the three dots at the top right corner of the screen. Here, go to more tools and click Extensions. You can then go through and remove all suspicious and strange extensions.

On Firefox

On the top right corner of your screen, click on the three lines and go to “Addons.” Toggle over to the Extensions tab and remove any you deem suspicious.

Creating A New User Profile

Most malware is user-specific rather than device-specific. This means they target a particular user they got into the computer through and seize administrative control. You can get around this by creating a new user profile and transferring your data to the new profile.

To do this:

  • To the System Preferences in the Apple menu and click Users & GroupsClick the lock icon and input your admin passwordClick on the plus sign to create a new user profile. Fill in all required and create.Transfer your files to the new user using the shared folder. To do this, you first have to allow permission to read and write on your files in the original user account. Then, you can move the files.

Now, you can clear the previous user profile to get rid of the malware from your Mac.

Restore A Previous Version of the System

Going back to a backup of your files is a great way to reverse all additions made by any malware. However, the little downside of this is that you might lose other files you’ve added since the last backup before the virus infected your Mac.

Remove Unwanted Login Items

Malware can also hide in the login items of your Mac. To remove them, go to System Preferences. Then, go to “Users & Groups” and toggle to “Login items”. Here, remove all strange login items.

Update macOS

The default security protocol of Macs can be very powerful, often powerful enough to deter threats. However, these threats change every day and can overcome your Mac if the OS isn’t up to date.

Protecting Your MacBook from Viruses

Prevention, they say, is better than cure. It is best and easier to protect your computer from malware than having to remove one.

Here are what you should do to protect your Mac:

  • Always Update macOSAvoid installing suspicious apps: The apple store always vets all apps so there are no security risks.Install antivirus softwareAvoid clicking on random adverts and pop-ups: Malicious websites can introduce malware to your computer by disguising it as ads or pop-ups to get permission.Don’t download from untrusted websites: There is no extra permission needed if you inadvertently download malicious files, making it more dangerous than clicking ads.

Doing the above will save you from facing the unfortunate situation of possibly losing files or having your information harvested.

Conclusion

Discovering malware on your MacBook Pro is a problem that can be solved by uninstalling suspicious apps, updating your Mac operating system, removing strange browser extensions and unwanted login items, creating a new user profile, and restoring to a previous version of the backup. If this doesn’t work, you might have to use paid antivirus software or seek professional help.