While Apple’s macOS operating system has long been perceived as relatively secure compared to other platforms, the landscape has changed dramatically in recent years, with a striking 73 percent increase in Mac malware incidents reported in 2025 compared to the previous year. This significant surge has forced both individual users and organizations to reassess their security strategies and implement more robust malware detection practices. The traditional belief that Macs were impenetrable fortresses has been shattered by sophisticated threats including info-stealing malware like Atomic Stealer, Poseidon, Banshee, and other advanced trojans that specifically target the macOS ecosystem. Understanding how to properly scan for malware on Mac has therefore become an essential skill for every user who wants to protect their personal data, financial information, and system integrity. This comprehensive report examines the full spectrum of malware scanning approaches available to Mac users, from leveraging built-in security features to implementing third-party solutions, while also addressing the evolving threat landscape and providing practical guidance for both prevention and remediation.
Understanding macOS’s Built-in Security Infrastructure and Automatic Protection
macOS incorporates a sophisticated multilayered defense system that serves as the foundation for all malware protection on Apple’s desktop operating system. This defense architecture consists of three distinct layers, each designed to address different stages of a potential malware threat. The first layer is designed to prevent malware from launching or executing in the first place through the App Store’s stringent review process, combined with Gatekeeper and Apple’s Notarization service for software distributed outside the official store. The second layer focuses on blocking malware that has somehow made it onto a customer’s system by using the same tools—Gatekeeper, Notarization, and XProtect—to identify and quarantine suspicious applications. The third and final layer addresses remediation of malware that has already managed to execute, primarily through XProtect’s advanced detection and removal capabilities.
XProtect, which was introduced in 2009 with macOS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, represents Apple’s signature-based antivirus technology that operates automatically in the background without requiring user intervention. XProtect uses YARA signatures, an open-source tool developed by malware researchers to identify malware based on code similarities within malware families, to detect and block known malicious software. The system works by checking for known malicious content whenever an app is first launched, whenever an app has been changed in the file system, or when XProtect’s signatures are updated. Importantly, XProtect checks occur during these specific moments rather than continuously scanning the entire system, which minimizes resource consumption while still maintaining effective protection. When XProtect detects known malware, it automatically blocks the malicious software and moves it to the Trash, while simultaneously alerting the user through Finder. Apple updates XProtect signatures automatically based on the latest threat intelligence available, with macOS checking for these updates daily by default. The company has even released recent updates to XProtect, bringing it to version 5322 as of November 2025, demonstrating continued commitment to maintaining current malware definitions.
XProtect Remediator, introduced with macOS 12.3 Monterey in 2022, represents an evolution in Apple’s approach to malware management. This malware removal tool takes a more proactive stance than traditional XProtect by regularly scanning during periods of low user activity, typically in the hour after midnight. These scans are kept brief to avoid impacting system performance, but they accomplish the important goal of identifying and removing malware that may have been missed by other protective measures. Unlike the signature-based detection of standard XProtect, XProtect Remediator also includes an advanced engine that detects unknown malware based on behavioral analysis, providing protection against previously unseen threats. The system removes malware upon receiving updated information from Apple and continues to periodically check for infections, though it does not automatically restart the Mac after remediation.
Gatekeeper functions as a critical control mechanism that prevents unauthorized software from executing on macOS systems. This technology verifies that applications come from identified developers and have not been tampered with since their distribution. By default, macOS allows applications from the Mac App Store, which Apple controls completely, or from identified developers whose certificates Apple has verified. When a user attempts to open an application that is unsigned or from an unidentified developer, macOS displays a warning dialog that provides the user with the opportunity to cancel the operation and protect their system from potentially malicious software. Gatekeeper’s protections have proven remarkably effective, though sophisticated actors have occasionally discovered bypasses, such as the right-click workaround that was used extensively by stealer malware in 2024 before being patched in macOS Sequoia.
Notarization represents Apple’s additional security measure for third-party software distributed outside the Mac App Store. This process requires developers to submit their applications to Apple’s automated notary service, which scans the software for malware and performs comprehensive security checks. If the software passes these checks, Apple issues a notarization ticket that Gatekeeper recognizes, allowing the application to run. Importantly, Apple can issue revocation tickets for applications known to be malicious even after they have been previously notarized. macOS regularly checks for new revocation tickets in the background with much greater frequency than system updates, enabling Apple to quickly block the distribution of newly discovered malware.
The architectural design of modern macOS systems, particularly with the introduction of separate read-only and data partitions starting with Catalina, has provided additional inherent protection against certain types of malware. The first partition, Macintosh HD, contains Apple-installed apps and files and is configured as read-only, meaning that outside files cannot be written to it. This separation means that malware cannot directly modify core operating system files, providing an extraordinary level of protection from traditional virus infections. The second partition, Macintosh HD – Data, contains user-installed applications and documents that can be modified, representing the actual attack surface for malware. This architectural separation has made macOS exceptionally resistant to the kinds of systemic infections that plagued Windows systems for decades.
Third-Party Antivirus and Malware Scanning Solutions
While Apple’s built-in protections provide a solid foundation for Mac security, many users and organizations choose to supplement these native tools with third-party malware scanning solutions. The market for Mac antivirus software has expanded significantly, with numerous commercial and free options available to users who want additional layers of protection. However, the choice of which third-party tool to use requires careful consideration, as not all options are equally effective or appropriate for every use case.
Malwarebytes for Mac has emerged as the most widely recommended third-party solution among Apple’s support community and security professionals. The primary distinction that sets Malwarebytes apart from traditional antivirus software is that it functions exclusively as an on-demand scanner rather than running continuously in the background. This means that Malwarebytes only consumes system resources when the user manually initiates a scan, whereas traditional antivirus applications continuously monitor the system, potentially slowing down performance. Malwarebytes is specifically designed to identify and quarantine potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) and known malware, rather than attempting to detect viruses specifically. Users can configure Malwarebytes to remove detected threats immediately or to quarantine them for 30 days before automatic removal, providing flexibility in how threats are handled. According to AV-Test results from September 2025, Malwarebytes achieves a 100 percent detection rate for macOS Sequoia, demonstrating its effectiveness at identifying known malware threats.
Commercial antivirus solutions such as Norton 360, Avast Security, Bitdefender Antivirus, and others provide more comprehensive security packages that often include additional features beyond basic malware detection. Norton 360 achieved a perfect 100 percent detection rate according to AV-Test results, though it can affect system performance due to continuous monitoring. Avast Security offers both free and paid versions, with the free version providing good protection (100 percent detection rate) but frequently prompting users to upgrade to premium functionality, which some users find annoying. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac achieved perfect scores across all test categories in 2025 evaluations, offering excellent malware detection combined with minimal system impact. Kaspersky Premium, ESET Security Ultimate, and F-Secure Total represent additional commercial options with varying strengths and specializations.
CleanMyMac, which is distributed through the Mac App Store, presents a somewhat controversial case in the context of Mac malware protection. While CleanMyMac is technically available through Apple’s official store and therefore subject to Apple’s review process, it has acquired a “notorious reputation” among regular forum contributors to Apple’s support communities. Some users have reported that CleanMyMac can cause performance issues or behave in ways that are questionable, leading many experienced Mac users to recommend against its use. The tool combines various functions including malware detection, system optimization, and application management, but security-focused experts often recommend avoiding it in favor of more specialized solutions.
Open-source and specialized tools such as ClamAV and ClamXav provide free alternatives for users who want antivirus scanning capabilities. ClamAV is an open-source antivirus engine primarily designed for mail gateway scanning but can be adapted for Mac use through command-line interfaces or third-party wrappers. Users can set up real-time directory monitoring and schedule periodic scans using ClamAV through terminal commands, though this approach requires technical knowledge and provides less user-friendly interfaces compared to commercial solutions. ClamXav, which uses ClamAV as its scanning engine, offers a more accessible graphical interface for Mac users while maintaining the open-source philosophy.
The choice between built-in protections alone and supplementing with third-party tools represents a matter of some debate within the Mac security community. Strong advocates for Mac security argue that modern macOS versions with current system updates provide sufficient protection for most users without additional antivirus software. These advocates point out that properly configured Macs with reasonable user behavior practices (not downloading suspicious software, avoiding phishing attacks, maintaining current backups) rarely experience malware infections. Conversely, some security professionals and cautious users argue that supplementing Apple’s tools with occasional malware scanning through Malwarebytes represents a prudent additional layer of protection that costs little in terms of system resources when used on a manual, as-needed basis.
Manual Scanning Techniques and Activity Monitoring
Beyond relying on automated scanning tools, Mac users can employ several manual techniques to investigate their systems for signs of malware infection or suspicious activity. These techniques require more user involvement and technical understanding than running automated scans, but they provide valuable information about what processes are running on the system and how system resources are being utilized.
Activity Monitor represents one of the most useful built-in tools for identifying potentially suspicious processes running on a Mac. Located in Applications > Utilities, Activity Monitor displays all currently running processes and provides detailed information about each process’s resource consumption. Users should focus on the CPU percentage column to identify processes that are using an unusually high amount of processing power, as this can indicate malware mining cryptocurrency on the user’s behalf or performing other resource-intensive malicious activities. Similarly, the Memory column can reveal processes that are consuming excessive amounts of RAM, another sign of potentially suspicious activity. When users identify suspicious processes with high CPU or memory usage, they should note the process name and search online to determine whether it is legitimate system software or potentially malicious. If a process is confirmed to be malicious, users can terminate it by selecting it and clicking the X button in the upper-left corner of the Activity Monitor window.
After identifying and terminating suspicious processes, users should locate the corresponding files in the file system using Finder. By searching for the process name or file path identified in Activity Monitor, users can often locate the executable files or associated application bundles that correspond to the malicious process. These files can then be dragged to the Trash and permanently deleted by emptying the Trash. However, users should exercise caution when searching for and deleting system processes, as removing legitimate system components can destabilize macOS or prevent certain features from functioning correctly. When in doubt, users should research the specific process online before taking deletion action.
Examining Login Items and Startup Programs provides another avenue for identifying malware that attempts to persist on a Mac by automatically launching when the user logs in. Malware frequently installs itself as a login item so that it activates every time the user restarts their computer or logs in, ensuring that the malicious software continues running even if the user attempts to manually terminate it. Users can review their login items by accessing System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions), navigating to Users & Groups, selecting their account, and examining the Login Items tab. Any unrecognized applications in the login items list should be removed by selecting them and clicking the minus sign button. On newer versions of macOS, this setting has been moved to System Settings > General > Login Items.
Checking the Applications Folder for unrecognized or unwanted programs represents another manual scanning technique. Users should review the contents of the Applications folder in Finder and look for any applications they do not recognize or that they do not remember installing. This is particularly important when malware has been installed alongside legitimate software during a bundled installation process. Any suspicious applications can be permanently removed by moving them to the Trash and emptying the Trash. Users should verify that these applications are not legitimate system components before deletion.
Booting into Safe Mode provides a useful diagnostic technique for identifying malware that might be disabled during safe operation. When a Mac boots into Safe Mode, macOS disables third-party login items, kernel extensions, and other startup items, which often includes malware. This allows users to start with a clean baseline system that loads only essential components. On Intel-based Macs, users can boot into Safe Mode by holding the Shift key immediately as the Mac powers on or restarts, then releasing Shift when the login window appears. On Apple silicon Macs with M1, M2, or M3 processors, the process differs slightly: shut down the Mac completely, press and hold the power button until startup options appear, then hold Shift while clicking “Continue in Safe Mode”. Users should see “Safe Boot” displayed in the top-right corner of the login screen to confirm they are running in Safe Mode.
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Get Protected NowReviewing Browser Settings and Extensions is particularly important as browser hijackers and other malware frequently modify browser configurations or install unwanted extensions. Users should check their browser’s homepage, search engine settings, and installed extensions to ensure that everything matches their expectations. In Safari, users should access Preferences > General to verify the homepage and Preferences > Extensions to review installed extensions, removing any that are unrecognized. In Chrome, users can access Settings > Search Engine to verify the default search engine and Settings > Extensions to review installed extensions. Any suspicious extensions should be immediately removed by clicking the Remove button.
Clearing browser caches can remove malicious files that may be hiding within cached browser data. In Safari, users can clear cache by selecting Safari > Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data > Remove All. In Chrome, users can access History > Clear Browsing Data and select “All time” to clear the entire browsing history and cache. While clearing the cache does not directly remove malware, it can eliminate malicious files that malware has stored in the cache and can sometimes resolve browser hijacking issues.
The Evolving macOS Malware Landscape in 2024-2025
The nature and sophistication of malware targeting macOS has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years, particularly in 2024 and continuing into 2025. Rather than the relatively simple trojans and adware that dominated Mac malware in previous years, cybercriminals have begun creating and distributing highly sophisticated malware specifically designed to extract sensitive information from Mac users. Understanding these evolving threats is essential for implementing appropriate scanning and protection strategies.
Info-stealer malware has emerged as the dominant threat category targeting macOS systems. Unlike ransomware, which encrypts files and demands payment for decryption, or traditional trojans that might provide remote access, info-stealers specifically focus on harvesting sensitive data from infected systems. These stealers target an impressive array of valuable information including cryptocurrency wallets, saved passwords, browser cookies, authentication credentials, Keychain data, and files from users’ Desktop and Documents folders. Families of stealer malware including Atomic Stealer (also known as Amos), Poseidon, Banshee, and Cuckoo have proliferated throughout 2024 and into 2025, with each family representing different variants sometimes attributed to competing criminal groups. Red Canary’s threat detection report documented a staggering 400 percent increase in macOS threats from 2023 to 2024, driven largely by these stealer malware families. Notably, 95 percent of stealer detections occurred before September 2024, suggesting that changes to macOS security implementations in Sequoia had a marked impact on these threats.
The distribution methods employed by stealer malware have become increasingly sophisticated, moving beyond simple deceptive packaging to explicitly target trust relationships with well-known applications. These stealers have been distributed disguised as legitimate applications including popular note-taking tools like Obsidian, developer tools like Homebrew, and even spoofed versions of enterprise applications. In 2024, victims commonly encountered the malware by downloading a disk image (DMG) file that appeared to contain desirable software but actually contained the malicious payload. Once mounted, the DMG would present instructions telling the user to right-click on the downloaded software and select “Open,” a process that was specifically designed to bypass macOS Gatekeeper controls that would normally block unsigned applications.
Social engineering tactics play a critical role in the distribution and execution of stealer malware. Once users click through Gatekeeper by following the right-click instructions, the stealer malware executes and immediately displays a dialog box requesting the user’s system password using AppleScript. The dialog box typically claims that a system update or other system change requires the user to provide their administrator password, presenting a convincing but false justification for the password request. Remarkably, many users comply with this request, providing their system password to the attacker. With the system password in hand, the malware gains the ability to use sudo commands to access sensitive data that requires elevated privileges, dramatically expanding the scope of information that can be stolen.
Once the malware has obtained the system password, it proceeds with comprehensive data harvesting. Files with extensions including .txt, .pdf, .docx, wallet, key, keys, and .doc are specifically targeted in users’ Desktop and Documents folders. The malware also attempts to access cryptocurrency wallets, browser credential stores, and Keychain data that contains saved passwords for various services. During this process, macOS’s Transparency, Consent, and Control (TCC) system displays permission dialogs asking the user to allow the malware to access sensitive data. However, the vast majority of users simply click “Allow” or “OK” on these dialogs, often without carefully reading what access they are granting, allowing the malware to proceed with data theft.
Apple’s response to the Gatekeeper bypass in macOS Sequoia, released in September 2024, dramatically reduced the effectiveness of these stealer distributions. The company removed the ability to bypass Gatekeeper by simply right-clicking and selecting “Open,” forcing malware authors to develop new distribution methods. This change resulted in a sharp decline in stealer detections after September 2024, with only 5 percent of detections occurring after this security improvement compared to 95 percent before. However, threat actors have already begun adapting, with some distributing malware as shell scripts within DMG files or attempting to distribute stealers masquerading as Homebrew or other legitimate tools.
Ransomware has emerged as the most prevalent and damaging form of Mac malware in 2025, according to recent threat assessments. Unlike stealers, which silently exfiltrate data, ransomware takes a more direct extortion approach by encrypting user files and demanding payment in cryptocurrency for their decryption. The impact on businesses and individuals has been severe, with some victims experiencing extended periods of downtime while negotiating with attackers or attempting recovery from backups.
Trojans continue to represent a significant threat to Mac security, particularly when they masquerade as legitimate software applications. These deceptive programs are designed to trick users into installing them by appearing to be popular applications while actually serving malicious purposes. Cybercriminals have become adept at creating convincing copies of legitimate apps, complete with similar icons and descriptions, making it increasingly difficult for users to distinguish genuine applications from malicious imitations. Once installed, trojans can steal passwords, financial data, and other confidential information while remaining hidden from the user.
Comprehensive Step-by-Step Malware Scanning Procedures
For users who suspect their Mac may be infected with malware or who simply want to perform periodic preventive scanning, a structured approach to malware detection and removal can maximize the likelihood of successful threat identification and elimination. The following procedures represent best practices developed through experience and security professional recommendations.
Step One: Prepare the System involves ensuring that the system is properly prepared for scanning and that essential backups are in place before proceeding. Users should back up their Mac to Time Machine or another backup system to ensure that critical data is protected in case something goes wrong during the malware removal process. Users should also ensure that they have administrator access to their account and that they are not running in Safe Mode at this stage, as some scanning tools may not function correctly in Safe Mode. Disconnecting from the internet is optional but can prevent malware from exfiltrating data during the scanning process.
Step Two: Run Disk Utility First Aid provides a useful first step to ensure that the file system itself is not corrupted in ways that might interfere with malware scanning. Users should launch Disk Utility from Applications > Utilities, select their boot drive (usually “Macintosh HD”), and click First Aid in the left column. The First Aid utility will verify and repair the file system and should complete without errors. If First Aid identifies errors that cannot be repaired, users may need to reinstall macOS or seek professional assistance.
Step Three: Run Malwarebytes for Mac Scanning represents the most widely recommended malware detection step in the Mac security community. Users should download Malwarebytes for Mac from the official website, install it, and ensure it receives administrator permissions when prompted. After installation, users should check for updates to ensure they have the latest malware definitions by clicking “Check for Updates” in the top-left corner. Only after confirming updates should users proceed with a full scan by clicking the Scan button. This scan may take several hours depending on the amount of data stored on the Mac. If the scan identifies any suspicious files or known malware, users should proceed with quarantine and removal.
Step Four: Run a Second Antivirus Scan using a different antivirus engine can increase the likelihood of detecting sophisticated malware that might be missed by a single scanner. A common recommendation is to use Avast Security for Mac as the second scanner, downloading it from the official website and ensuring it receives the necessary permissions. After installation and updating signatures, users should proceed with a Deep Scan rather than a Quick Scan to maximize the likelihood of detection. This scan may also take several hours but provides more comprehensive coverage. If this scan identifies additional threats, users should quarantine and remove them.
Step Five: Check for Malicious Profiles and Suspicious Login Items involves manual verification of system configurations that might have been modified by malware. Users should check System Settings > Profiles to ensure that no unexpected configuration profiles have been installed. They should also review System Settings > General > Login Items to ensure that no suspicious applications are configured to launch at startup. Any suspicious items should be removed immediately.
Step Six: Review and Remove Unwanted Applications completes the scanning and removal process by cleaning up applications that may have been installed as part of the malware infection. Users should open Finder and navigate to the Applications folder, carefully reviewing the list of installed applications. Any applications that users do not recognize or do not remember installing should be investigated online to determine if they are legitimate or suspicious. Suspicious applications should be deleted by dragging them to the Trash and emptying the Trash.
Step Seven: Clean Up Scanning Tools involves removing the temporary Malwarebytes and Avast installations that were used for scanning. While these tools are safe and useful, the security and privacy recommendation is to not leave them installed permanently on the system to avoid unnecessary background processes and to reduce system clutter. Users should uninstall both tools by dragging them from the Applications folder to the Trash and emptying the Trash.
Step Eight: Restart the System completes the malware removal process and allows the operating system to reload all system configurations cleanly. Users should click the Apple menu and select Restart to reboot their Mac. After restart, the system should be free of known malware infections.
Advanced Recovery and Remediation Strategies
In cases where malware has caused significant damage or where standard removal procedures have not completely eliminated the threat, more advanced recovery strategies may be necessary. These techniques represent more significant interventions that should typically be attempted only after standard scanning and removal procedures have been completed without success.
Restoring from Time Machine Backups represents one of the most effective recovery methods when a malware infection has compromised system files or cannot be completely removed through manual procedures. Provided that users have been making regular Time Machine backups before the malware infection occurred, they can roll back their Mac to a previous clean state by booting into Recovery Mode and selecting “Restore from Time Machine”. Users should shut down their Mac, connect their Time Machine backup drive, press and hold the power button, and when options appear, select “Options” and click “Continue”. From the Recovery Mode menu, users should click “Restore from Time Machine” and follow the wizard to restore from a backup created before the malware infection was identified. This approach is extraordinarily effective because it restores the entire system state from before the infection occurred, completely eliminating any malware that had been installed. However, users should be aware that any data created after the backup point will be lost unless it has been backed up separately.
Reinstalling macOS represents the most comprehensive remediation option when malware has caused extensive system damage or compromised core operating system files. This approach completely wipes the Mac and reinstalls a clean copy of macOS, effectively removing all malware along with all other data on the system. To reinstall macOS, users should shut down their Mac, press and hold the power button until startup options appear, click “Options” and then “Continue,” and from the Recovery Mode menu, click “Reinstall macOS”. Users should follow the installation wizard, taking care to select the correct installation drive. While this approach is guaranteed to remove malware, it is also the most time-consuming and will require reinstalling all applications and restoring all personal files from backups. Most users should only attempt this approach if standard removal procedures have completely failed.
Using Recovery Mode for Disk Repairs provides an additional diagnostic and repair capability for cases where file system corruption may be preventing proper malware removal. Users can boot into Recovery Mode by pressing Command + R during startup and then run Disk Utility’s First Aid tool with additional access that is available in Recovery Mode. This sometimes allows repair of disk corruption that could not be fixed in normal operation. However, if First Aid reports partition map errors or other serious disk damage that it cannot repair, users may need to erase and reinstall macOS, as discussed above.
Preventive Best Practices and Risk Mitigation
While scanning for and removing malware represents an important reactive measure, implementing preventive best practices provides a far more effective long-term approach to protecting a Mac from infection. These practices focus on reducing the likelihood of encountering malware in the first place and limiting the damage if an infection does occur.
Maintaining Current Backups stands as perhaps the single most important protective measure that Mac users can implement. With reliable backups in place on separate external drives, users can restore their system to a clean state quickly and completely if malware or other serious problems occur. Apple’s Time Machine provides an built-in backup solution that automatically backs up changes to the system and all files on a user’s Mac. Users should ensure that Time Machine is enabled and that at least one backup drive is connected regularly to ensure continuous backup coverage. For additional redundancy and security against ransomware attacks that might target attached backup drives, users should maintain at least two separate backups on different external drives.
Practicing Safe Software Installation Habits significantly reduces the likelihood of inadvertently installing malware. Users should only download applications from the Mac App Store when possible, as all applications on the App Store have been reviewed by Apple and are subject to stringent security policies. When downloading applications from outside the Mac App Store, users should obtain them only from the official website of the software developer, not from third-party application aggregator sites or unofficial repositories. Users should never download or install cracked, pirated, or “free” versions of commercial software, as these are common vectors for malware distribution. Similarly, users should avoid downloading applications from peer-to-peer file sharing services, torrent sites, or other unofficial sources where malware could easily be substituted for legitimate software.
Implementing Strong Authentication and Account Security protects against account compromise, which can represent just as serious a threat as direct malware infection. Users should enable two-factor authentication on their Apple ID to prevent attackers from gaining unauthorized access to their iCloud account. This is particularly important because iCloud access can provide attackers with extensive access to the user’s personal data and can allow them to install malware on all devices associated with that Apple ID. Users should also maintain strong, unique passwords for each online service, making use of Safari’s built-in password manager or a dedicated password manager application like those available in the App Store.
Maintaining Current System Updates and Security Patches ensures that known security vulnerabilities are patched before attackers can exploit them. Users should enable automatic system updates in System Settings > General > Software Update to ensure that their Mac receives the latest security patches and XProtect signature updates. Apple’s recent improvements to macOS Sequoia that blocked Gatekeeper bypasses demonstrate the importance of staying current with the latest macOS version. Users should not delay installing major macOS upgrades when they become available, as older versions may lack critical security protections that have been implemented in newer versions.
Exercising Caution with Email and Web Browsing remains essential for avoiding malware infections. Users should be skeptical of email attachments from unknown senders, particularly executable files or documents that prompt macro execution. Users should not click links in emails from unknown senders or emails that appear suspicious, even if they appear to come from known organizations, as email spoofing is trivial for attackers. When browsing the web, users should avoid visiting suspicious websites that display numerous pop-ups or advertisements and should be cautious when websites suggest that the user needs to install codecs, plugins, or other software to view content. If a website warns that the user’s Mac contains malware and offers to clean it, this is almost certainly a scam, as websites cannot scan user’s Macs for malware.
Configuring Privacy & Security Settings Appropriately provides an additional layer of protection by restricting which applications can be installed on the system. Users should set System Settings > Privacy & Security > Security to “App Store and identified developers,” which prevents installation of unsigned applications unless the user explicitly overrides the security setting. This setting provides protection against one of the primary distribution methods used by Mac malware. While users may occasionally need to override this setting to install legitimate unsigned software, doing so deliberately and infrequently is far safer than allowing all unsigned applications to run without restriction.
Specialized Threats: Browser Hijackers and Stealer-Specific Detection
Beyond traditional virus and malware infections, Mac users face threats from browser hijackers and stealer malware that employ specialized evasion techniques. Understanding these specific threat types helps users identify compromised systems even when standard antivirus scans return negative results.
Browser Hijackers represent a category of malware that modifies browser settings to redirect searches and change homepages, typically to websites controlled by the attacker where the attacker benefits from advertising revenue. Common symptoms of browser hijacking include unexpected changes to the browser’s homepage, unexpected search engine modifications, frequent pop-ups and advertisements, constant redirects to unwanted websites, and the appearance of new browser toolbars or extensions that the user does not remember installing. Users who notice any of these symptoms should immediately check their browser settings and remove any suspicious extensions.
Detecting Browser Hijackers involves careful inspection of browser configurations in each installed browser. In Safari, users should open Preferences, navigate to the General tab, and verify that the homepage is correct. Users should also check the Extensions tab and examine each installed extension carefully, removing any that appear suspicious or that they do not recognize. In Chrome, users should access Settings > Search Engine and verify the default search engine, and should navigate to Settings > Extensions to review installed extensions. Any suspicious extensions should be removed immediately. Users should be aware that some sophisticated browser hijackers may automatically reinstall themselves if the underlying malware is not removed, so manual browser setting cleanup alone may not permanently resolve the issue. Complete removal often requires identifying and removing the malware that installed the hijacker in the first place using the malware scanning procedures described earlier in this report.
Stealer-Specific Detection Indicators can help users identify stealer infections even when scanning tools have not yet updated their definitions to recognize a particular stealer variant. Because stealers attempt to harvest browser data, Keychain information, and cryptocurrency wallets, users who suspect a stealer infection should change all passwords for important online services. Users should contact their banks and financial institutions to notify them of a suspected compromise and should review financial accounts for unauthorized transactions. Users should also review their email account security and consider enabling additional authentication factors if they have not already done so. Users should be aware that by the time they realize their account has been compromised, attackers may have already obtained sensitive data, so proactive credential changes remain important even if the malware has been removed.
Recent Updates and Evolving Threats in Late 2025
As of November 2025, Apple has continued to update its malware defenses with new versions of XProtect, bringing the system to version 5322. This latest update adds new detection rules for recently discovered malware families and demonstrates Apple’s commitment to continuous security improvements. The update includes rules for detecting MACOS.TIMELYTURTLE.DYCAOC and refined rules for MACOS.SOMA.OCENA, as well as new AppleScript interpreter-based detection rules. These ongoing updates underscore the reality that malware threats continue to evolve and that users cannot rely solely on static malware definitions but must maintain awareness of emerging threats and continue implementing protective best practices.
The discovery of the GoFetch vulnerability affecting M1, M2, and M3 chips represents an additional consideration for Mac users, though experts assess that real-world exploitation risk remains low. This vulnerability exploits a hardware feature intended to improve processing speed to potentially extract encryption keys through side-channel attacks. However, such attacks would require either malicious software to already be running on the system or malicious JavaScript in a web page, and the attacks are extremely time-consuming (requiring 54 minutes to 10 hours in tests), making them impractical for widespread exploitation. Users should ensure they are running current versions of macOS and Safari, as Apple has indicated it may implement mitigations through updates to Lockdown Mode if widespread exploitation becomes a concern.
Ensuring Your Mac Stays Malware-Free
The landscape of macOS security has fundamentally changed from the early days when Mac users could reasonably believe their systems were immune to malware. The dramatic increase in Mac malware infections in 2024-2025, particularly the proliferation of sophisticated stealer malware targeting cryptocurrency wallets and sensitive data, has made malware scanning and detection essential components of responsible Mac system administration, whether for personal or organizational use. Understanding how to effectively scan for malware, recognizing the strengths and limitations of both built-in macOS protections and third-party scanning tools, and implementing comprehensive preventive best practices represents the most effective approach to protecting Mac systems in the current threat environment.
Apple’s three-layered defense strategy combining the App Store and Notarization, Gatekeeper and XProtect, and XProtect Remediator provides sophisticated automatic protection that has proven effective at identifying and blocking known malware. These built-in tools continuously update their threat definitions and automatically protect Mac users without requiring any explicit user action. For most users running current versions of macOS with a reasonable level of caution regarding software installation and email attachment handling, these built-in protections provide adequate security. However, users who want additional assurance, particularly those who may have engaged in risky behavior such as downloading software from unofficial sources or clicking suspicious links, should supplement Apple’s built-in tools with occasional manual scanning using Malwarebytes for Mac.
The practical scanning procedure recommended by security professionals involves maintaining current backups, running Malwarebytes for Mac to detect known malware, optionally running a second antivirus scanner for additional coverage, manually checking for suspicious applications and startup items, reviewing browser settings for hijacker indicators, and then cleaning up the temporary scanning tools. For users who suspect serious infections that have not been completely removed by standard scanning procedures, more advanced recovery options including Time Machine restoration or macOS reinstallation represent increasingly comprehensive but also increasingly disruptive remediation strategies.
Ultimately, the most effective Mac security strategy combines multiple layers of defense including regular backups, cautious software installation practices, maintenance of current macOS and app versions, reasonable caution with email and web browsing, and periodic malware scanning. By implementing this comprehensive approach, Mac users can maintain confidence in their system security while significantly reducing the risk of falling victim to the increasingly sophisticated malware targeting the macOS platform in 2025 and beyond.
