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Speeds up scans by whitelisting safe files based on file reputation database. Cloud-Powered Scanning. Deliver constant level of protection against emerging threats, 24/7. Automatic Updates. Receive free U.S.-based tech support by email or chat, wherever you are. Enjoy free support. The Avira Antivirus for Mac software is our simple and elegant solution for your online security. Easy to use, the Mac virus scan starts with just the push of a button. Your Mac is protected from online threats such as Trojans, viruses, adware, and spyware by our award-winning technology and easy-to-use interface.
The Scan Central screen provides a range of scans to protect your Mac from malware. To run a scan, click Scan Now on the appropriate tile. You can stop scanning at any time by clicking Cancel. To adjust settings for each scan, click the Preferences icon on the Scan Central screen.
Note: Although customizable settings are available for each scan, we recommend you only modify settings for Custom Scan.
Smart Scan is a quick scan that checks the most vulnerable areas of your Mac for malware. Click Run Smart Scan on the main Avast Security screen, or on the Scan Central screen to start scanning your Mac. To modify Smart Scan settings, click the Preferences icon on the Scan Central screen, then select or deselect your preferred areas to scan:
- Report potentially unwanted programs (selected by default)
- Scan whole files
- Scan all Time Machine backups
- Scan archives
If you have files or folders that you do not want to scan with Smart Scan, click Add Exceptions to set an exclusion.
![Scans Scans](/uploads/1/2/8/3/128391475/672042624.png)
Deep Scan is an in-depth scan of your system that checks your storage drives and memory for malware. This scan may take several minutes or more depending on the number of files and the performance of your system. Click Scan Now on the Deep Scan tile to start scanning. To modify Deep Scan settings, click the Preferences icon on the Scan Central screen, then select or deselect your preferred areas to scan:
- Report potentially unwanted programs (PUP) (selected by default)
- Scan whole files
- Scan external drives
- Scan mounted network volumes
- Scan all Time Machine backups
- Scan archives (selected by default)
If you have files or folders that you do not want to scan with Deep Scan, click Add Exceptions to set an exclusion.
Targeted Scan allows you to scan specific files or folders on your Mac. Click Scan Now on the Targeted Scan tile, then select the files or folders you want to scan, and click Open to start scanning. To modify Targeted Scan settings, click the Preferences icon on the Scan Central screen, then select or deselect your preferred areas to scan:
- Report potentially unwanted programs (PUP) (selected by default)
- Scan whole files
- Scan all Time Machine backups
- Scan archives (selected by default)
If you have files or folders that you do not want to scan with Targeted Scan, click Add Exceptions to set an exclusion.
USB/DVD Scan allows you to scan any removable storage devices that are currently connected to your Mac. For example, external hard drives, USB flash drives, CDs, and DVDs. To start scanning, click Scan Now on the USB/DVD Scan tile, then select a storage device, and click Start. To modify USB/DVD Scan settings, click the Preferences icon on the Scan Central Screen, then select or deselect your preferred areas to scan:
- Report potentially unwanted programs (PUP) (selected by default)
- Scan whole files
- Scan all Time Machine backups
- Scan archives (selected by default)
If you have files or folders that you do not want to scan with USB/DVD Scan, click Add Exceptions to set an exclusion.
Custom scan allows you to create and schedule your own scans to run regularly and automatically. Click Open Now on the Custom Scan tile, then click New Custom Scan to start creating your own scans. Specify the scan type, frequency, day, and start time for your custom scan. In the Advanced Settings section, select your preferred areas to scan:
- Report potentially unwanted programs (PUP)
- Scan whole files
- Scan external drives
- Scan mounted network volumes
- Scan all Time Machine backups
- Scan archives
- Scan when on batteries
- Wakeup your Mac for Scan
If you have files or folders that you do not want to scan with Custom Scan, click Add Exceptions to set an exclusion.
To schedule a Targeted Scan, Deep Scan, or Smart Scan to run regularly and automatically:
- Click Open Now on the Custom Scans tile.
- Click New Custom Scan.
- Type a name for your scan in the Scan Name text box.
- Click the drop-down menu and select a Type of Scan. You can choose from: Targeted Scan, Deep Scan, or Smart Scan.
- Click the drop-down menu and select a Frequency for how often your scan will run. You can choose from: Once, Daily, Weekly, or Monthly.
- Click the up or down arrows to change the date/day when your scan will run. (Note: This option is not available if you select Daily as the Frequency).
- Click the up or down arrows to change the Start Time when your scan will run.
- Optionally, adjust the Advanced settings to include (tick) or exclude (untick) items from your scan.
- Optionally, click Add Exceptions to exclude files or folders from your scan. Navigate to the relevant file or folder, then click Open.
- Click Save to confirm the settings for your scheduled scan.
Your scan will run according to the schedule you specified and appears in the Custom Scans list. To edit or delete the scan, hover your cursor over the scan details, and click
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(three dots), then select Edit scan or Remove scan.After running any predefined scan or custom scan, information about any detections are displayed on the screen. Select a detection, then click Resolve to move the file to the Virus Chest.
Macs don’t get viruses, right? Wrong, sadly. Your Mac may be safer from malware than the average Windows PC, thanks to its Unix core and Apple’s default security settings in the OS, but it’s not immune. All it takes is one thoughtless click on a link in an email or on a website, and your Mac could be infected.
The good news is that performing a Mac virus scan is very easy and if it finds anything, getting rid of the virus is very straightforward, too.
How to check your Mac for a virus
There are a number of tell-tale signs that your Mac has a virus. If it’s not displaying any of those, there’s probably nothing to worry about. So, before you scan your Mac for a virus, here are a few things to check.
Apple Virus Protection
1. Is your Mac behaving erratically?
This could include applications crashing, web browsers loading pages you didn’t ask for, and unusually high traffic on your network.
2. Has it started running very slowly all of a sudden?
Some viruses run processes that hog CPU cycles and leave little capacity for the tasks you want to carry out.
3. Are you seeing adverts or pop-ups for things you would never normally see?
Adware viruses are designed specifically to show adverts in the hope that you’ll click on them.
4. Have you noticed software appear on your Mac that you didn’t deliberately install?
4. Have you noticed software appear on your Mac that you didn’t deliberately install?
Some viruses appear in the form of browser extensions, others run in the background, but some may appear as applications in your Applications folder.
If any of the above are true, it’s possible that your Mac has a virus, but don’t panic, it may be relatively easy to remove.
How to get rid of suspicious apps
If you find an application that you didn’t intend to install, you should get rid of it. But don’t just drag it from your Applications folder to the Trash, that won’t remove every trace of it from your Mac. Applications store files in a number of different places in your Mac’s Library folders. You could hunt them down and remove them manually, but it’s quicker and easier to use a dedicated uninstaller like CleanMyMac X. That way, you can be sure you will remove every trace of the application and no stray files will be left behind.
Security Scan For Mac
- Download CleanMyMac for free here.
- Launch it from your Applications folder.
- In the Utilities section, click on Uninstaller.
- Look through the list of applications until you see the one you want to get rid of.
- Check the box next to it.
- Press the Uninstall button.
How to run a malware scanner on Mac
Apple Mac Security Settings
There are several Mac virus scanners that allow you to scan your system. However, it’s very important that you don’t just google ‘free Mac antivirus software.’ Many sites that claim to offer free antivirus tools in fact host viruses themselves. So, you go to the site looking for a solution and end up making the problem worse. It’s important to use a reputable tool. We recommend using CleanMyMac X.
CleanMyMac X detects thousands of malware threats, including adware, spyware, worms, ransomware, cryptocurrency miners, and if it finds something suspicious, it offers immediate removal. Here’s how to scan your Mac for malware:
- Download CleanMyMac X (free download) and launch the app.
- Click on the Malware Removal tab.
- Click Scan.
- Click Remove.
Malware Monitor is another thing I love about CleanMyMac X. And it works in real-time. Whenever an adware attempts to enter some protected areas on your Mac, you’ll get instantly notified.
How to prevent your Mac from getting a virus
![Security Scans For Mac Security Scans For Mac](/uploads/1/2/8/3/128391475/285184986.png)
Macscan
Prevention is always better than cure. So, if you want to make sure that every virus scan returns a clean bill of health, here’s what to do.
- Never click a link in an email unless you’re 100% sure where the email has come from and where the link will take you. Reputable companies and banks won’t ask you to click a link to log into an account, for example.
- Never download anything unless you’re certain what it is. That includes movie files, software updates, games, and anything else you’re not absolutely certain about.
- Keep your Mac updated with the latest version of macOS. That doesn’t mean you have to be running the very latest OS, but if you’re running, say, Sierra, make sure you install the latest updates when they become available.
Scanning your Mac for threats is very easy. Get CleanMyMac X to make your Mac as safe as new. With its help, you get rid of any applications you didn’t intend to download and scan your whole system for malware very quick and easy. Give it a go.