Mac Administration Apps 2018

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In this article, we will look at the most common Mac viruses and security flaws, how to detect them, prevent your Mac from getting them, and how to remove them.

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The more macOS grows in popularity, the more lucrative it becomes to hackers and rogue programmers, and with no anti-virus, your MacBook is at risk of attack. Viruses on Mac are more common than you might imagine. We’re going to run through known Mac viruses, malware, and security flaws and show you how to keep your computer safe using CleanMyMac X.

Something to note before we continue: a virus is a type of malware, capable of copying itself and spreading across a system. Malware is a blanket term for a wide range of malicious software including adware, spyware, ransomware, and Trojans. So all viruses are malware, but not all malware are viruses if that makes sense?

Okay, let’s dig in.

How a Mac virus infects your system

How does a Mac virus find its way onto your system in the first place? Typically with a helping hand from you.

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Apple viruses rely on you downloading a program, clicking a link, or installing an app or plugin.

The most common ways for malware to infiltrate your computer is through third-party browser plugins like Adobe Reader, Java, and Flash, or by using a Trojan horse or phishing scam — an app or email that appears to be from a legitimate source, but is in fact fraudulent. The moment you click on a link and enter details or download the seemingly genuine app, you give the green light for a virus to infect your system.

The best way to avoid a virus on Mac is to be vigilant. Double check every app that you want to download and every email that you receive before following through on an action. If something seems off, there’s every chance that it is.

However, as you’ll see from some of the viruses, in certain cases even vigilance can’t protect you.

An X-ray of a Mac virus: Here is what it looks like

Below is an executable command of an adware code. As you can see it aims to 'download offers' that users see on their computers

Known Mac viruses

1. Microsoft Word macro viruses

What’s that, a Microsoft program bringing its virus-riddled programs over to Mac? Unfortunately, yes.

Macros are commonly used by Word users to automate repetitive tasks and they're a prime target for Malware peddlers. Macro support on Mac was removed by Apple with the release of Office for Mac back in 2008, but was reintroduced in 2011 meaning files opened with macros enabled could run a Python code to log keystrokes and take screenshots of personal data.

In 2017, Malwarebytes discovered malware in a Word document about Donald Trump to the worry of Mac users. However, the chances of being infected rely on you opened that specific file, which is slim.

A warning message that Apple displays anytime a file contains macros should be enough to keep you safe from Word macro viruses.

2. Safari-get

Safari-get is a denial-of-service (DoS) attack that began targeting Mac in 2016. The malware is hidden behind a link in a seemingly genuine tech support email — you click on the link, the malware makes itself at home on your computer.

What happens then depends on whether you’re running macOS 10 or 11. The first variant takes control of the mail application to force create multiple draft emails. The second force opens iTunes multiple times. The end goal for both is the same: overload system memory to bring your Mac to its knees so that you call up a fake Apple tech support number and hand over your credit card details to a bogus team on the other end of the line.

MacOS High Sierra versions 10.12.2 and above include a patch for this vulnerability, so updating your machine should keep you safe.

3. OSX/Pirrit

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OSX/Pirrit is a virus that is able to gain root privileges to take it upon itself to create a new account and download software that you neither want nor need. The virus was found by Cybereason to be hidden in cracked versions of Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Office that are popular on torrent sites.

A stark reminder, if ever you needed one, to never download pirated software!

Known Mac malware

1. OSX/MaMi

OSX/MaMi holds the distinction of being the first macOS malware of 2018. It targets Mac users with social engineering methods such as malicious emails and website pop-ups. Once it’s made its way onto a system, the malware changes DNS server settings so that attackers can route traffic through malicious servers and intercept any sensitive data. MaMi is also capable of taking screenshots, downloading and uploading files, executing commands, and generating mouse events.

The Hacker News provides instructions on how to identify the virus on your system:

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“To check if your Mac computer is infected with MaMi malware, go to the Terminal via the System Preferences app and check for your DNS settings—particularly look for 82.163.143.135 and 82.163.142.137.”

2. OSX/Dok

Mac

This piece of Malware is a worrying one in that it is signed with an Apple-authenticated developer certificate, thus allowing it to bypass Mac’s Gatekeeper security feature and XProtect. Like OSX/MaMi, OSX/Dok intercepts all traffic (including traffic on SSL-TLS encrypted websites) moving between your computer and the internet to steal private information.

Since it arrived on the scene in April 2017, Apple has revoked the developer certificate and updated XProtect, however, it remains one to look out for.

3. Fruitfly

Fruitfly malware has stolen millions of user images, personal data, tax records and “potentially embarrassing communications over a 13 year period by capturing screenshots and webcam images. Researchers are unsure how the near-undetectable “creepware” finds its way on to Mac systems and while Apple has been working to patch the issue, it’s unknown if newer versions still exist in the wild.

4. X-agent

X-agent is classic malware capable of stealing your passwords and iPhone backups and taking screenshots of sensitive data. It has mainly targeted members of the Ukrainian military, which is very bad, of course, but if you're not a member of Ukrainian military you’re unlikely to be affected.

5. MacDownloader

While its name suggests it could be a useful app, MacDownloader is a very nasty piece of malware programmed to attack the US defense industry. It’s hidden inside a fake Adobe Flash update and shows a pop-up claiming your system is infected with adware. By clicking on the alert and entering your admin password, MacDownloader lifts sensitive data, including passwords and credit card details, and sends it to a remote server.

MacDownloader is designed to attack a particular audience, but it’s worth checking for updates on Adobe’s official website before installing any new version of Flash.

6. KeRanger

KeRanger is macOS’s first introduction to ransomware — malware that encrypts system files and demands a ransom to decrypt them. It was bundled in with the torrent client Transmission version 2.90 and installed at the same time, using a valid Mac app certificate to sneak through Apple security. Once document and data files are encrypted, KeRanger demands payment in bitcoin for the malware to be removed.

Transmission has released an update to remove the malware and Apple has removed KeRanger’s GateKeeper signature to protect users. If you’re using Transmission 2.90, head over to the Transmission website to download the latest update.

Known Mac security flaws

1. Goto fail bug

The Goto fail bug was a bit of an embarrassing one for Apple in that the security flaw was as a result of its own doing. A bug in Apple’s SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption meant that a Goto command was left unclosed in the code, thus preventing SSL from doing its job to protect users of secure websites. The flaw put communications sent over unsecured Wi-Fi (the hotspots you use at the mall and in coffee shops) at risk, allowing hackers to intercept passwords, credit card details, and other sensitive information.

Apple has since patched the issue on macOS, but it certainly makes you think twice about how you browse the web on your MacBook in a public place.

2. Meltdown and Spectre

In January 2018, it was announced that there was a flaw in Intel chips used in Macs, giving rise to the dastardly duo of Meltdown and Spectre.

From Apple:

The Meltdown and Spectre issues take advantage of a modern CPU performance feature called speculative execution. Speculative execution improves speed by operating on multiple instructions at once—possibly in a different order than when they entered the CPU. To increase performance, the CPU predicts which path of a branch is most likely to be taken, and will speculatively continue execution down that path even before the branch is completed. If the prediction was wrong, this speculative execution is rolled back in a way that is intended to be invisible to software.

The Meltdown and Spectre exploitation techniques abuse speculative execution to access privileged memory—including that of the kernel—from a less-privileged user process such as a malicious app running on a device.

Meltdown and Spectre affects all Mac systems, but Apple insists there are no known exploits currently impacting customers. macOS 10.13.2 and above includes a patch to protect against both flaws.

3. High Sierra “root” bug

As far as security flaws go, High Sierra’s “root” bug is a pretty big one. The flaw, which was discovered by software developer Lemi Orhan Ergin, allowed anyone to gain root access to a system by leaving the password field blank and trying multiple times in a row. So, anyone with physical access to your system, or access via remote desktop or screen-sharing, could type in “root” and hit enter a few times to gain full control of your Mac. Scary thought, huh?

Apple has recently released an official fix for the flaw, but it’s worth taking care about who shares access privileges on your Mac.

How to recognize a virus on Mac

So how do you spot a virus on your MacBook Pro or iMac? In the case of ransomware like KeRanger or a DoS attack like Safari-get, the issue is in your face. With other malware, however, the infection is less obvious.

A few of the tell-tale signs include:

  • Unexpected system reboots
  • Apps closing and restarting for no reason
  • Browsers automatically installing suspicious updates
  • Web pages obscured with ads
  • Drop in system performance

How to avoid a virus on Mac

We briefly covered this at the top of the article, but there are measures you can take to help safeguard your system:

  • Always check the source of an email by looking at the address of the sender
  • Avoid pirated software
  • Avoid software and media downloads from torrent clients
  • Avoid apps or pop-ups that ask you to “fix” an infected Mac
  • Never download codecs or plug-ins from unknown websites
  • How to remove a virus on Mac

If you suspect a Mac virus has infected your system, it’s important to address the problem immediately. There are two ways that you can do this: manually or with CleanMyMac X.

How to remove a virus on Mac manually

To remove a virus manually, the first thing to do is find out what’s causing the problem.

The chances are it could be a downloaded file, so go to your Downloads folder and search for .DMG files. If the file is unfamiliar, delete it and empty the Trash.

If an app is the issue, go to your Applications, drag the icon of the culprit to the Trash bin and empty the Trash immediately.

Both of these methods offer a quick fix, but neither is the most comprehensive of solutions. The way in which viruses work means that the infection could have spread to system folders. If the problem persists, opt for the more robust CleanMyMac 3.

How to remove malware on Mac with CleanMyMac X

CleanMyMac X is designed to detect and remove malware threats from your Mac, including adware, spyware, ransomware, worms, and more.

If malware is lurking within your Mac, it won’t be after CleanMyMac is done with it.

  1. Download CleanMyMac X (free download) and launch the app.
  2. Click on the Malware Removal tab.
  3. Click Scan.
  4. Click Remove.

This app is actually notarized by Apple so you are safe using it. Speaking of malware, it has a real-time monitor that keeps an eye on your Launch Agents. If an unkown app tries to add itself into your system folders, you'll get an instant notification from CleanMyMac X.

Keep your Mac virus-free

For the most part, using a Mac is a pleasant, malware-free experience, but no computer is ever 100% virus-free. Keeping abreast of known Mac viruses so that you know what to look for and airing on the side of caution when downloading software will help keep your system running smoothly. And if a rogue app does make its way on your system, keep CleanMyMac X close to hand to remove it immediately and completely.

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The password of your macOS user account is also known as your login password. It's the password that you use to log in to your Mac and make certain changes, such as installing software.

Change your password

If you know your password and can use it to log in to your account, you can change your password in Users & Groups preferences:

  1. Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu, then click Users & Groups.
  2. Select your user name from the list of users.
  3. Click the Change Password button, then follow the onscreen instructions.

Reset your password

If you don't remember your password, or it isn't working, you might be able to reset it using one of the methods described below. But first try these simpler solutions:

  • Make sure that you're typing the correct uppercase or lowercase characters. If your keyboard has Caps Lock turned on, the password field shows a Caps Lock symbol .
  • If the password field shows a question mark, click it to display a password hint that might help you to remember.
  • Try to log in without a password. If that works, you can then add a password by following the steps to change your password.
  • Try to log in with the Apple ID password that you use for iCloud. If you just changed that password and the new password isn't working, try the old password first. If that works, you should be able to use the new password from then on.

Reset using your Apple ID

In some macOS versions, you can use your Apple ID to reset your login password. At the login screen, keep entering a password until you see a message saying that you can reset your password using Apple ID. If you don't see the message after three attempts, your account isn't set up to allow resetting with Apple ID.

  1. Click next to the Apple ID message, then follow the onscreen instructions to enter your Apple ID and create a new password. You'll be asked to restart when done.
  2. Log in with your new password.
  3. Determine whether to create a new login keychain.

Reset using another admin account

If you know the name and password of an admin account on your Mac, you can use that account to reset the password.

  1. Log in with the name and password of the other admin account.
  2. Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu, then click Users & Groups.
  3. Click , then enter the admin name and password again.
  4. Select your user name from the list of users.
  5. Click the Reset Password button, then follow the onscreen instructions to create a new password:
  6. Choose Log Out from the Apple menu.
  7. Log in to your account using your new password.
  8. Determine whether to create a new login keychain.

Reset using the Reset Password assistant (FileVault must be on)

If FileVault is turned on, you might be able to reset your password using the Reset Password assistant:

  1. Wait up to a minute at the login screen, until you see a message saying that you can use the power button on your Mac to shut down and start up again in Recovery OS. If you don't see this message, FileVault isn't on.
  2. Press and hold the power button until your Mac turns off.
  3. Press the power button again to turn on your Mac.
  4. When the Reset Password window appears, follow the onscreen instructions to create a new password.
    If you need to connect to Wi-Fi, move your pointer to the top of the screen and use the Wi-Fi menu to connect. To exit without resetting your password, choose Apple menu > Restart.
  5. When done, click Restart.
  6. If you were able to reset your password with the Reset Password assistant, log in to your account using your new password.
  7. Determine whether to create a new login keychain.

Reset using your Recovery Key (FileVault must be on)

If FileVault is turned on and you have a FileVault Recovery Key, you can use that key to reset your password.

  1. At the login screen, keep entering a password until you see a message saying that you can reset your password using your Recovery Key. If you don't see the message after three attempts, FileVault isn't on.
  2. Click next to the message. The password field changes to a Recovery Key field.
  3. Enter your Recovery Key. Use uppercase characters, and include the hyphens.
  4. Follow the onscreen instructions to create a new password, then click Reset Password when done.
  5. Determine whether to create a new login keychain.

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If you can't log in with your new password after restarting your Mac, take these additional steps:

  1. Restart again, then immediately hold down Command-R or one of the other macOS Recovery key combinations until you see the Apple logo or a spinning globe.
  2. When you see the macOS Utilities window, choose Utilities > Terminal from the menu bar.
  3. In the Terminal window, type resetpassword, then press Return to open the Reset Password assistant pictured above.
  4. Select ”My password doesn't work when logging in,” then click Next and follow the onscreen instructions for your user account.

Create a new login keychain, if necessary

After resetting your password and logging back in to your account, you might see an alert that the system was unable to unlock your login keychain. This is expected, because the passwords for your user account and login keychain no longer match. Just click the Create New Keychain button in the alert.

If you didn't see an alert about your login keychain, or you see other messages asking for your old password, reset your keychain manually:

  1. Open Keychain Access, which is in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder.
  2. Choose Preferences from the Keychain Access menu, then click the Reset My Default Keychain button in the preferences window. After you enter your new password, Keychain Access creates an empty login keychain with no password. Click OK to confirm.
    If you don't see a Reset My Default keychain button, close the preferences window and select the “login” keychain from the left side of the Keychain Access window. Press the Delete key, then click Delete References.
  3. Choose Log Out from the Apple menu to return to the login screen.
  4. Log in to your account using your new password. Your account password and login keychain password now match again.

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If you still can't log in

If you still can't log in with your password, contact Apple Support for help.