Protect yourself with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac

Some Mac users might think their computers are immune to attack, and that they don’t need protection. But that’s simply not the case. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac may be a mouthful to say, but it’s an ultralight app for keeping malware and adware off your OS X machine. But you won’t find it packed to the gills with features, like other Mac antivirus apps.

Whether or not you have – or even need – anti-virus software installed on your Mac for day-to-day protection, it still pays to be able to occasionally scan for malware – including less virulent forms such as adware, browser hijackers, and potentially unwanted programs. PC users have found Malwarebytes Anti-Malware a powerful ally in the fight against malware, and now Mac users are being encouraged to give it a whirl too.

Like the free PC version, this initial release offers no real-time protection. It’s a simple scan and remove tool, designed to detect various forms of Mac malware and then purge it. Its footprint is small, it’s a synch to use, and it’ll quickly flag up anything that’s sneaked onto your system without you realizing it. Don’t be surprised if certain items aren’t selected by default – these are typically legitimate files (like browser preferences) that have been modified by the infection. Removing these wipes all your browser settings, but you at least have the option of skipping this.

In most cases, Malwarebytes for Mac can simply remove any suspicious or infected files (this may require a reboot, but not always), but look out for an exclamation mark – this indicates the malware may be trickier to remove and should provide a link to more help dealing with this particular infection.

Whether or not you believe in protecting your Mac from malware on an ongoing basis, there’s no harm in installing Malwarebytes for Mac and occasionally letting it scan your hard drive. Like us, you might be surprised by what you find.

 

 

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac Installation

The app is supplied as a downloadable disk image file (.dmg); just double-click the file to mount the image on your Mac.

Once mounted, you can treat the image as any other drive that is connected to your Mac.

Installation only requires to run Install Malwarebytes 3.pkg. With the installation complete, you’re ready to launch the app.

Using Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac

Anti-Malware for Mac opens as a single-window app that contains four buttons:

Dashboard: Shows current status

Scan: Scans for malware and adware on your system.

Quarantine: List of threat files on your Mac

 

Settings: Set frequency of updates and manage your licence.

As you can see, the app’s main function is wrapped up in a single Scan button. Pressing the scan button will start the app searching your Mac for files that match up to the current malware/adware signature files maintained by Malwarebytes.

If any matches are found, the app will display them. Those that the app can successfully remove will be marked with a checkmark. It’s also possible you’ll see items listed as malware/adware, but with the checkbox not checked. This can occur if the item could cause problems if removed. For example, some adware injects itself into browser preference files. Deleting the preference file will remove the malware/adware, but will also cause the browser to reset to its original default conditions.

Malwarebytes has already carved out an enviable reputation for itself on the PC – and it’s likely to do the same on the Mac too.