A phishing scam has targeted Mac users by redirecting them from legitimate websites to fake websites which tell them that their computer is infected with a virus. The user is then offered Mac Defender 'anti-virus' software to solve the issue.
This “anti-virus” software is malware (i.e. malicious software). Its ultimate goal is to get the user's credit card information which may be used for fraudulent purposes.
The most common names for this malware are MacDefender, MacProtector and MacSecurity.
Apple released a free software update (Security Update 2011-003) that will automatically find and remove Mac Defender malware and its known variants.
The Resolution section below also provides step-by-step instructions on how to avoid or manually remove this malware.
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How to avoid installing this malware
If any notifications about viruses or security software appear, quit Safari or any other browser that you are using. If a normal attempt at quitting the browser doesn’t work, then Force Quit the browser.
In some cases, your browser may automatically download and launch the installer for this malicious software. If this happens, cancel the installation process; do not enter your administrator password. Delete the installer immediately using the steps below.
- Go into the Downloads folder, or your preferred download location.
- Drag the installer to the Trash.
- Empty the Trash.
How to remove this malware
If the malware has been installed, we recommend the following actions:
- Do not provide your credit card information under any circumstances.
- Use the Removal Steps below.
Removal steps
Fizzlebomber Mac Os 7
- Move or close the Scan Window.
- Go to the Utilities folder in the Applications folder and launch Activity Monitor.
- Choose All Processes from the pop up menu in the upper right corner of the window.
- Under the Process Name column, look for the name of the app and click to select it; common app names include: MacDefender, MacSecurity or MacProtector.
- Click the Quit Process button in the upper left corner of the window and select Quit.
- Quit Activity Monitor application.
- Open the Applications folder.
- Locate the app ex. MacDefender, MacSecurity, MacProtector or other name.
- Drag to Trash, and empty Trash.
Malware also installs a login item in your account in System Preferences. Removal of the login item is not necessary, but you can remove it by following the steps below.
- Open System Preferences, select Accounts, then Login Items
- Select the name of the app you removed in the steps above ex. MacDefender, MacSecurity, MacProtector
- Click the minus button
Mac Os Mojave
Use the steps in the “How to avoid installing this malware” section above to remove the installer from the download location.
Note: Apple provides security updates for the Mac exclusively through Software Update and the Apple Support Downloads site. User should exercise caution any time they are asked to enter sensitive personal information online.
Fizzlebomber Mac Os Catalina
Malwarebytes for Mac
- Publisher:Malwarebytes
- Version: 4.5
- OS: Mac
- Category: Anti-Malware
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac is a free security tool that allows you to scan your computer for common macOS infections and remove them. While focusing on adware infections, Malwarebytes for Mac will also scan for other known infections that are being released for the macOS operaitng system.
- Total Downloads: 32,545
- Downloads last week: 118
- November 15, 2020
VirtualBox for Mac
- Publisher:Oracle Corporation
- Version: 5.1.2
- OS: Mac
- Category: Virtualization
VirtualBox is free and enterprise-ready virtual machine platform that allows you to run other operating systems within Windows. Using VirtualBox you are able to install other operating systems into a virtual computer that can be launched and used directly within Windows. This allows you to run virtually any operating system at the same time while using Windows.
- Total Downloads: 6,654
- Downloads last week: 3
- August 02, 2016
CCleaner for Mac
- Publisher:Piriform
- Version: 1.10
- OS: Mac
- Category: System Administration
CCleaner is a program that will scan your computer for privacy information and deletes it from your computer. This allows you to keep your computer running efficiently, while protecting your sensitive information.
- Total Downloads: 58,850
- Downloads last week: 44
- November 29, 2015
Calibre for Mac
- Publisher:Kovid Goyal
- Version: 1.32.0
- OS: Mac
- Category: eBooks
Calibre is a free eBook library management application for the Mac with a built-in eBook reader. This programs supports most eBook file formats so that eBooks purchased for a variety of devices will be compatible. Calibre also has the ability to sync your library with most major devices including Kindle, Nook, iPad, and Android devices.
- Total Downloads: 3,497
- Downloads last week: 2
- April 14, 2014
Kensington TrackballWorks for Mac
Kensington TrackballWorks allows you to customize your TrackBall's buttons and change its pointer speed and acceleration.
- Total Downloads: 127,878
- Downloads last week: 132
- June 26, 2012
Disk Inventory X
- Publisher:Tjark Derlien
- OS: Mac
- Category: Hard Drive Utilities
Directory Inventory X scans one or more hard drives and produces a detailed map or the disk making space hogs immediately apparent.
- Total Downloads: 14,160
- Downloads last week: 2
- April 14, 2014
Clementine for Mac OS X
- Publisher:The Clementine Team
- Version: 1.31
- OS: Mac
- Category: Library Management
A music library manager, music device manager, and audio player for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux based on Amarok 1.4.
- Total Downloads: 3,927
- Downloads last week: 2
- June 25, 2018
Mac Rogue Remover Tool
- Publisher:BleepingComputer
- OS: Mac
- Category: Anti-Malware
The Mac Rogue Remover Tool was created to remove the Mac Defender, Mac Security, Mac Protector, and Mac Guard rogue anti-spyware programs from a Mac. Once run, the Mac Rogue Remover Tool will scan the computer for known files and remove them.
- Total Downloads: 63,535
- Downloads last week: 14
- April 21, 2016