You are just back from a wonderful vacation. No computers, no electronics, just enjoying nature and relaxation at its finest. Now it is time to get back to work. So you power on that MacBook Pro and you refreshingly wait for it to boot up. No worries; it normally takes only 30 seconds to do so. You relax in your chair. Two minutes later, you are aghast at how slow your Mac is behaving. This never happened before…….you are truly stunned. The dreaded thought of a mac scan has reared its ugly head.
Your Mac slows down over time from an excess of updates to the operating system, software, log and cache files, duplicate files and more. Your Mac also slows when you have too many applications running and too little memory to deal with them. Your Mac can slow from incomplete removal or installation of application software or its remnants. Your Mac slows due to unsuspected malware, Trojans, or viruses introduced to it.
Today’s Mac OS X’s include strong security to keep away malware from your hard drive. However, the use of ancillary tools such as email can still wreak havoc on your Mac. Between both email and Internet activities, your Mac can be a target of malware and corruption to your OS and hard disk. Both an anti-virus program and a Mac scan tool are necessary to keep from being victimized by unscrupulous parties and to keep your Mac running lean.
Mac scan tools operate to search your hard disk for malware and report on any findings. Such programs typically search your hard disk for free. You would then pay a small fee to run the clean program as a licensed user.
When selecting a Mac scan tool, be aware that some of the alleged newest tools might in fact be malware programs in disguise. Read up on any particular program you found off of the first web site you found it as a parallel check to its validity.
A good Mac scan program will include features that:
- detect malware and spyware
- detect unauthorized entry and use of your computer
- remove internet browsing history and cookies
- provide latest spyware definitions
- isolate all spyware files and programs, including their preferences and extensions
- cease keystroke logger activity available to lurking intruders
- provide detailed information about any compromise to your Mac to cure any infection
- provide you a user interface view to readily see the program’s use
- offer a trial period as a test drive to you and its benefit to your Mac
Coupled with a resident anti-virus program, regular scans of your Mac will help you be free spyware, malware, viruses and all variants.
Guest post written by Andy Willson
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