Schedule: For defining when you want the latest virus definitions downloaded and when you want scheduled scans to take place.Log Files: For setting whether or not you want log files stored and for viewing them.Exclude Files: To specify file types you don’t want scanned.Quarantine: For defining where you want to quarantine malicious files.

General: For setting up alerts and whether or not to scan for malware and phishing in your email messages (which is where the app found infected files on my Mac).

ClamXav offers five configuration options: Once you’ve downloaded and opened the app you’ll want to set the app’s preferences, as the default behavior is to scan for viruses but not delete or quarantine them. You’ll find it at the Mac App Store or you can download it directly from the ClamXav Website, where you can also make a donation. If you’re using Apple’s Server app to host your email, it’s what Apple uses to scan incoming mail for viruses.ĬlamXav is, like AdWare Medic, donationware and it is fantastic. Why ClamXav? Because it has one job and it does it very well. You’ll be met with a message offering the option to toss the app in the trash.Īnd this is why Macs remain mostly virus and malware free. (For software you know is good you can bypass this by control-clicking the app and selecting Open from the resulting contextual menu.)Īpps that are known malware cannot be opened at all. This system consists of the quarantine of any app downloaded from the Internet, the use of Code Signing certificates to verify that an app is coming from a legit source, and regular security updates that include databases of known malware targeting the Mac OS.īecause of this system, called File Quarantine and occasionally referred to as XProtect:Īpps in quarantine display a dialog window reminding you where the app came from and asking whether or not you’re sure you want to open it.Īpps with no code signing certificate, depending on your Gatekeeper settings, may display a message saying the app can’t be opened because of your settings. While your Mac can definitely be infected with malware, Apple’s built-in malware detection and file quarantine capabilities are meant to make it less likely that you’ll download and run malicious software.Īpple introduced malware detection to the Mac OS with Snow Leopard (Mac OS 10.6). And, to some extent, there’s truth to that. You may have been led to believe that you don’t have to worry about computer viruses on your Mac.

Check for malicious software on mac